Bottom bracket removal

[SSmatty]

any tips for removing the BB cups from an old frame?
I've got the left side out ok, but the right side seems stuck fast.
It has 1 1/2 inch flats on the cup, so I bought I wide jaw adjustable spanner, but that just slips.
I wonder if a proper 1 1/2 inch open ended would work or even clamp the flats in a bench vice and turn the frame.
I am cautious about heating the BB shell unless I really have to.

Advice please.

 

[Profpointy]

you do know one side unscrews the "wrong" way don't you ?

 

[Profpointy]

you do know one side unscrews the "wrong" way don't you ?

PS guess how I know this

 

[Yellow Saddle]

you do know one side unscrews the "wrong" way don't you ?

Unless it is an old Italian frame. I would say, check twice, force once.

 

[SSmatty]

Which side?
It's an English frame.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

any tips for removing the BB cups from an old frame?
I've got the left side out ok, but the right side seems stuck fast.
It has 1 1/2 inch flats on the cup, so I bought I wide jaw adjustable spanner, but that just slips.
I wonder if a proper 1 1/2 inch open ended would work or even clamp the flats in a bench vice and turn the frame.
I am cautious about heating the BB shell unless I really have to.

Advice please.

There is a special spanner for that job. Don't graunch it with a standard spanner that fits. The special one does not have an open end and helps to secure it. Then, once you have the spanner, don't rely entirely on it to hold the grip. The flats on the BB are so narrow that the slightest out-of-alignment or slip will make the spanner disengage. This damages the spanner and the BB.

What you have to do is rig a set of washers and bolts so that the spanner is bolted onto the BB. You rig this up by using the crank bolt and a bunch of spacers and stuff. As soon as the BB moves, you remove all of this because the BB needs space to unscrew.

 

[cosmicbike]

Which side?
It's an English frame.

Drive side, that with the chairing on. I did my Dad's Peugeot last week using a big adjustable spanner held in place manually, a sharp tap with a hammer freed it off nicely.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Which side?
It's an English frame.

Left is standard right hand thread - lefty loosy righty tighty.
Right is left hand thread. Lefty tighty righty loosy.

 

[SSmatty]

Where will I get one of those spanners?

Or is it a job for the lbs?

 

[Yellow Saddle]

To confirm that it is indeed English check for anything BSA engraved on the BB somewhere.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Where will I get one of those spanners?

Or is it a job for the lbs?

It is a special bike tool and going out of style thanks to modern external cup BBs. Check with your shop.

If you have not yet damaged the flats, you can use a good quality open spanner but still try and bolt it to the workpiece.

 

[SSmatty]

It's the drive side I've struggled with.
Doh!
I wish I'd bought a big adjustable instead of a wide jaw one now.

 

[SSmatty]

Thanks fellas, your help and advice is really appreciated.

 

[Tim Hall]

If you're still stuck, Sheldon Brown has an excellent method using a big nut and bolt. http://sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/bbcups.html
Scroll down to "Fixed Cup Tools".

 

[Racing roadkill]

Chisel it out. I used a ratchet wrench with a flat head screwdriver socket attatched and a hammer, last time this happened to me . It looked, and sounded a bit brutal, but it worked.