Bicycle Mechanics - What BB tool for Dawes Lightning ebay bike ?

Hey all, I think I have easily destroyed the BB on my Dawes Lightning DLX ebay bike.

I think it barely lasted 1000 miles.

I need to overhaul it badly... what tool do I need to get this baby apart ???????


Please - and Thanks.

Unless you can tell us the make and type of bb, we will need some pictures to answer your questions. Unless, of course, someone here also has the same make and model bike.

What makes you think the BB is shot?

Anyways, you need a 8mm hex wrench and at least a crank puller. No idea on your BB, although i'm willing to bet it's square taper. I'm probably thinking Shimano bb as well, so you'll need the shimano bb tool. That should be all you need to take apart all that and replace the BB yourself.

That is of course, assuming that it is per the specs/picture I saw on ebay (which were very vague)

yes, it is square tapered...

I have the crank puller, I just don't have the tool to remove the BB bearing cover ...

I think it might be shimano or similar but i'm not 100% sure....

- Thanks !

There is no "bearing cover" on Shimano cartridge bottom brackets. You need a Park BBT-2 bottom bracket tool to remove both the cartridge (which threads in from the drive side and is left-hand threaded) and the non-drive side cup which has right-hand threads.

After pulling both crankarms off, is there a lot of resistance when you turn the BB spindle between thumb and forefinger?
Assuming there is a lot of resistance and it's enough that you can feel it while riding, pull the BB out and replace it with a square-taper BB of the same axle and shell-threading dimensions. You can get cheaper tools than the Park one, although the Park is probably the best-designed and most-durable.

Assuming there is a lot of resistance and it's enough that you can feel it while riding, pull the BB out and replace it with a square-taper BB of the same axle and shell-threading dimensions.

Er, shouldn't it be the opposite? New bb's seem hard to turn while the easy to turn ones are worn out? (Cartridge ones anyways).

Er, shouldn't it be the opposite? New bb's seem hard to turn while the easy to turn ones are worn out? (Cartridge ones anyways).
Well, sort of. New cartridge bottom brackets are a bit stiff to turn but are smooth with no binding and no spindle play in any direction. Worn bbs can be easy to turn but be loose and have noticable play or can be very stiff with binding and obvious irregular resistance. It depends on how the bearings failed.