Removing a crank- which way to push or pull

slogfester · Post by **slogfester** » 09 Jul 2014 20:13

Its general service time.
Before I go knacker myself and bike, can some one advise which way I should push/pull to undo the crank. I presume its a normal clockwise thread? So I push down on (pedal) allen key while pushing down (counter weighting) with foot on pedal. Any tips for saving my back/knuckles?
Thanks

20140709_181004 by Slogfester, on Flickr

Patch · Post by **Patch** » 09 Jul 2014 22:25

Yes normal thread Barry, these aren't usually that tight. So in the position of this picture undo anti clockwise.

slogfester · Post by **slogfester** » 04 Sep 2014 18:06

I still haven't done this, but want to real soon...

Before I do, I want to have some new spare BB handy just in case I find a mess in there or -more-likely- strip the external shell even more. (You'll note from this picture that some cack-handed mechanic in Europe had a go last year without taking the crank arm off!)
So, what BB do I need to order? The external marking just says GXP (which figures given they have use a Stylo Truvativ crank arm). It looks like this:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sram-gxp-team-b ... t-cup-set/

Is it? Alternatives?

Thanks

20140904_164338 by Slogfester, on Flickr

Patch · Post by **Patch** » 05 Sep 2014 08:37

Yep that's the one

slogfester · Post by **slogfester** » 11 Oct 2014 20:23

Well I eventually got round to taking the crank off. Just minor skin loss on 2 knuckles

Then discovered I don't have the tool for removing the BB. Well, the one I have is too big. (Have external BBs shrunk in the past 10 years?). So..

What is better for removing external BB, one of these with an arm:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tools-holl ... -arm-tool/

or these:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tools-holl ... cket-tool/
I have a torque wrench that would fit in to this

or these:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-perfor ... et-wrench/
Umm.. I think this was how a mechanic in Europe stripped the heads of dimples (see picture), but it has the advantage of not having to remove the cranks

I have to remove the SRAM gpx mentioned above and the ones on my Ultegra 6800 (BB R60)

Thanks for tolerating my amateurism

dweben · Post by **dweben** » 11 Oct 2014 22:54

I have the first one, you can borrow it if you like... used it today in fact on the old road bike

slogfester · Post by **slogfester** » 12 Oct 2014 07:57

Thx Paul. Have pm you

slogfester · Post by **slogfester** » 12 Oct 2014 17:01

Drat. Unfortunately Paul's tool was too big too! So my question still stands. Which tool is best?

petemarshall · Post by **petemarshall** » 12 Oct 2014 17:37

If those tools are too big, then this particular external BB must require a special tool. The tools you have linked to are for Hollowtech BB, which are a standard size respective of who makes them (Shimano, Hope, Raceface).

I've not come across these particular SRAM BB's but I assume a special tool is required. However at a push any pipe wrench will do the job, but at the risk that the bearing case will be ruined.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-p ... h-14/26843

It's a very useful tool to have anyway, but with each new BB a new tool is inevitably required.

You can always tell a Hollotech BB, the none drive side crank is fastened by two bolts and there is a plastic bearing pre load adjuster on the none crank side. The BB in your picture is clearly not of the hollowtech variety.

dweben · Post by **dweben** » 12 Oct 2014 17:54

Must resist rude joke...

petemarshall · Post by **petemarshall** » 12 Oct 2014 18:10

If you look here
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... orque#sram

and go down to SRAM Giga X Pipe, it explains the removal procedure. Its press fit, so does not require a hollow tech style tool (or indeed a pipe wrench)

slogfester · Post by **slogfester** » 12 Oct 2014 19:09

pete, BB have evidently shrunk in diameter. The new 6800 Ultegra 11 speed BB (BB R60) is the same diameter as the SRAM GPX on my touring bike above. I took a new BB R60 round to Paul's to test and his tool was the same size as my old one. The tools listed below SAY they fit the new 6800 and GPX?

I really don't want to butcher new BBs with a pipe wrench.

