Hints on Removing BB cups?
 

I have an FSA crank/bottom bracket that went in for a warrantee checkout for some squeaking (turned out to be the chain). Anyhow, when trying to remove the BB cups (16 point cup), I saw the tech use a 3' breaker bar and still could not budge it!! Wow!

Any ideas of how to get this thing off without cracking the darn frame? They must have been overtorqued when installed. The bike is ~700 miles, 10 weeks old, Scattante carbon frame. I'm thinking of upgrading the BB to Ultegra soon and would like the know that the BB can come off.

I was thinking of stabilizing the bike on the tires, on the floor. Setting the wrench parallel to the floor and then - WHACK! One good impact with a 5# dead blow. Thoughts?

Do not use a hammer on it.

You need to be able to control the force and be able to tell when/if the tool is not seating correctly or is about to strip. My suggestion is to use a cheater bar to increase the amount of leverage. It is possible that the cups were installed with loctite, or nothing. We frequently use a 1m+ cheater bar on really difficult BB's (we see a lot of seized crap due to being a commuter shop). I was also going to suggest using fire, but no go if it's a carbon frame. Also stuff we don't see on a regular basis hehe.

Is it possible that it's corroded/seized? Or is this a brand new bike with no chance of that happening etc. etc.

Use one of these (or some improvisation of it) and you won't need to worry about the BB tool slipping:

http://www.universalcycles.com/image...dium/17658.jpg

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...8&category=215

I've used a lot more than 3 feet of extension to remove a siezed BB cup. Are you sure the tech was turning the cup in the right direction though?

It's a 16 point external BB, fsa mega exo probably. That tool isn't going to hold jack**** because there's no axle for it to screw into.

Here's to paying attention to the OP :cheers:

Don't be so quick to leave yourself out of that group though :)

I'm currently finishing a bottle of 10 year ardbeg. I think I can be excused from this one.

Correct, 16 point nut. Yes, the tech is very good and I verified the direction of the arrows right on the nut.

You have been pardoned.

Operator's right; don't hammer it.

Are you certain you're turning it the proper direction?

i agree, no hammer. don't see why the non drive side cups won't come out. i am old school, so excuse me here: but IF it has a lockring, i assumed it is out and that you are untightening in th eproper direction. my thought is that it is the driveside cup that won't budge, if the axle is allready removed. if im wrong (and probably am) and its some sort of cartridge, then i don't know what to tell ya. picts help.