Bottom Bracket Tool Advice

[Heltor Chasca]

I plan to take all our bikes’ bottom brackets apart for a service after this winter’s loveliness. I am a fan of Park Tools, but just can’t find the correct match on google or YouTube. It’s probably really straightforward but as usual I’m probably overthinking things. These are the bottom brackets in our stable:

1/ BB RS500 Road

2/ BB UN55 (square taper so will also need to know the crank extractor needed)

3/ BB52 Mountain

4/ SRAM GXP

Thank you in advance.

 

[chriswoody]

1 and 3 are Hollowtech bottom brackets, so they'll both come off with just the one tool, I've got one of these and they work really well. The little black wheel for the pre load bolt is a little fiddly, but it does work.

For Square taper cranks (Number two on your list) I use a tool similar to this to pull the cranks off. It just needs a 17mm and 19mm spanner. Easy job. Then with the cranks off, you'll need this tool to remove the bottom bracket. Again pretty straight forward.

I've got all of the above tools and use them to replace the same bottom brackets you have, on my fleet of bikes.

I'm not so clued up on SRAM though. Hopefully someone else can pop along with hands on experience.

 

[wisdom]

Pop a couple of photos up it may help as some will be able to tell by looking.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

1 and 3 are Hollowtech bottom brackets, so they'll both come off with just the one tool, I've got one of these and they work really well. The little black wheel for the pre load bolt is a little fiddly, but it does work.

For Square taper cranks (Number two on your list) I use a tool similar to this to pull the cranks off. It just needs a 17mm and 19mm spanner. Easy job. Then with the cranks off, you'll need this tool to remove the bottom bracket. Again pretty straight forward.

I've got all of the above tools and use them to replace the same bottom brackets you have, on my fleet of bikes.

I'm not so clued up on SRAM though. Hopefully someone else can pop along with hands on experience.

Fantastic answer. Thank you.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Pop a couple of photos up it may help as some will be able to tell by looking.

Good idea that I didn’t think of. I’ll wait till light. Thank you.

 

[Jenkins]

The same tool linked to by @chriswoody for the Hollowtech BBs will also work for the SRAM GXP, you just don't need to use the little black wheel thingy - it's what I use on mine.

 

[Cycleops]

If you buy this thirty quid tool set from Decathlon it will give you all you need plus a few extra useful ones too:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/500-19-piece-bike-tool-set-id_8379660.html
Recommended.

 

[chriswoody]

The Decathlon set is OK, but just be aware it doesn't contain the Bottom Bracket removal tool.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

The same tool linked to by @chriswoody for the Hollowtech BBs will also work for the SRAM GXP, you just don't need to use the little black wheel thingy - it's what I use on mine.

That’s very useful. Thank you.

If you buy this thirty quid tool set from Decathlon it will give you all you need plus a few extra useful ones too:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/500-19-piece-bike-tool-set-id_8379660.html
Recommended.

I am a big fan of Decathlon, bit. Didn’t even think to look here. Thank you. So you don’t recommend the $500 Park Tool kit?

The Decathlon set is OK, but just be aware it doesn't contain the Bottom Bracket removal tool.

Thank you. I tried very hard to see what was in the kit, but it is difficult to see what some of the bits are. It would be useful if they listed each item.

 

[Ajax Bay]

what was in the kit, but it is difficult to see what some of the bits are. It would be useful if they listed each item.

Tab: Detailed Information
Composition(down arrow to expand):
1 bottom bracket spanner (Hollowtech II, Truvativ GXP, FSA & MegaExo).
1 crank arm bolt puller.
1 spoke wrench (9,10,11,12,13,14,15G).
1 cassette remover for Shimano HG.
3 tyre levers.
1 Torx key (T25).
1 chain whip.
1 pedal spanner (15 mm).
6 Allen keys (2/2.5/3/4/5/6).
1 square tapered crank remover.
1 socket wrench (8 mm)
1 drive socket or extractor.
1 chain tool (6- to 10-speed).

Asa @chriswoody says, it doesn't include the square taper BB splined tool (but does include the crank extractor).

