Removing bottom bracket
07-23-13 | 01:25 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 17
From: Upstate NY
Bikes: Bianchi San Mateo and a few others
I don't know specifically what make and model your bottom bracket is, but here are some tools you can use to remove your cranks and BB:
* A Crank puller that can remove square taper cranks, like the Park Tool CWP-7.
* A hook spanner (aka bottom bracket wrench), like the Park Tool HCW-5.
* A wrench to turn the crank puller (if yours doesn't have a built-in handle), as well as to turn the fixed cup (drive side) of your existing adjustable bottom bracket.
* A pin spanner to turn the adjustable cup of your bottom bracket, like the Park Tool SPA-2. In a pinch, you can use other tools that fit into the cups dimples to turn it. A pair of small Allen wrenches would work.
To remove the crank arm, remove the crank bolt. Then thread a Crank puller into the threads on the crank arm around the bolt. Turn the crank puller to force its tip inward, which will push on the end of the spindle to force the crank arm off. Repeat on the other side to remove the other arm.
To remove the bottom bracket, use your hook spanner to loosen the lockring on the non-drive side. Then use your pin spanner (or improvised substitute) to turn the adjustable cup until it's threaded out of the bottom bracket shell. Slide the spindle out. On the other side of the bike, use a wrench to turn and remove the fixed cup of your old bottom bracket.
If you're replacing your bottom bracket, make sure you get the appropriate tool to install the particular bottom bracket you have. The tool varies by manufacturer and type of bottom bracket.
* A Crank puller that can remove square taper cranks, like the Park Tool CWP-7.
* A hook spanner (aka bottom bracket wrench), like the Park Tool HCW-5.
* A wrench to turn the crank puller (if yours doesn't have a built-in handle), as well as to turn the fixed cup (drive side) of your existing adjustable bottom bracket.
* A pin spanner to turn the adjustable cup of your bottom bracket, like the Park Tool SPA-2. In a pinch, you can use other tools that fit into the cups dimples to turn it. A pair of small Allen wrenches would work.
To remove the crank arm, remove the crank bolt. Then thread a Crank puller into the threads on the crank arm around the bolt. Turn the crank puller to force its tip inward, which will push on the end of the spindle to force the crank arm off. Repeat on the other side to remove the other arm.
To remove the bottom bracket, use your hook spanner to loosen the lockring on the non-drive side. Then use your pin spanner (or improvised substitute) to turn the adjustable cup until it's threaded out of the bottom bracket shell. Slide the spindle out. On the other side of the bike, use a wrench to turn and remove the fixed cup of your old bottom bracket.
If you're replacing your bottom bracket, make sure you get the appropriate tool to install the particular bottom bracket you have. The tool varies by manufacturer and type of bottom bracket.
07-23-13 | 01:45 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
It's a low-line square taper cup-and-cone bottom bracket. I said "Low-line" because it's a nutted spindle. Better quality spindles are normally bolted. Beyond that, SkyDog75 listed the tools and procedure you need to remove and replace it.
07-23-13 | 03:47 PM
#5
Old fart
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 26,359
Likes: 5,271
From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Agree with what SkyDog75 wrote, but don't bother trying to remove the fixed cup unless you're planning to replace the entire bottom bracket set. Unless you have a shop-quality fixed cup tool ($$$), it's usually more bother than it's worth -- just use a rag to clean it out while it's still in the frame.
