JoeTheUseless

Hi there my bottom bracket is loose I can move it to sort off to an angle with the peddles I don't know if the bottom bracket is broken or just needs tightening it got that loose a few weeks ago the lockring actually came loose and the bike was dangerous to ride at that point I have since tightened the lockring which has helped lots but still the bottom bracket is still lose so something else needs adjusting I can't remove/tighten the bottom bracket as it has a bolt that none of my wrenches can reach here is a picture of the same bolt but different bike as my camera is rubbish sorry :-)



Something bothers me though looking at this now is there supposed to be a securing flat bolt in front of the lock ring there is nothing in front of my lock ring yet my old broken rusting bike has one here is what i mean



If the Bottom bracket is indeed missing this flat bolt in front do the new bottom brackets include them so i don't have to buy the seperatly also can someone direct me to the right tools as i want to hopefully fix this myself

Thanks

Joe

FBinNY 

It might have been more helpful if you posted a photo of the problem BB instead of the old one, or maybe both for comparison.

If this is indeed a classic cup/cone BB like your old one, the left cup may have holes in the face for a wrench like this one.
There are many versions of similar tools, I just picked one as an example.

There are also other styles of cups, and non-adjustable cartridge BBs. So the process starts with knowing what you have.

Fastfingaz

You can rebuild the BB as you have now or change to a cartridge type as someone mentioned, I did that to one of my bikes and it really simplified things, only thing you have to spend more, first buying the cartridge and it takes a special tool to tighten them so if I remember , the cartridge was 20.00 and the tool was 20.00 +-,, but now you'll have the tool for the next job??? to remove the cranks you'll need the puller ..........

cny-bikeman

The item in the 2nd pic is NOT a "securing flat bolt," but part of the BB cup. Your pic from previous BB thread shows a BB with flats instead. Whether either of those or holes for a pin tool the function is the same. It's CRITICAL to hold onto the cup while tightening the lockring, and to tighten very securely.

The bolt you refer to inside the crank arm is tightened with a socket or a tool made for tightening crank bolts. It tightens the crank arm to the BB spindle, does NOT tighten/adjust the BB.

You seem to not be getting how things operate by observation and remote assistance, so are there any bike co-ops or "bike kitchens" nearby? Do a Google search and if one is accessible go there for assistance, or just take to a shop - not an expensive process to tighten/adjust.

fietsbob

Might have to extract the Left Crank arm . to get good access to adjustable Cup with a common adjustable spanner, and the Lock Ring..

perhaps its not been cleaned and greased in a while Too, so overhaul the whole thing and then sort out the Fine Tuning..

or opt for a Fit and forget Cartridge BB instead of the whole thing..

cny-bikeman

I doubt the OP is currently capable of doing a BB overhaul, including obtaining the correct BB for his particular application - best to get in-person assistance. Also, there is the matter of removal of the fixed cup if replacing. Replacement would mean no reason to buy BB tools other than extractor for the removal.

fietsbob

solid nut fixed BB spindles have not been used for quite a while ..

grease may be antique