 

[simongt]

$500 Park Tool kit?

Horses for courses, but for me, Park tools are very well made and good value because they last. Pedro's tools are also very good.
Rather than buy a complete kit, I've built my tool collection up over the years, buying what I need when I need it. There are some more special application tools which you may need, but only use once in a blue moon. But if you don't have THAT particular tool, you're stuck - !

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Tab: Detailed Information
Composition(down arrow to expand):
1 bottom bracket spanner (Hollowtech II, Truvativ GXP, FSA & MegaExo).
1 crank arm bolt puller.
1 spoke wrench (9,10,11,12,13,14,15G).
1 cassette remover for Shimano HG.
3 tyre levers.
1 Torx key (T25).
1 chain whip.
1 pedal spanner (15 mm).
6 Allen keys (2/2.5/3/4/5/6).
1 square tapered crank remover.
1 socket wrench (8 mm)
1 drive socket or extractor.
1 chain tool (6- to 10-speed).

Asa @chriswoody says, it doesn't include the square taper BB splined tool (but does include the crank extractor).

Just worked how to use the 2nd drop down arrow. Thank you.

Horses for courses, but for me, Park tools are very well made and good value because they last. Pedro's tools are also very good.
Rather than buy a complete kit, I've built my tool collection up over the years, buying what I need when I need it. There are some more special application tools which you may need, but only use once in a blue moon. But if you don't have THAT particular tool, you're stuck - !

Thank you. Exactly how I have acquired my other Park Tools which I also think are good value. When I can, I will probably get the cheaper of the Decathlon kits and add the bits they don’t have. And as and when (if) they break or wear down, I will upgrade to Park Tool.

YouTube as ever and has great videos on each of the BBs on our bikes. They are also shown in my Zinn book. BBs were always a bit of a dark art to me, but actually they are quite easy to service.

 

[guitarpete247]

I'm looking for tool/socket to remove and insert Hollowtech BB. I want something that I can use with a socket set to remove and torque wrench to insert. this seems a good combination tool

from here
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Icetoolz-E...1536922156&sr=8-14&keywords=shimano+BB+socket
Though I don't like Amazon

 

[smutchin]

The same tool linked to by @chriswoody for the Hollowtech BBs will also work for the SRAM GXP, you just don't need to use the little black wheel thingy - it's what I use on mine.

@Heltor Chasca Note that the little black wheel thingy on the Park Tool is for the preload cap on the LH crank for Hollowtech systems. The SRAM uses an 8mm? hex bolt fitting instead (and I believe it is also self-extracting so you just keep turning it until the crank comes off).

 

[Blue Hills]

1 and 3 are Hollowtech bottom brackets, so they'll both come off with just the one tool, I've got one of these and they work really well. The little black wheel for the pre load bolt is a little fiddly, but it does work.

For Square taper cranks (Number two on your list) I use a tool similar to this to pull the cranks off. It just needs a 17mm and 19mm spanner. Easy job. Then with the cranks off, you'll need this tool to remove the bottom bracket. Again pretty straight forward.

.

All good advice, but to add my tuppenceworth - I consider the normal bottom bracket tool to be a surprising abomination - BBs are one of the most likely bits on a bike to stick/seize in, because of where they are on the bike and because folk tend to forget about them* and not touch them in years - something the OP is wisely intending to rectify.

So it can require a hell of a lot of force to get one out without damaging the bike or yourself. But of course there is nothing to actually hold the tool onto the BB, making it quite likely that the tool will slip, damaging the tool - and only the tool if you are lucky.

Hence I would recommend additional outlay on one of these.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NU2FJK6/ref=pe_3187911_189395841_TE_3p_dp_1

Works with both splined and square taper bottom brackets by screwing into the BB's internal crank bolt threads.

If you are prepared to await delivery from the Far East can also be had for about two quid.

Tacx also do a one-piece tool for square taper bottom brackets - helped me get a square taper out of an old bike I bought the other day that had probably been in there for 20 years.


* Square tapers in particular as they last so long.