yeah, like everything else on the bike when i got it, the fixed cup was actually relatively loose, so i removed it with some pliers, hoping that my bb was somehow 24tpi and could take a standard cartridge. not the case, so, i cleaned up both cups and bearings, put in an accordion sleeve and new grease and put it back together...probably should have replaced the bearings while i was at it, actually. oh well. I kind of hate these old style cup and cone bbs, such a pain...those bb tools are nice indeed, but yeah, a little much for my needs. You're probably right about the bolt method, and sheldon does mention that exceptionally tight cups can snap a bolt...the bolt i bought did have a relatively fine thread though.