Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
Bikes: 1982 Bianchi Superleggera (restored with NOS campagnolo components), 1987 Bianchi Campione Del Mundo, 1995 Bianchi Denali (M900/950 XTR components, viscous cycles rigid fork, mavic ceramics), 1996 Specialized Hardrock (winter beater, 8 speed XT group
The BB tool I use accepts a 1/2" drive (sorry don't have it handy for brand name). Use a 1/2" breaker bar, not a rachet. If not enough leverage w/breaker bar slide a lenght of pipe over the bar. I've used a 3' bar with someone holding the frame before I got one BB to loosen.
Threads get stripped from over tightening, not loosening. If BB has been in a long time the threads may be siezed into those of the frame. I'd only worry if frame was Al as then frame treads may come out w/BB (sort of like a spark plug in an Al head). A "thread lubricant" will prevent this (I won't start the anti-sieze vs grease argument again..............).