LBS does the job............just

[colly]

The other day I stripped down my old but trusty geared bike. I had a couple of problems, having to drill out the brake bolt though the rear bridge which I managed OK. But when it came to the bb.............no chance. I pushed, pulled, hammered and cursed but it would not budge.

So yesterday afternoon I dropped into the LBS and asked if they could remove it for me. No problem. Couple of minutes he says.
I wandered about while he was gone looking at stuff, like you do, and happened to wander past the door to the workshop. I heard an awful screeching/groaning sound and caught sight of my frame clamped firmly with the mechanic using a lo-ooong lever over the bb removal tool and he was pulling for all he was worth. The bb was SO tight (cold weld) it took almost 10 mins to undo both sides.

I left them to it and eventually the guy comes out and tells me the frame will probably need re-tapping before the bb will go back on. Which will be no problem seeing as I am going to get it powder coated and it would need doing anyway. Probably.

Anyway to the point. The LBS bloke left the bb on the counter and I paid him his £5 and I looked at some stuff on the wall and said goodbye and picked up the bb. It was HOT.
Fully 5 maybe 7 mins after being removed. The friction was so intense it left it hot to handle, even the bb shell on the frame was still very warm to the touch.

I guess not washing the salt spray off the bike after a ride doesn't help.

 

[david1701]

The other day I stripped down my old but trusty geared bike. I had a couple of problems, having to drill out the brake bolt though the rear bridge which I managed OK. But when it came to the bb.............no chance. I pushed, pulled, hammered and cursed but it would not budge.

So yesterday afternoon I dropped into the LBS and asked if they could remove it for me. No problem. Couple of minutes he says.
I wandered about while he was gone looking at stuff, like you do, and happened to wander past the door to the workshop. I heard an awful screeching/groaning sound and caught sight of my frame clamped firmly with the mechanic using a lo-ooong lever over the bb removal tool and he was pulling for all he was worth. The bb was SO tight (cold weld) it took almost 10 mins to undo both sides.

I left them to it and eventually the guy comes out and tells me the frame will probably need re-tapping before the bb will go back on. Which will be no problem seeing as I am going to get it powder coated and it would need doing anyway. Probably.

Anyway to the point. The LBS bloke left the bb on the counter and I paid him his £5 and I looked at some stuff on the wall and said goodbye and picked up the bb. It was HOT.
Fully 5 maybe 7 mins after being removed. The friction was so intense it left it hot to handle, even the bb shell on the frame was still very warm to the touch.

I guess not washing the salt spray off the bike after a ride doesn't help.

I recently changed a year old BB and it took a big spanner and all I had, I understand lbs mans pain. I really wished I had my brothers impact gun

 

[colly]

What are your plans for the bike? You mention a respray but are you adding a new group set? Who is respraying the frame? Do you have a fancy colour-scheme in mind? Hope you are going to post some pictures as the renovation takes shape..

By the way, I felt very sad when Bob Jackson shut their shop and workshop to concentrate on making frames. I know why Donald did it (he couldn't compete with the on-line retailers) but whenever I went in with one of my BJ bikes, they were always really helpful

It was looking well shabby so I thought it was time for it to be spruced up. It isn't a fancy frame (I think I paid something like 90 quid for it new 10 years ago).

I'm going to get it powder coated, not sure about the colour yet.
If it was worth it I would probably get a nice fancy job done by Bob Jackson or some such but tbh it's bit of a clunker.

I did have a really nice Bob Jackson framed bike, orange and white made with Reynolds 753 tubing. Sadly it was stolen. Uninsured at the time. This frame is what I bought at the time just to get me some wheels and I've been riding it ever since. It's alloy so is a bit on the harsh side to ride on a long trip but I am used to it.

I'm using a nice steel framed bike just now and it is definitely more forgiving.

 

[vernon]

What are your plans for the bike? You mention a respray but are you adding a new group set? Who is respraying the frame? Do you have a fancy colour-scheme in mind? Hope you are going to post some pictures as the renovation takes shape..

By the way, I felt very sad when Bob Jackson shut their shop and workshop to concentrate on making frames. I know why Donald did it (he couldn't compete with the on-line retailers) but whenever I went in with one of my BJ bikes, they were always really helpful

Woodrup Cycles is a great alternative to Bob Jacksons. At one time Bob Jackson and Maurice Woodrup were partners in a bike shop before going their seperate ways a long time ago.

Woodrup Cycles seem to be thriving - their frame building enterprise is very busy and the retail side has expanded with more staff employed than ever before. My only gripe with Woodrups is that they know how to prise my wallet open and part me from my money on a regular basis.

 

[Red Light]

Are you sure he didn't heat up the BB and shell to help release it? Its a standard trick.

As for removing one the best way is to hold the BB tool in place with a bolt into the spindle and then fix the BB tool into a solidly mounted bench vice. You can then tug on the frame as a really big lever arm. But just make sure you've worked out which way you should be tugging or you'll do it up tighter.

 

[colly]

Are you sure he didn't heat up the BB and shell to help release it? Its a standard trick.

From what I saw he didn't anything but brute force. Also the paint on the shell shows no signs of discolouration.
I know I wouldn't have managed it.

 

[biggs682]

i went to my lbs today only to be told they have run out of headsets !!!

 

[Red Light]

From what I saw he didn't anything but brute force. Also the paint on the shell shows no signs of discolouration.
I know I wouldn't have managed it.

Pouring a kettle of boiling water over the BB shell would help and not discolour the paint.

 

[Saddle bum]

Boiling water can work, but this case seems extreme. "Plus Gas" penetrating fluid and an over night wait would be next. I've had years of experience of removing screws that have been in for up to 100 years from ancient bits of kit, (not biikes), but BBs can be exceptional. This is usually due to owners not doing proper maintainence.

Most BB tools can be clamped in a vice so you can grab hold of the frame and use it as a lever. If that don't work, you are up **** street.

 

[Red Light]

Boiling water can work, but this case seems extreme. "Plus Gas" penetrating fluid and an over night wait would be next.

Two completely different effects. Plus Gas penetrates and lubricates the threads. Boiling water expands the shell off the cups due to the differential expansion of the different materials making the threads a less tight grip. There are lots of things that Plus Gas won't help with that boiling water or a blow torch will - but they have to be of the right materials for it to work otherwise it might be a pipe freezer you need.