robertj298 

I've watched the video on servicing bottom brackets and I know I need a crank puller and a lock ring spanner.
Does the spanner come in different sizes or will one size fit all my 1980 Japanese bicycles?

rhenning

They come in a few different sizes as with most bicycle tools. That is why I have a few of them. Roger

SurferRosa

I only use the Park hcw-5 lock ring spanner, and never really had much of a problem across a wide variety of vintage road bikes.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Park-Tool-H...gAAOSw4oFcuJr2

merziac

Old school Sugino for 45 years.

The trick is to finesse it to get ring and cup off without damaging them, the frame, tools or you.

This is where many of us strongly disagree, for me the DS cup ALWAYS comes out as part of a correct and proper service regardless of weather I am just replacing the grease or replacing it for wear, I want it out to inspect the threads of the cup and BB shell and to be able to thoroughly inspect the bearing track in the cup, it also insures that it can and will come out when it has to in the future.

bamab2

If you have a Shimano bottom bracket, I would recommend the Park Tool BBT-7. I was disappointed with the fit of the HCW-5. Way to sloppy and loose. I was afraid to really torque on it. The BBT-7 fit much better. Better feel. May be different on other bottoms. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Park-Tools-...oAAOSwq-JehP-B

BFisher

Do yourself a favor and go to McMaster-Carr. Measure the circle diameter of your lockrings and choose the one that matches.
Link: https://www.mcmaster.com/spanner-wre...on-the-side-7/
This is what you will receive:



About a 1/4" thick, and much less prone to slippage as those thin, stamped spanners. That one is the 45-50mm, as marked. Cost $22.22 It's one of my favorites.

randyjawa 

Can't remember where I got this ring wrench but it works on bottom bracket lock ring/nuts as well as on head set...

noglider 

@BFisher, thanks for the tip on McMaster Carr!

@randyjawa, that looks like a Hozan tool. I have one and like it. It has an increasing radius curve as you go from tip to handle, and it therefore can handle various different size rings.

branko_76 

As previously stated, Mcmaster-Carr is an excellent resource. Their tools are high quality so you'll pay a little more. I have Campy and Sugino BB tools but mostly use my adjustable spanner from Mcmaster-Carr

https://www.mcmaster.com/5471a12

randyjawa 

I now remember where I got the Hozan ring wrench. It came as part of a deal when I bought a lovely Basso Gap, a Motobcane Grand Record and a mint (but very small) Velo Sport Prestige. That wrench and some Campy tools, and one NOS tub of Campy grease were included in the $400.00 for everything deal (didn't even know that the ring wrench was a bicycle tool then)...

gugie 

Hozan BB pliers ftw!



Properly used, they don't slip off easily like the ones shown above. Also, with practice you can tighten/loosen the adjustable cup by squeezing hard on the lock ring, which catches the adjustable cup and allows you to turn it with one hand. Then loosen your grip to tighten just the lock ring. Back in my LBS days I could do a perfect adjustment and tighten the lock ring in 10-15 seconds after everything's hand tight.

Best of all, one tool fits all. They're advertised as BB/HS plliers, and can be used that way, but using them on a HS you're likely to bung up the HS a bit. They're also handy for gently crimping down lug and fork crown points when you're brazing a frame together.

mgopack42 

funny you need one! I have 4!
I knew about two of them, but I cannot for the life of me remember where the other two came from.

BFisher

Glad to share.

randyjawa 

Post number 12 reminded me of an adjustable cup tool that I made many years ago. Case hardened tips and all. I still have it...

ramzilla

If all else fails just grab a 14" pipe wrench.

grizzly59

Found these:

BB fixed cup / lockring spanner (Campy)

BB pin spanner (Park)

nlerner

The lock ring tool I’ve had forever has a hinged arm, making it versatile for a range of sizes.

seypat

If you're taking g out the fixed cup, and it's been in there a while, the best tool for removal is a vise. No need to clamp it. Make the fit snug like with an adjustable wrench. Slip the cup in while holding the frame, Turn the frame like you're turning a steering wheel. Works every time.

verktyg 

This is the best spanner I've found for loosening or tightening BB lock rings.

It fits OVER the lock ring surrounding both sides keeping it in place so it can't shift side to side. The heavy duty vinyl "Dip Seal" coating protects the paint on the BB shell.


These VAR # 16 Lock Ring Pliers work OK but if they slip slightly the "teeth" will bark the paint right off of the BB, worse than with a hook spanner.



verktyg

verktyg 

NO! The best BB fixed cup tool is a VAR # 30 or Campy tool. Other companies like Hozan made or make this kind of tool too. When properly used, there is almost no chance of slipping.

Used these at our shop in the 70's, borrowed them from LBSs over the years. $$$, not for everyone but back about 2007-2008 I figured that I did enough BB overhauls so I bit the bullet. No regrets!

NOTE! Tool is reversed - jaw should be on the other side of the BB! What do marketoids know?


verktyg

seypat

I'm talking about one that is really stubborn. You have someone holding the frame , you have both hands on the fixed cup tool and you still can't move it. Of course, I see you can put a cheater bar on each side of the tool you listed. That should do it.

verktyg 

NO! what you need is a Campagnolo ref. # 1 tool...

AKA: BFH

verktyg

gugie 

Or the Campy version. I've gone almost exclusively to sealed BB's, but if I were doing lot of BB overhauls, I'd shell out the big bucks for that type.

Bad Lag

I have a VAR #16 . I have never had it slip and have never damaged my paint. I also have a VAR #13 adjustable pin tool. Both are very nice tools. The thing is, my bike has had a Phil Wood bottom bracket since ~1978.

verktyg 

Depends on the bike or the build. I usually go with adjustable bearing BBs on all or mostly all original equipped bikes and overhauls. When building up from a bare frame using a mishmash of components then I usually go with sealed bearing cartridges.


Bad Lag I have Phil BBs in about half dozen bikes including one of them that I bought back in 1975 that's been in about 5 different frames.

The last 10 years or so I've been using Shimano UN-55 cartridges and Campy Veloce/Centaur cartridges on a lot of builds.


The Shimano cartridges are selling new for $15-25. I bought a bunch of the Campy BB cartridges for $15 a number of years back.

Last fall I switched the cranks of my 1971 Raleigh Competition beater for gravel grinding. When I bought the bike it had cast SR cranks. I mounted Stronglight 93 cranks to use smaller chainrings and used one of the Campy cartridges. It worked out fine.



The 71 Raleigh had a 66mm wide BB shell rather than the standard 68mm. I had to put two 1mm spacers under the fixed cup to get things to fit properly.



All set for gravel grinding...



verktyg