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 is this frame saver you speak of?

I have no idea how to answer your question however?

Framesaver is an aerosol coating that is meant to be sprayed inside of the tubes on a steel frame to prevent rusting should water get in. It is a waxy/oily liquid in a volatile carrier that evaporates leaving a thin waxy coat; some claim it is identical to some auto rust proofing products.

To the OP: I would wait to remove the BB to insure that you can do a good job. It would be hard to predict if any framesaver would get into the areas where it would impact the BB function.

I agree with the removing the BB suggestion.

Also, roll the frame around so the Framesaver gets on more surfaces on the interior. Ideally let it sit for a couple days to really set up before rebuilding your bike. I had my shop apply a good amount of Framesaver when my bike was built a couple winters ago and now I just give it a squirt in the really exposed spots before the salt season starts in earnest.

The stuff is crazy sticky/tacky and looks like earwax. Apply it in an area where you don't care about the floor or have put down a LOT of newspaper. Wipe the exterior of your frame thoroughly when you're done.

I doubt it would damage your bottom bracket. I use it on the winches and cables on our barge, and it works brilliantly. It's awful tempting to try it on my chain (but it is damn expensive).

I suspect Weigle's framesaver is actually Shell Ensis oil, created for preserving steel in hostile environments. I will be buying ensis in 20l drums and might try it on the chain.

The reason I'd hesitate to get Framesaver in the BB is that it contains a solvent carrier that makes the stuff more fluid but then evaporates. I wouldn't want this to accidentally get into the BB bearings. There is a British car product called Waxoyl that is very similar to Framesaver.

I use Framesaver, on my bike and barge. Believe me, Waxoyl is nothing like it.

Waxoyl is black, sticky and gets everywhere for months after it applied. Framesaver dries to a waxy-feel coating that doesn't stain fabric.

You might be right about the solvent, I guess it could 'wash' out the bb grease.

Thought I heard somewhere that framesaver was a preffered product to use because it would not dissolve grease. My worry is that the waxy finish might gum-up the BB somehow.

linseed oil worked very well on my old benotto

Do you not have a cartridge BB? If it is cartridge, I would not have thought there would be that much of a penetrating action.

I agree with many others - Remove the BB first.

I treated my Cross-Check with frame saver before I built it up. I can't say as to whether frame saver would damage your BB, but why take the chance? It gets really sticky when it dries, and I think you'd want to get good coverage in BB shell and the thread. The only way to ensure that is for it to be open and accessible. Do the right thing, get it pulled or buy the tools to do it yourself.