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Why does nobody warn you about seized bottom brackets on winter commuters?
Had a customer roll in Tuesday with a Trek FX that sat outside all winter near the lake in Duluth, and that bottom bracket was fused solid. I spent 40 minutes with a breaker bar and PB Blaster before that cup finally broke loose with a crack that scared my dog in the back room. The whole shell was full of orange rust water, and the crank spindle looked like it came off a shipwreck. Now I pull cranks on every bike that comes in covered in road salt, even if the owner swears it shifts fine. Any of you got a trick for loosening a seized cup without stripping the splines?
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kai56422d ago
Penetrating oil alone won't touch rust that bad, you gotta hit it with heat first then quench it with the PB. The expand/contract cycle breaks the rust bond way better than soaking it for days. Just watch the paint and don't cook the shell too long or you'll warp it.
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