Removing cranks and bottom brackets

[Kell]

Following my cracked frame on one bike, I decided to combine all the good bits onto another bike.

I had a marathon session yesterday where I intended to only change the front mech, but as one was gripshift and the other triggers, I couldn't just do the mech. I then had to change the shifter. And then I couldn't just do one shifter, I had to do both. And then I had to change the rear mech too as the shifter would only give me half a block.

But then I couldn't use the bars as they were riser bars and the shifters wouldn't go on far enough to get the brakes and the grips.

So I started to do that and then I had to change the stem as the bars were different sizes.

So my '1/2 hour job' turned into a 4-5 hour session as I'm a mechanical numpty and everything takes me three times as long as it should.

Which brings me to the point of this post.

My cracked frame has a brand new bottom bracket in it. Probably ridden the bike three times since it was installed.

The other bike, however, has been used for about 5 years with the same BB. And I want to take the good one out and swap them over before I junk the frame.

And that's where I'm stuck.

Are all crank pullers the same?

And are all BB tools the same?

And if not, how do I know what I need to complete the job?

Thanks in advance.

[outnumbered]

Answers to questions are: No, and No.

Try posting photos on here and someone can advise on what tools you need.

[Kell]

OK will do.

Thought that might be the answer.

[deadtom]

Kell said:

OK will do.

Thought that might be the answer.

by making some fairly big assumptions based on little information about the bikes you are dealing with, I will say that you probably need a standard square taper crank puller and a standard internal bearing type BB removal tool, but provide pics or at least make and/or model and/or year for proper guidance

[Kell]

The bike a 2008 Dahon Matrix.

I'm at work at the moment, but I'll get some pics when I get in tonight.

Thanks.

[BadgerBenji]

[Justin S]

If the old bottom bracket is smooth, I'd leave alone. I would suspect the Dahon BB would be just a cheapy square taper replacement, which would cost you more in tools than it is actually worth. Such as .......

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-un26-sq...

Bottom bracket

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/weldtite-shiman...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-crank-e...

Cheapy tools needed to remove it.

[ecsrobin]

BadgerBenji said:

Best BB tool and headset tool I've ever head.

[Kell]

Justin S said:

If the old bottom bracket is smooth, I'd leave alone. I would suspect the Dahon BB would be just a cheapy square taper replacement, which would cost you more in tools than it is actually worth. Such as .......

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-un26-sq...

Bottom bracket

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/weldtite-shiman...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-crank-e...

Cheapy tools needed to remove it.

The good bike is the one with the cheapy Dahon BB. the knackered one has the new BB in it. I suspect it's a Shimano unit but no real idea.

[Kell]

Tried posting pics last night from my phone, but it wouldn't work.

Hopefully have more luck here:





And a pic of the cracked frame:

[BGarside]

You need a standard crank extractor for a square-taper bottom bracket.

Make sure the central part of the tool is screwed outwards before you screw the threaded OD of the tool into the crank threads.

You also need a Shimano-compatible bottom bracket removal tool (with a spanner big enough to clamp on the outside of the tool and turn it).

P.S: Right hand bottom bracket cup is generally a left hand thread.

[Kell]

Thank you.

As mentioned above, it might not be the most expensive of BBs, but it's a job I've always wanted to be able to do.

[ecsrobin]

Although for £10 you can get a new BB so probably not worth swapping over. Just get a crank extractor and new BB

[Kell]

ecsrobin said:

Although for £10 you can get a new BB so probably not worth swapping over. Just get a crank extractor and new BB

True, but by the same token if I'm buying the tools anyway I may as well do it... it might only be a tenner's worth, but it's got less than 7 miles on it.

Whereas the one in the other bike must have 4,000+.

I've got an old cycling toolset that's got tools like the ones linked to above - I just didn't know that's what they were...

I'll see if I can make those work. Though by the sounds of it, they're likely to as it all seems pretty standard.

[Kermit power]

Justin S said:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-crank-e...

Cheapy tools needed to remove it.

Thanks for that. I'd always wondered what the hell that part of my toolkit was for!!!

I must've bought a universal BB toolkit, and as I've only ever fitted or removed Shimano Octalink BBs, I've never needed any of that bit....

[Incorrigible]

IMHO, the more modern external BB are much nicer (assuming that's what you have on the other bike) and getting a tool for these would be worthwhile. Same for the crank removal

So I would buy those tools and just get the LBS to remove the old stuff that you're unlikely to ever need tools for again

[Kermit power]

Incorrigible said:

IMHO, the more modern external BB are much nicer (assuming that's what you have on the other bike) and getting a tool for these would be worthwhile. Same for the crank removal

So I would buy those tools and just get the LBS to remove the old stuff that you're unlikely to ever need tools for again

Do you even need a tool for modern crank removal? I just pressed mine against a lump of wood and it popped out as easy as anything...