Servo888

I've got the ring off, and 80% of the BB removed, but I cannot get the drive side portion to unscrew. Do I still follow the standard rule of "to loosen rotate in the direction of the pedal stroke"? I've never played around with a Campagnolo BB before, so I don't want to break anything (haven't used much force). Currently it's soaking in PB Blaster, so I'll play around with it some more when I get back home from my bike ride.

Cheers

04jtb

the Drive Side cup of a Cup and Cone BB is the "fixed cup" so is very tight

Sheldon Brown had a good article on removing them HERE
Scroll down to "fixed cup" and you will find all of the info you need.

Hope this helps

HillRider

If the bottom bracket you picture is the same as the one in your bike and is engraved "1.37x24tpi" it's English threaded and, yes, the drive side cup is left hand threaded and loosens clockwise or "in the direction of the pedal stroke."

If the engraving is "36 mm x 24"tpi", it's Italian and is right-hand threaded and loosens counterclockwise.

In either event, the fixed cup can (and should) be very tight and will require a properly fitted wrench and a lot of force to loosen.

Servo888

Excellent! I'll stop by home depot to fabricate the correct tool :-) .

HillRider

If you have a fixed cup wrench or access to one, here is an alternative to Sheldon's tool that is easier on the cup races.

Buy a 4" long 5/8" bolt, two large diameter thick washers and a nut.

Remove the adjustable cup, spindle and bearings, then thread the adjustable cup back in several turns. Put one washer on the bolt and stick it through the adjustable cup and out the hole in the fixed cup. Place your fixed cup wrench over the bolt, add the second washer and the nut. Align the wrench on the cup's flats and tighten the nut finger tight so the washer holds the wrench firmly in place. Apply force or even a mallet to the wrench to break the cup free. As SOON as it moves even a little. begin to back out the nut to allow the cup to unthread. After a turn or so, you should be able to remove the bolt assembly and remove the cup by hand.

Servo888

I built up the tool, and am able to apply a good amount of force... But I'm kind of scared of overdoing it. I'm using a wrench (~9 inches long), and am applying as much arm force as I can, but it's not budging. I have a metal pipe that I used as a cheater bar to remove an BB on my aluminum frame bike; but the steel frame seems some what weaker... I'll PB blast it a bit more, and try again in 30 minutes.

HillRider

I use a 15" wrench and sometimes rap on it with a mallet to get fixed cups to break loose. They can be TIGHT!!

cranky old road 

Lay the frame on top of a vise with the jaws tightened on the fixed cup. Grasp the frame by the head tube and seat stays, and turn.

HillRider

Be SURE you turn the frame the correct way. With that much leverage you can get the cup REAL tight if you try to turn it the wrong way!

Servo888

I've have the tool setup (I used the 5/8 bolts instead of the 1/2 inch), and have it setup in my vice. Now before I start cranking is this the correct direction for an English threaded bb?

ultraman6970

Who will be the 1st? hehehehe....

cudak888 

Correct indication of the direction to spin frame to loosen BB cup.
Correct indication of the rotation required to tighten fixed cup to frame.
Correct indication that you will likely be spinning the frame enough to justify mounting it in the vise at a different angle to allow for more spinning room 'till you hit the wall.
Correct indication that you should at least repaint that top tube mess if you're disassembling it this far.
Correct indication that I am being a general smart-@$$

-Kurt

Servo888

Good, so that's the correct direction to spin the frame to loosen the BB cup. The frame hasn't been tightened into the vice, it's just resting there in the picture, I will spin it out so it wont hit a wall ;-) .