Originally Posted by
wazup7156
Yea I read those already and tried the hammer part but I don't want to drill. Is it safe to just leave it as is, with no nut back on top and ride like that? Also, what do i do about the ball bearings falling out? Do i just shove them back in and screw it back? What is stopping them from falling out like they did after i took it off?
-matt
If I were you, I'd take the bike to your LBS. I had to do it last week. They pressed and hammered out the cotters for $5 each. And sold me new ones for $2 each. Then you could take the bottom bracket apart and see how everything works, clean it properly, then reassemble with new balls and grease. Then you won't have to worry about it for years.
As a matter of fact, I've only taken two cottered cranks apart (both mid-70s Peugeots), and had to pay both times to get them unstuck. And I hit them plenty hard with a hammer (while bracing the cranks with a wood block).