Bicycle Mechanics - Removing a sealed-cartridge bottom bracket...

I've been hearing an irritating "clicking" noise from my bike for some time, and the friendly LBS mechanic suggested tightening up the bottom bracket, and that if I did this, I should go ahead and pull it and clean the inside of the shell.

I was able to pull one of the splined rings off (the part that mates with the bottom bracket removal tool), but the one on the chainring side just seems...frozen. Completely. Penetrating oil and a breaker bar met with no success, and I'm wary of taking an impact wrench to something that can easily wreck a frame. Yes, I'm using the Offical Shimano Tool.

(As opposed to the Offical British Automotive Tool, known in the U.S. as a hammer). :D

Am I missing something, or should I just run it by the LBS and have them pop the bastard off?

Are you turning it the correct way? Most BB's have the thread going the opposite way, just like the pedals, on each side.

If it is a sealed bearing, then the ring side is reverse threaded. You've been tightening it if you have been turning it counter-clockwise. You may have also ruined the threads on the shell, too.

Should have specified that; no, I was turning it the correct way (rightey-loosey). :D

Is your BB shell possibly out-of-round? Thinner shells on high-end road bikes are often vulnerable to this. Still, if that's the case, it's going to be a b!tch to get out....
Can you apply heat??

Originally posted by Matadon
Should have specified that; no, I was turning it the correct way (rightey-loosey).

... unless you have an Italian bike, most of which have RH threads on both sides of the BB shell.