change bottom bracket

thrope
thrope Posts: 69
edited October 2009 in The workshop
Hi,

I think I need to change my bb - it started creaking and its the only moving part I haven't serviced.

The bike is a 1994 cannondale m500 and the bb is original - so I think it's whatever would have come with the STX groupset of that vintage. But I'm pretty its a square taper cartridge - I'll have to check the size when I get it out.

Anyway I'm going to get a new one and since the part is half as much at CRC than at LBS and on top of that they want £25 for fitting I thought I could buy the tools and do it myself...

But I got a bit confused about which BB tool I need.

I'm going to get this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=10181 crank wrench... but for the BB I'm not so sure. I thought I needed something like this:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=14914
But what is the difference between the splined type one like that that fits in and the wrench type one:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=4062
do either work on most cartridges or is it one or the other?

I was going to replace with Shimano UN54... hopefully the same tool will work on the new one and the old one.

Any advice appreciated,

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    have a read of parktools.

    it shows what tools are needed for each BB.

    but without seeing the bb you can not say which it is but i would say it is most likely to be.

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=14914

    as the other one is for the "new" external bearing BBs.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • thrope
    thrope Posts: 69
    Right - got it... spanner type outside one is for hollowtech, splined socket inside one is for older cartrdige type.

    So I need the splined socket one - that matches what was in my book but I got confused when a friend offered loan of the spanner type one.

    Thanks
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    thrope wrote:
    splined socket inside one is for older cartrdige type.

    not all.

    have a look at yours and see if it is.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • markp2
    markp2 Posts: 162
    Lidl do pretty good cycle tool kits for about £15 now and again. While the quality isn't up to professional standards, it is perfectly adequate for keen DIY work. There is a BB tool included in the kit
    Genesis Croix de Fer - my new commuting mount
    Saracen Hytrail - the workhorse - now pensioned off
    Kinetic-One FK1 roadie - the fast one - hairy legs though!
    Cannondale Jekyll Lefty MTB - the muddy one which keeps tipping me into gorse bushes!
  • Niffleman
    Niffleman Posts: 87
    Thrope,

    Once you have got the cranks off you may need a special bottom bracket cup tool. I just replaced a bottom bracket for the first time and I was vey careful and ensured I had the right tool. The tool needs to be held in position to avoid slippage, and iif the bottom bracket has been in there since 1994 it could be tight. I think you might end up at the LBS, but give it a go.

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