I have this bottom bracket that's being impossible. I've been stuck on it for a long time. I would really appreciate some help in understanding this.
In the pictures, the tool I have doesn't fit in that side. The tool just sits on top but it's not engaged. I'm also having trouble with what way to turn it. It actually seems like the bottom bracket is attached the wrong way.
The tool I use is an Amazon knockoff of ParkTool BBT22.
Thanks
by My-Lane
6 Comments
On the drive side you turn clockwise to remove, counter clockwise on the non drive side. Honestly if the tool didn’t fit return it. You’ll damage the BB if it doesn’t fit.
You will need a tool that fits and then turn it clockwise on the drive side to remove. Turn counterclockwise on non-drive side.
Start by removing the bolt holding the cable guide to the bb. The put your bb tool in a vise and use the frame as leverage.
As others have said the direction to unscrew is important as well as tool fitting. The picture looks like it might be the right size but hard to tell. It’s an old frame so it’s possible that it’s the original BB and seized. To get leverage it’s going to be better to put both wheels on the bike, stand it up, a longer lever/wrench and it might break free. It might not. At that point you might need a shop with a power tool and the correct BB tool to take it off.
Those BB tools do not sit terribly deep in the splines under the best of circumstances, and the splines on that bottom bracket are slightly stripped.
You need to make sure you are holding the tool in place in the splines with your hand to keep it fully engaged or there is a Park tool that screws into the axle and allows you to tighten down the bottom bracket tool into the splines (BBT-RS).
Might be worth it to pay a shop to do this if you don’t want to buy any more tools.
If you have a vise, put the tool in the vise and use the frame as leverage to turn it. This also puts weight on the tool so it stays better in there.