Repack Old Style Bottom Bracket

I am fixing up a Trek 500 road bike, circa mid-to-late-eighties, for my Mom. The bike is in excellent condition, having been in someones garage for most of it's life, but naturally all the bearings, including the bottom bracket, need to be repacked. My questions are

1. How do I get it off? I have removed the crank, but don't know how to unscrew the BB or what special tools I'll need.

2. After I get the bottom bracket out is it worth it to repack it, or is it better (or even possible) to just replace it w/ one of the 'new' cartridge kind?

The easy way with the minimum of tools is to remove the lockring and adjustable cup on the left side.Remove the spindle and bearings from both sides,clean out all old grease and crud, inspect spindle and bearings and repack. Replacing with cartridge type maean you need another tool to remove right cup, and then another tool to install the cartridge.You also have to match spindle length and type. Oh yeah, the right(drive) side is left hand thread, and the left side is right hand thread.

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml

Barrett Manuals in PDF form

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=38747

__________________
( Former Typhoon Driver )

Good link They seem to have nothing on cup and ball BB.

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQadjbb.shtml

__________________
( Former Typhoon Driver )

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the help. I got the BB off & repacked w/ no trouble. Easier than I thought it'd be--the left-handed threads were good to know about.