Stuff you learn(t) the hard way by being your own mechanic

[droo]

On 10/19/2024 at 6:58 AM, RobertWhitehead said:

Two things that were confirmed this morning:

1) I'm not a fan of droppers

2) The easiest and best way to remove Easy grips is with a compressor and a duster nozzle

Fixed it for you.

[madmarc]

1 hour ago, droo said:

Fixed it for you.

I concur 

[The Ouzo]

Make sure all the fittings of your bleed kit are tightened properly before bleeding brakes.

 

Bike has done close to 35 000km, in this time I've never serviced bearings or bled / changed brake fluid. Decided last week, that since I'm taking a few days off the bike, and I'm on leave, I'd take my time, strip the bike down and service what has been neglected.

When it came to the brake bleeding, I started with the front, I could not figure out why there is so much air in the system since they have been working 100% fine. Decided to check the fittings and realised the one fitting was not screwed in tight. Luckily its the front brake, so hose is not long and it was quick enough to get all air out the system after that.

[MrJacques]

I'm struggling with a stuck pressfit bb. Tried hammering to no avail. Would a bearing puller tool work?

My concern is that there isn't enough exposed bb shell around it for the cup to hold onto, if that makes sense.

 

 

[Dusty]

2 hours ago, MrJacques said:

I'm struggling with a stuck pressfit bb. Tried hammering to no avail. Would a bearing puller tool work?

My concern is that there isn't enough exposed bb shell around it for the cup to hold onto, if that makes sense.

 

 

Press fit BBs........eish.

That is when I rely on my local bike shop.

[MrJacques]

27 minutes ago, Dusty said:

Press fit BBs........eish.

That is when I rely on my local bike shop.

Probably the best and easiest option. It doesn't look too difficult if you have the correct tools, but I'd still prefer threaded. At least I got the drive side one out now. Left not budging, yet.

Install doesn't look too difficult. I'll probably get some threaded rod, nuts and washers to make a press. Depending on how well that works I might buy more proper tools.

[droo]

1 hour ago, MrJacques said:

I'm struggling with a stuck pressfit bb. Tried hammering to no avail. Would a bearing puller tool work?

My concern is that there isn't enough exposed bb shell around it for the cup to hold onto, if that makes sense.

 

 

I'd guess your problem is that the frame isn't supported close enough to the BB for you to be able to get enough shock through the interface to knock it out. Ideally a block of wood with a hole in it the size of the OD of the BB would work to support the frame so you can get a proper whack in, but that's a very specific size of bit you'd need to make it. Making 2 V blocks might be easier to do but more difficult to manage on your own.

That extractor should do the job if you're up for buying tools, but for a quick and dirty fix you can knock the bearing out of the shell which should remove enough of the preload to get the shell out. afterwards. To get the bearing out, lay the shell flat on a block of wood for support - no need for anything special, you'll be able to move it enough just on a flat surface to get it loose, then back in the stand for the last bit.

[MrJacques]

12 minutes ago, droo said:

I'd guess your problem is that the frame isn't supported close enough to the BB for you to be able to get enough shock through the interface to knock it out. Ideally a block of wood with a hole in it the size of the OD of the BB would work to support the frame so you can get a proper whack in, but that's a very specific size of bit you'd need to make it. Making 2 V blocks might be easier to do but more difficult to manage on your own.

That extractor should do the job if you're up for buying tools, but for a quick and dirty fix you can knock the bearing out of the shell which should remove enough of the preload to get the shell out. afterwards. To get the bearing out, lay the shell flat on a block of wood for support - no need for anything special, you'll be able to move it enough just on a flat surface to get it loose, then back in the stand for the last bit.

Thanks

Any tips for installation? Would a diy solution work? I suppose the most important part would be to get the bb in straight and have a washer that covers the entire area.

[droo]

2 minutes ago, MrJacques said:

Thanks

Any tips for installation? Would a diy solution work? I suppose the most important part would be to get the bb in straight and have a washer that covers the entire area.

"A DIY solution" is a very broad spectrum, I haven't seen what you're capable of... no offence meant, but I've seen some questionable work in my time.

But yes, getting it in straight is the most important bit. And the easiest thing to break in the process is the sleeve between the two cups, which will go out of alignment if a mouse farts in the next room.

This is one of those jobs that I'd say either get the tool or get the LBS to do it for you. Unless you have a carpenter's bench vise, which is about the only non-standard tool I can think of with big enough parallel jaws to get the job done.

[MrJacques]

8 minutes ago, droo said:

"A DIY solution" is a very broad spectrum, I haven't seen what you're capable of... no offence meant, but I've seen some questionable work in my time.

