Which BB Tool?

Johnny Napalm
Johnny Napalm Posts: 1,458
edited July 2009 in MTB workshop & tech
Hi.

Just had my bb shell faced, and I'm going to buy a bb tool to fit my XT bb. Looking at what's available, I can see that there are two basic types -

Circle
BBCircle.jpg

Crescent
BBCrescent.jpg

Correct me if I'm wrong, and I usually am, but do you get a better fit/purchase on the cup using the 'circle' style tool?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marin
SS Inbred
Mongoose Teocali Super

Comments

  • Zeroman_IR
    Zeroman_IR Posts: 290
    One thing I've seen about these is that you don't have to remove the cranks to adjust the BB with the crescent tool, just loosen them. Whereas with the fully enclosed type, the cranks have to come off.
  • Johnny Napalm
    Johnny Napalm Posts: 1,458
    That's a bloody good point, Zeroman!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Marin
    SS Inbred
    Mongoose Teocali Super
  • bikaholic
    bikaholic Posts: 350
    A disadvantage with the crescent design is that it may flex and slip off the BB cups if they are screwed in tight. The tool will cause a lot of marks if it is not secured (eg using a QR skewer with two large washers) onto the BB when you use it.

    When buying, also look to see if the 8-spline star tool (for screwing in/unscrewing the preload cap on HollowTech II cranksets) is included. Make sure it is atleast about 8mm long in case the preload cap is recessed into the crank arm.
  • Johnny Napalm
    Johnny Napalm Posts: 1,458
    also look to see if the 8-spline star tool (for screwing in/unscrewing the preload cap on HollowTech II cranksets) is included

    Thanks for that, mate!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Marin
    SS Inbred
    Mongoose Teocali Super
  • Dazzza
    Dazzza Posts: 2,364
    Personally i use a mixture of the crescent tool and a socket, best of both worlds.

    As for the socket i use this one, you won't be breaking it soon.

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=26744
    The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.
    Giant Anthem X
  • richg1979
    richg1979 Posts: 1,087
    ive always used a cresent type with out any probs.