Bicycle Mechanics - applying frame saver

I bought a surly cross-check a few months ago and just found out frame saver wasn't applied when it was built. I purchased a can of Weigle's frame saver. Can I still properly treat the bike without completely stripping it down? My problem is that I don't have the proper tools to remove the crank and bottom bracket right now, and I am on a tight budget after buying the bike. Will I harm the bottom bracket if I just treat the tubes without removing it (I'm assuming some of the frame saver will get into the bottom bracket shell through the seat tube)?

What type of bottom bracket?

What type of bottom bracket?

Shimano Deore LX. It's what came stock with the bike.

In all likelihood it should be okay. Shimano BB are fairly well sealed.

But what pipes can you spray into besides the seat tube. I'm not sure it's worth the trouble if you cant go in through the headtube and spray into the down tube and top tube, or go in through the bottom bracket opening and spray into the chainstays, etc. Maybe there are little holes in the stays and forks you can use, but the downtube is likely unreachable.

I think framesaver is overrated. If I have a completely stripped frame and spare time before the build, ..then I might use it.

You can apply the Frame Saver to the bottom bracket shell by removing the little screw that holds the plastic cable guide under it and squirting the spray into the hole. The bottom bracket itself should be fine as they are well sealed and Frame Saver won't hurt them anyway.

Be sure to spray the FS into the vent holes in the chain and seat stays (and fork blades if it's a steel fork) and rotate the frame frequently to distribute the liquid evenly as it dries. Have a LOT of newspaper on the floor and plenty of ventilation.

+1 on the newspaper precautions.

It is stinky, gooey, and nasty stuff. And it WILL find that unsealed hole you forgot about.

I applied FS to a partially assembled frame recently and have to say a LOT of liquid comes out of that spray can quickly! Try a one second blast at first, otherwise you'll be swimming in the stuff.

knotty

I can't prove if the formula of FS is the same but there is another product called LPS3 that is supposed to be just like FS but you get a lot more and cheaper. I have both and visually, can't tell any difference, both forms a protective film, smell, and color are identical. LPS3 is called a rust inhibitor.

knotty

But what pipes can you spray into besides the seat tube. I'm not sure it's worth the trouble if you cant go in through the headtube and spray into the down tube and top tube, or go in through the bottom bracket opening and spray into the chainstays, etc. Maybe there are little holes in the stays and forks you can use, but the downtube is likely unreachable.

I think framesaver is overrated. If I have a completely stripped frame and spare time before the build, ..then I might use it.

I can get into the donwtube through the eyelits for the water bottle cage and the fork through the canti brackets. I think I can access the seatstays if I work hard enough at it. I will not be able to treat the headtube or bottom bracket shell adequately, so hopefully they will be fine until I service my headset and BB sometime in the future.

The bike is stored inside a heated area at work and at home, but it does get wet during rides. Even though I don't plan on riding it when salt is on the road (thats what the beater MTB is for), I still think frame saver is worth the little bit of inconvenience to guarantee the frame lasts as long as it should.

I think framesaver is overrated. If I have a completely stripped frame and spare time before the build, ..then I might use it.

If you lived on the seashore where you are riding in salt spray and have salt air I think you'd probably change your mind about that. A seacoast environment will eat an unprotected steel frame pretty quickly. This is especially true with high end, light weight steel frames.

I can't prove if the formula of FS is the same but there is another product called LPS3 that is supposed to be just like FS but you get a lot more and cheaper. I have both and visually, can't tell any difference, both forms a protective film, smell, and color are identical. LPS3 is called a rust inhibitor.

knotty
The other Frame Saver clone (or, more likely, Frame Saver is the same product repackaged and at a higher price) is Amsoil's HDMP. It's available at many independent auto parts and marine supply shops and you get twice as much for less money. Like LPS3, it looks, smells, applies and dries just like Frame Saver and makes the same rust protection/inhibitor claims.