Tight external Bottom Bracket
 

I'm building up a bike and I went to put on a Ultegra SM-BB67000 external BB (BC1.37 - the 68mm one) onto a Cannondale Six13 frame. I've seen other people just hand turn the cups on without much resistance until the very end.

I did this, but ended up with considerable resistance (couldn't turn by hand) with about a 2mm gap on both sides.
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...4/DSCN0921.jpg

I don't have the Park BBT-9 tool yet, but I was concerned about not being able to turn all the way by hand. Is the resistance normal?

Would suggest getting the BB faced and tapped, this should make it easier to insert the BB, as the threads will be nice and clean.

New or used frame? Was there a BB on it before? Sometimes gunk will build up on the threads beyond the end of the old BB. That could account for the resistance.

Occasionally the threads stop or there's some physical impedance in the bb. However, thats a pretty modern frame with a standard bb, so a physical impedance would be odd.

The frame is used (about 300 miles) and did have a bottom bracket already installed. There was definitely gunk built up but it looked like (and felt like) silver grease.

It was more than likely anti-seize. I would back the bb out, use some WD40 or light solvent and a toothbrush and rag to clean the threads. Once clean use waterprrof grease or more anti-seize and reinstall the bb. If you still cannot intall the bb correctly have the shop do it as it may need to be faced or threads cut deeper.

Yeah, that's probably it. I noticed the anti-seize on the the threads. I'll wipe it off and give it another shot tonight.

I'm not sure if this is possible, but the plastic sleeve between the cups may not be seated correctly; preventing you from threading the last bit.

My father always told me to use the right tool for the job and he was right.

So, I got the BBT-9 Park bottom bracket tool yesterday and it solved the problem. Yes, there was anti-seize on the new bottom bracket (which prevented it being turned by hand), but the extra leverage of the correct tool easily turned the BB into the frame.

Thanks for those who replied and let this thread be record to those experiencing problems in the future.