Flipin heck, this is all very confusing for the likes of me.

martin mc · Post by **martin mc** » 12 Oct 2014 19:33

According to Park Tools http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... -selection the Ultegra 6800 bottom bracket is 40mm external diameter, previous hollowtech 2 bottom brackets (in common with GXP & Campag cups I have come across) were 44mm so the old tool will not work, thanks Shimano. Park Tools state that at present they do not have a tool suitable for these bottom brackets.
Just to further confuse things Park Tools list Dura Ace BB9000 as being 39mm, FSA MegaEvo as 48mm - both these bottom brackets requiring tool Park Tools BBT-29 which is a double ended wrench. Don't you just love the need for additional standards, maybe the manufacturers just don't want you to be able to maintain your bike yourself!

petemarshall · Post by **petemarshall** » 12 Oct 2014 19:40

Pipe wrench it is then

petemarshall · Post by **petemarshall** » 12 Oct 2014 20:52

This discussion has convinced me even more to remain in the last millennium for as long as possible.
A life time of tool collection has amassed more or less every specialist tool to dismantle bike parts built before 2000. They now seem to invent something new every other week.

I blame Thatcher and Blair for inventing the new millennium.

The last millennium had the best music, films, football and Shaun Kelly. I rest my case.

slogfester · Post by **slogfester** » 12 Oct 2014 20:57

Thanks Martin and Pete.
OK, I have a confession to make

The BB R60 I have came with a unidentified plastic thingy. I have just read (Q&A at http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-bb-r60- ... owtech-ii/) that this is the adapter to fit inside old hollowtech tools. Duh. To be fair Paul spotted it and asked what is was for.
My only mitigation is that unusually there are no instructions included in the Shimano box.
I'll see in the morning if it works (its looks rather flimsy) and if it fits the GXP as well.

Pedlo Mudguardo · Post by **Pedlo Mudguardo** » 12 Oct 2014 22:13

Who the heck is Shaun Kelly ?

Sorry.

dweben · Post by **dweben** » 12 Oct 2014 22:59

Hahaha that's funny... it did look like an adapter, should have question it more...

So, wanna borrow the tool then?

petemarshall · Post by **petemarshall** » 12 Oct 2014 23:25

Im"Pedlo Mudguardo" wrote:Who the heck is Shaun Kelly ?

Sorry.

I think I may have spent too much time watching Shaun the sheep videos with my granddaughter, but he's nearly as cool as Sean.

slogfester · Post by **slogfester** » 13 Oct 2014 12:43

Blimey, this is better than The Archers (Lisa, I am still waiting for a one-sentence exec summary of 40 years of story line!)

So, one mystery solved, another remains totally baffling:

SRAM GXP on my tourer. Turns out to be 'standard' hollowtech 2 diameter. (I'm beginning to think bicycle 'standards' are like computer standards. If you don't like one, just invent another one!). The problem is my (Ice) tool. On the R drive-side, my tools fits and I managed to get the bearing off, but on the L non drive-side the bearing has a smaller inner diameter so the centre-finding thingy on the tool wont fit inside- by about 1 mm. Arrrggghhhhhh. (see pic below). Hence when I originally tried the tool it felt like it was too large and just rotated. But that little puppy has got to come out and be replaced; it sounds like Freddie Flintstone's wheel in there! (the R side is fine). So yes, Paul, can I borrow your spanner tool again?

Ultegra 6800 BB R60. Yes the supplied adapter fits over it, but then the adapters outer diamter is too large by abou 1mm to fit inside my 'standard' hollowtech 2 icetool pictured above. WTF...come onnnnn. It says on the adapter to fit TL-FC32 which is Shimano's 'standard' hollowtech 2 open spanner. But I thought I had the equivalent Icetool of that. Perhaps just a tolerance issue?
Stone the crows

slogfester · Post by **slogfester** » 14 Oct 2014 20:35

Da da...Hooray

You just need the right 'standard' tools

Ultegra BB BR60 adapter: I ended up with 2 x park tools mentioned above and the difference in fit when attaching to the adapter between the 3 tools I now have is significant. Pretty rubbish all on fronts.