Carrera Virtuoso bottom bracket woes.

[LosingFocus]

Hi all,l I'm after some help with the bottom bracket on my trusty Virt.



First off, got an issue with getting the old one off the bike. I've got the cranks off both sides, removed the lockring on the non-drive side and also undone the BB there (after trying to turn it the wrong way, doh). So, that’s off and I can remove the whole ting, but I cant for the life of me get the drive side undone. Ive tried and Ive tried, but it won’t budge. Any ideas?



Secondly, from the looks of it, the old BB is a cheap and nasty job (shocker) that isnt a cartridge (bearings in a brace, plastic tube with CH-2J on it...) I want to put a new Shimano UN55 in here. Measuring the square taper from end to end, it seems to be 110mm, does this sound right for a compact double bike? I assume I can just fit a UN55 on this bike?



Thanks in advance people...

 

[Hip Priest]

Hi. The BB should have a unique code on it which determines the size of the replacement it needs. You'll need to look at that before ordering a replacement. As for getting it off, you could perhaps try that Finish Line freeze spray, which shrinks metal parts so you can remove them. Bit steep though at £10.99.

 

[LosingFocus]

Hi HP, the only thing on it is those 4 letters CH-2J...

 

[Wooliferkins]

Presuming a BS threaded bottom bracket (1xLH, 1xRH thread) which I would fully expect a Carrera to have, all you need is the axle length 110 is about par for a shimano double.

 

[LosingFocus]

Ta Wooliferkins, Offton CycleSurgery at lunch I go!

 

[actonblue]

Measure the axle and measure the bottom bracket shell.

 

[LosingFocus]

Ok, so new BB purchased (UN55) to put on tonight assuming I get the old one off. I've ggot the bike on its side on the floor drive side up. Just to check, I need to get it off by turning clockwise?

 

[PpPete]

Yes & No
Turn it over and take off the non-drive side first. That unscrews anti-clockwise.
Then the drive side, unscrews clockwise.

It might not be necessary to do the removal in that order with modern cartridge bearings, but it's a good habit to get into, and re-assembly is certainly the reverse: drive side in first.