pennpaul

There's a creaking/clicking coming from my bottom bracket/cranks. It's never been serviced in 15+ years so I thought I'd take it apart and see what's up.

The bike has a BB-6500 bottom bracket which I didn't realize until today is hollow all the way through to the other side. I borrowed a crank puller, but of course, there's nothing for the silver tip of the pusher to push against. What's the correct crank puller for this arrangement?

Thanks,
Paul

rosefarts

So the special tool for those was exactly like the regular tool with a little disc threaded onto the end to make it work.

I still have the tool but lost the disc. Still works on square cranks.

Anyway, the kludge I heard worked was two coins in there. I bet it’s two dimes but might be pennies. Better still would be a nice thick washer with little to no hole. Fiddle around with sizes and see what fits best.

Are you sure they aren’t self extracting? Lots of those were? After 15+ years, that option might not work though.

sweeks

This is the tool: Park CWP-7
If your BB is worn out, you may have a hard time finding a replacement. Octalink V1 was superseded by "V2" fairly soon after it was introduced; needless to say, they are not interchangeable. I bought a spare a couple years ago just in case.

rccardr 

There are plenty of Octo V1 BB’s out there, both new and used.
No need to panic if you need a replacement.

pennpaul

Aha, ok, thanks. I'll ask my friend if he has that extra disk for this.

I guess they don't make pennies like they used to. I stopped turning the screw when it was advancing way too easily and the cranks weren't budging.

rosefarts

Well, that’s my 2 cents worth.

Fwiw, I never did this because I had the tool. I heard about it from someone along the way.

70sSanO

Is Shimano still making the 5500 and 5503 BB?

John

KCT1986

Shimano's web site doesn't show Octo V1 BBs any longer. Only the BB-7710 in 109.5mm for track use. Not sure if there is any differences that make this unusable for a road double.

There was no BB-5503, just BB-5500 & BB-6500 in 109.5 and 118.5 for triple. Dura ace did have a BB-7703 for triple.

70sSanO

Thanks for the info.

I wasn’t sure on the numberings. I have a 6500/03 crankset and the right is a 6503 and the left is 6500. I figured the BB would follow suit (double/triple).

Fortunately I have a couple stashed away.

I checked and I do see the 5500 in stock at some suppliers. I know that was the fallback for a number of years. Hopefully Shimano will keep providing them as they are the only game in town for Shimano 9 speed systems from that era.

John

Edit added: I wonder if the 7710 is serviceable like the 7700 doubles or a sealed cartridge like the triples. From what I’ve read the 7700 were a love/hate BB.

tommymc

The slightly smaller diameter dime might work better to not catch the the arm splines. I tried last week with a standard Park tool for square BB's and one dime but deformed it like the penny. Maybe two stacked will work for you. I finally succeeded with a 1/4 drive 10mm socket and extension to push against the opposite arm with the fixing bolt in. Then did the same with opposite sides. The arms came off easily. Good luck.

HillRider

No, the Octalink V1 was supplemented by the V2, not replaced. The V1 was used on most road cranks and the V2 on MTB cranks and the spline designs are a bit different.

BTW, Shimano made a small mushroom shaped steel plug (TL-FC15) that fit into the hollow Octalink spindle and gave a standard crank extractor a strong surface to push against. An older LBS might have a couple of them still around.

KCT1986

From the Shimano documents it seem that the 7710 and 7703 are normal cartridge units, without adjustable bearings. Don't know if they have double bearings internals like the 7700.

CliffordK

Somewhere I have an Allen head bolt that I picked up at a hardware store that was perfect size to slide into the BB spindle, but the head stopped while not interfering with the crank puller.

It pulls the cranks off very nicely.

pennpaul

Good ideas.

Yes, I've got to look in my spare parts bin. Unfortunately my socket extender was too big to fit.

sweeks

Thanks for that information; apparently I was misinformed. When I heard (the suggestion) that V1 was going away, I went looking for a spare BB. It was pretty hard to find an Ultegra V1, and I think I got one of the last few I could find. Anyway, I'm probably set for life now!

CliffordK

I disagree. So much is going to 24mm external bearing.

Apparently they are still making Dura Ace Octalink V1 track components... Maybe.

Ultegra Octalink is all but gone. I think the same is true for 105.

Claris FC-2450 is a Road-ish Crankset, and got Octalink V2.

sweeks

It's quite possible I have all the bikes I'll ever need. I'm 70 years old and have very comfortable road, mountain/trail and folding commuter bikes, and all the necessary critical replacement parts.
I have nothing against progress, though. It's just not something I need for my personal fleet.

sweeks

It's quite possible I have all the bikes I'll ever need. I'm 70 years old and have very comfortable road, mountain/trail and folding commuter bikes, and all the necessary critical replacement parts.
I have nothing against progress, though. It's just not something I need for my personal fleet.

pennpaul

Got the cranks off. I cut down some all-thread I had around and had that pressing against a socket adapter that fit into the recess on the back of the opposite crank bolt. Both cranks popped off relatively easily.

The non drive side part of the BB also came off relatively easily but now I can't get the drive side off (turning clockwise towards the front of the bike). There's not much engagement with the splines. This might require a visit to the shop.

I feel no play in the BB but it doesn't seem to spin as freely as I'd imagine. I have a different BB that's supposed to fit but then that means getting a different crank to match. Decisions, decisions.

pennpaul

Give me a lever long enough and I'll move the world - Archimedes

wesmamyke

I've saved one 6500 octalink BB by carefully cleaning around the plastic top hat shaped seal. It can get grit behind it and make the whole thing feel worn out.