But yes, getting it in straight is the most important bit. And the easiest thing to break in the process is the sleeve between the two cups, which will go out of alignment if a mouse farts in the next room.

This is one of those jobs that I'd say either get the tool or get the LBS to do it for you. Unless you have a carpenter's bench vise, which is about the only non-standard tool I can think of with big enough parallel jaws to get the job done.

Thanks. I'll need to think about whether I'm going to try to install a new one myself.

After getting the RH one out I managed to get the left one out using a pvc pipe which was just the right size for the job. It might be stuck in the pipe now 😅



Is there a significant difference between the MT500 and MT800 / SMBB7141 ones? Is it worth the extra cost? I might not have much of a choice as the lbs doesn't have the cheaper one. And I'm not 100% sure which the correct one is.

[MORNE]

When i still chose to mess about with Press Fit BB’s….I used these:

essentially turns a press fit shell into a threaded one by expanding that sleeve as you crank it down in there. Worked well enough and never had creaks. Lasted well too and are fully serviceable. 

But yea, these days if a frame is not BSA i don't even consider it as an option when im shopping. 

On a different but related home spanner note, i finally got me a set of press, extractor tools and drifts to do my pivot bearings myself. Once a shops does it more than twice it becomes close to what these bad boys cost. So decided to take the plunge. Also, tools are nice. 

I also did my first 50h suspension services this december. It was annoyingly simple, cant believe it took me this long to try it myself haha.  Same with dropper services. But I enjoy working on my stuff and don't have 2 left hands either.  I acknowledge not everyone has the time or patients though. 

Im virtually now emancipated from bikeshops - except for bleeding fork dampers or doing full services on rear shocks. That I’ll leave to the guys with the speciality tools and knowhow (for now😅)

[MrJacques]

Similar to this one. A bit expensive, but probably worth it depending on how long a BB lasts and how often it needs to be replaced.

@MORNE  What brand / model are the pivot tools?

[MORNE]

2 hours ago, MrJacques said:

Similar to this one. A bit expensive, but probably worth it depending on how long a BB lasts and how often it needs to be replaced.

@MORNE  What brand / model are the pivot tools?

Brought them in from the UK. They make bike model specific ‘sets’ so you don't end up buying a set with 400 drifts you don't really need. The set for my bike is for 4 bearing sizes and i included extra drifts (you can buy them loose) for wheel/hub bearings. All the ones i need on my current bike. Thought it was a good way to buy what i need now and then eventually just ad extra drifts as needed. 

https://www.bearingprotools.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqEKZ_8xkO8tQjZ1MBer4XAamgiYWLzLcFT1-F64lSr-iwij71E

[love2fly]

5 hours ago, MORNE said:

When i still chose to mess about with Press Fit BB’s….I used these:

essentially turns a press fit shell into a threaded one by expanding that sleeve as you crank it down in there. Worked well enough and never had creaks. Lasted well too and are fully serviceable. 

But yea, these days if a frame is not BSA i don't even consider it as an option when im shopping. 

On a different but related home spanner note, i finally got me a set of press, extractor tools and drifts to do my pivot bearings myself. Once a shops does it more than twice it becomes close to what these bad boys cost. So decided to take the plunge. Also, tools are nice. 

I also did my first 50h suspension services this december. It was annoyingly simple, cant believe it took me this long to try it myself haha.  Same with dropper services. But I enjoy working on my stuff and don't have 2 left hands either.  I acknowledge not everyone has the time or patients though. 

Im virtually now emancipated from bikeshops - except for bleeding fork dampers or doing full services on rear shocks. That I’ll leave to the guys with the speciality tools and knowhow (for now😅)

I converted my Cannondale Supersix Evo to the Wheels Manufacturing thread together similar to the above.

The issue I encountered I'd that they use thin o rings where the ends fit into the frame and then the cream is back.

I replace them but also adds very thin o ring where the flat part faces against the frame.

That gives me 6 months of silence....

[MORNE]

2 hours ago, love2fly said:

I converted my Cannondale Supersix Evo to the Wheels Manufacturing thread together similar to the above.

The issue I encountered I'd that they use thin o rings where the ends fit into the frame and then the cream is back.

I replace them but also adds very thin o ring where the flat part faces against the frame.

That gives me 6 months of silence....

Death to press fit BB’s!!! 

[love2fly]

7 minutes ago, MORNE said:

Death to press fit BB’s!!! 

Many will say that a PF BB properly installed is good but I'm not sure....