Help! My bottom bracket is totally seized

[Jimmy Doug]

Hi
Well, I know that this is about the most posted problem on bicycle mechanic forums, but I'm really at a loss. I've been trying to remove my bottom bracket and I think I've buggered everything up. The thing seems to have cold welded - a steel cartridge on an aluminium frame , probably not greased in the factory and now totally seized. I've tried leverage, hammering, and now I've stripped the splines trying to use a chisel, but all to no avail. Is drilling through the cartridge a possibility? Is so, how? I can't find anything that clearly explains this. I really hope someone can help - I'm so attached to this bike.
PS - I know the drive side is reverse threaded!

 

[Cubist]

I'm pretty confident at most things, but this sounds like a job for the professionals.

 

[Andy_R]

Have you tried heating the shell with a hot air gun or hairdryer? Alu heats up quicker than steel (I may be wrong, but hey, it's worth a try) so the shell may expand enough to allow you to release the bracket.

 

[HovR]

It's almost certainly too late for this now, but the correct approach would have been to securely bolt/fasten the bottom bracket removal tool in place (using a g-clamp, QR skewer or bolt depending on the BB), getting someone large to hold the bike, and use a decent length scaffolding pole (preferably 6 foot plus) as a lever on the end of the tool.

If the spines really are knackered, then I'd take it to the LBS, or you'll risk damaging your frame if you try cutting/drilling it out.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Have you tried heating the shell with a hot air gun or hairdryer? Alu heats up quicker than steel (I may be wrong, but hey, it's worth a try) so the shell may expand enough to allow you to release the bracket.

I've thought about this but I'm worried about damaging the frame

 

[smokeysmoo]

+1 for Cubist's comment. Some jobs are just best left to those who can

[EDIT] + HovR's too (cross posted).

 

[Jimmy Doug]

+1 for Cubist's comment. Some jobs are just best left to those who can

Trouble is that there aren't many good places around here - I've started doubting the only guy I trusted here as Mickle has told me on two separate occasions to be beware of him .

 

[HovR]

I've thought about this but I'm worried about damaging the frame

You won't damage the frame with the sort of heat a heatgun puts out, although you do risk damaging the paint if it gets too hot. A hairdryer shouldn't get hot enough to be able to do this, although some gas heat guns or blow torches will.

That said, I've heated up plenty of frames with a blow torch and never damaged any paint, although it is possible.

 

[rockyraccoon]

I was in similar situation not long ago.. After several days I gave in, took to my LBS and for less than a tenner I had it removed and back same day. However, the mechanic, poor bugger, told me the bb only came off after a lot of swearing, sweating and screaming.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Trouble is that there aren't many good places around here - I've started doubting the only guy I trusted here as Mickle has told me on two separate occasions to be beware of him .

Shout up on here for recommendations in your area. Unfortunately "Somewhere strange between Amiens and Paris" really doesn't help

There must be some serious cycle mechanics in France

 

[Jimmy Doug]

You won't damage the frame with the sort of heat a heatgun puts out, although you do risk damaging the paint if it gets too hot. A hairdryer shouldn't get hot enough to be able to do this, although some gas heat guns or blow torches will.

That said, I've heated up plenty of frames with a blow torch and never damaged any paint, although it is possible.

It's something iI can try. Did the bb come out quite easily? I don't know how much force I'm going to be able to put to it now I've damaged the spines.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Shout up on here for recommendations in your area. Unfortunately "Somewhere strange between Amiens and Paris" really doesn't help

There must be some serious cycle mechanics in France

He he! The problem in France is Décathlon has destroyed practically all the decent bike shops. The LBSs are making a slow comeback, though; but only in the big towns - not out in this strange place between Amiens and Paris!

 

[HovR]

It's something iI can try. Did the bb come out quite easily? I don't know how much force I'm going to be able to put to it now I've damaged the spines.

With my most recent stuck BB, when I had the BB tool (ok, I used a portable vice as I don't have the tool for old fashioned cup & cone BB's) securely clamped on with a g-clamp, and had the BB shell nicely heated up, the BB came out fairly easily... with the use of a 6 foot extension pole.

Imagine the blue miniature vice is your BB tool, held in place securely with the G-clamp (or QR skewer if you have a hollow axle, and your tool allows).

I then used the long blue pole you see in the bottom of the picture to get plenty of leverage on the BB tool/vice.

The BB was in a bit of a state when I got it out..

Note this isn't my bike - Mine wouldn't get in to such a condition!

 

[Cubist]

A friend of mine used to use a phrase I don't repeat all that often, but I'll make an exception here.
F*ck Me O'Reilly.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Holy cow! That's the mother of all buggered bottom brackets!
Thanks for posting those pics. I'll see if I can get my hands on a long pole like that one - hopefully I haven't stripped the splines so bad I can't try. I like the way you used a g-clamp to keep the bb extractor in place. Nice.