Bicycle Mechanics - fixed BB cup removal

OK gang. I have tried my penetrating oil, my bench vise, and Sheldon Brown's 5/8" bolt trick, and I still cannot remove the original, English-threaded, fixed cup from the BB shell of the Capo. The oval cutout in my 35mm Sugino BB wrench is slightly too small; I could try to find a 36 or 37mm wrench, but I suspect it won't help.

I have a fixed cup tool that uses a threaded insert that fits inside the BB shell and has a set of cup "wrenches" that fit a square spline on the outside of the tool. You screw the whole deal together over the cup and then you can really lean on it, as it has two big handles. You need to find a shop with one of these.

This is one of those things I leave to my LBS. I made a half-hearted attempt to get one out with a very large Crescent wrench. The attempt was half-hearted only because I felt immediately that there was no way I could get sufficient grip on the narrow flats, and I did not want to risk unnecessary damage even clamping the wrench in place with a long bolt.

John try Break Free. Probably the best material for loosening up tuck parts. It works on guns and they can get super stuck.

Getting a Fixed Bearing Cup out doesn't have to be a job for pros only, All you need is a mounted table vise and a friend.

Have the Friend hold the bike up while you guide the cup into the vise and clamp it down, then rotate the frame which ever way it needs to go, the Cup will come right out.

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
I have a fixed cup tool that uses a threaded insert that fits inside the BB shell ... You need to find a shop with one of these.

I finally gave up and brought the frame, with the fixed cup still in place, to CyclArt. Jim attached the tool you describe, set it on his post-mounted vise, and, with a bit of effort, successfully extracted the cup. When Jim and Susan are finished, I'll post pictures of the new paint and decals in the vintage forum.

By the way, Rev. Chuck, do you still have bottom bracket ball bearings for sale? The 44-year-old Agrati cups look great and the 35-year-old Nervar Star spindle looks passable, but I really think I should change out the balls themselves.

I have them but the shop you went to should also. If they don't and you want loose balls let me know how many and the size and I will just mail you some. If you want caged sets thay will be a couple of bucks.