Problem with BB removal

[Monsieur Remings]

Yep, too damn stiff to come out. I have the teeth in the couplers, started on the drive side but it won't stay in enough and it's too hard to loosen by hand.

I think perhaps using a ratchet was the wrong idea but the head for the BB tool is pretty large taking a 32mm wrench, so I opted for a half-inch ratchet instead. Problem being I can't use a bolt with the ratchet! Tomorrow I'll find a proper bolt, the one that I used only got itself in about half a cm so despite being the right diameter, the thread is totally wrong for the BB.

So my question is, any other ideas for a stiff BB? Some people on other forums etc have suggested taking the wheels off and laying the bike on the floor, using a mallet in conjunction with a wrench, so any other ideas?

One other question, my trusty DIY store has a rather reasonably priced, Silverline torque wrench working roughly between 28nm and around 200 - I know at the top end it's way too much but wondering whether at the lower end it could be useful.So, how many other jobs would this be useful for on an aluminium bike? Cassette is around 40 nm etc Anything else apart from the ruddy BB of course...

 

[betty swollocks]

Put the tool in and hold it there with a washer and allen bolt through the bb axle.
Next, reality check: are you unscrewing in the correct direction? Remember, the drive side unscrews clockwise and non-drive, anticlockwise.
More specific advise may be forthcoming if you can advise what sort of bb you're trying to remove.
Good luck!

 

[John the Monkey]

My experience/suggestions - http://monkeyphotomcr.blogspot.com/2009/08/bike-maintenance-bottom-bracket-removal.html (link to my blog). I used a cyclo bb tool, and the nut from an old outside tap.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Yep, thanks people. It's counter-intuitive isn't it, clockwise but yep, thanks anyway. It's a square taper and I'll only start to get worried when I've tried a wrench and a bolt through the old axle.

 

[boydj]

Put the tool in a bench vise, marry the bike up to the tool until it is well seated, then you have the leverage of the whole frame to get things moving and the weight of the frame to keep the tool seated. Just make sure you are turning in the right direction. Works for me every time. Great for BB's, cassettes etc.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

Job's a good 'un. Eventually found a similar bolt to the one I had which partially screwed into the old BB thread and ended up using a nut slid down to clamp the BB tool to the teeth. That, and a 300mm adjustable wrench did the job.

Thanks for the advice anyway...

 

[Arjimlad]

Put the tool in a bench vise, marry the bike up to the tool until it is well seated, then you have the leverage of the whole frame to get things moving and the weight of the frame to keep the tool seated. Just make sure you are turning in the right direction. Works for me every time. Great for BB's, cassettes etc.

Me too - glad you got yours sorted too !