Bottom Bracket Woes

StevieGriff · 20-11-2014 3:29pm #1

3rd time in 2 years the bottom bracket on my KTM hard tail has needed to be changed. Previously I had the shop where I bought it from do it under warranty but the shop has since gone out of business. After the BB was swapped last time the clicking under hard effort never subsided and it's just become apparent why.
Just after removing the cranks to see that not only is one of the BB cups crossthreaded but the teeth inside the cup have also been stripped. The non drive side cup is also 100% seized. What are my options? Beside hunting down the moron who did this.

StevieGriff · 20-11-2014 3:38pm

WillyFXP · 20-11-2014 4:51pm

Holy sh!t.....that's some piss poor spannering.

You may have a bit of good luck though, the BB cups are plastic, so the BB threads may still be OK (hopefully). A good quality tool "should" be able to get a grip on the cup and get it out. As for the drive side, brute force should shift it (long handle extension should work).

browsing · 20-11-2014 7:16pm

It mightn't be as bad as it looks. I'd a similar problem with my bb and the tool was slipping out and destroying those threads similar to what you have there. I thought I'd never get it out. The solution was to put a vice on the ground and clamp the tool into the bb. Worked a treat. Replaced the bb again last week. Just remember to loosen the vice as u go as the bb comes out of the frame!

browsing · 20-11-2014 7:29pm

As for the cross threading, are u sure it is? One side is right hand thread. If it is actually cross threaded I wouldn't fancy tackling that.

StevieGriff · 20-11-2014 10:29pm

browsing wrote: »

As for the cross threading, are u sure it is? One side is right hand thread. If it is actually cross threaded I wouldn't fancy tackling that.

I reckon it has to be with how tight it is and yet how much of a gap is between the cup and frame. Taking it to a shop I actually trust tomorrow to see if they can help me manage something.
I can't even fathom how somebody tightened plastic cups that much..

browsing · 21-11-2014 3:04pm

I wouldn't worry about the plastic cup on the non drive side. you never start with the non drive side when it's a plastic cup, start with the other side. It also tends to get tighter over time as it seizes up. Start with the drive side and then you can pry the plastic non drive side out with a screwdriver. The plastic cup tends to degrade anyway. I removed my bb last week and when I went to remove the non drive side cup, it screwed out half way and then cracked in half! I had to smash and pry the rest of it out. it had become totally brittle which may be the case with yours. The plastic cup is the least of your worries, if you get the drive side out you're home and dry. Fair enough if you want to bring it to a shop though and have the hassle over and done with. Let us know how you get on regardless!

fillup · 23-11-2014 10:36am

Here's a post I did on "Today I did something to My Bike" thread a wee while back about my struggles with a BB.
The video I linked to in it saved me from having to do the walk of shame down to the lbs.

After about 4 or 5 attempts I finally removed my BB from my commuter singlespeed. The damn socket kept falling out of the cup every time I put pressure on it
It was only after a few googles and watching this vid (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wzA6MsRPJE) did I realise how simple it is to keep it in place - mega D'Oh on my behalf
Also put a new chain on the bike.
Well chuffed about the BB - first time to swap one out. Piece of piddle when u know how and have the right tools.

Bottom Bracket Woes

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