I finally taught myself how to service bottom brackets. :)
02-08-13, 03:54 AM
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I finally taught myself how to service bottom brackets. :)
The last skill I needed to able to build a bike from scratch pity it needs so many specialized tools. Have to start collecting some good ones.
02-08-13, 09:10 AM
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There are a dozen different bottom bracket "standards" these days so your tool collection is going to be quite extensive if you want to work on a lot of them.
02-08-13, 03:16 PM
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I'd hold off buying tools that you don't have an immediate (or clearly foreseeable) need for unless you get a screaming deal on them, otherwise you may end up with a lot of tools you never use. Unless, of course, you enjoy collecting tools for its own sake!
02-08-13, 03:52 PM
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A bottom bracket overhaul is something done very rarely if done correctly. It's best to have a shop do it or buy only the tools you need for whatever bike you have or build.
02-08-13, 04:36 PM
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I don't agree about having the shop do a bb overhaul if you want to learn how. Even for a cup-and-cone type the tools aren't that expensive and most other types need even less.
02-08-13, 10:52 PM
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Cup and cone I've seen.. I tend to ride cheaper bikes as beaters. Lots of practice with them. Though I find that although they can be rebuilt/repacked they tend to get loose every now and then and that drives me nuts! I hate riding with a wobbly bb. The cartridge ones are nice in that they are rock solid until they die - but then they are done. Personally having tried both I'd rather just put a cartridge down there and repace it than mess with ball bearings and races...
02-09-13, 07:48 AM
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02-09-13, 09:16 AM
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If you torque the fixed cup and lock ring properly they should never loosen on thier own.
02-09-13, 09:28 AM
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The OP was speaking of expensive tools, so I assumed he meant something other that a cup and cone, which can technically be done with no specialized tools other than a crank extractor, and I did give the other option of buying the specific tool needed.
