[email protected] (guy tedesco) wrote in message
news:<
[email protected]>...
> i have a mongoose crossway 250 and need to tighten the bb. i think i need a crank remover,pin
> spanner, and lockring wrench. i just wanted to check with you gguys first before i start buying
> tools i might not need.-guy from long island
I can't comment on this particular bike.
IMHO BB maintenance (non-cartrige BBs of course)can be done without these (but crank remover is a
tool everyone should have - see below).
If all you want to do is adjust the BB then you don't need to remove the cranks (though a loose old
BB would probably benefit from an internal inspection, clean and grease) - but a crank puller is a
useful tool to have, so I would get one. An old BB going loose can be due to excessive wear and
tear, if you take it apart you will see, otherwise, if you tighten it and the BB wears loose again
in a few weeks then it is probably worn out.
C-spanners aren't really needed to remove/tighten the lockring. I use an old file with a large, flat
end to it, sit it (tangentially) in the lockring notch so that I have loosen by gently hammering.
This has never failed. Tigtening is the same. Of course you risk damaging the notch in the ring, but
this has never caused me problems.
Pin spanners are IMHO(experience a long time ago) less than robust. Use a punch or a (bluntish) nail
to undo/tighten the adjustable cup.
On the fixed cup side I use a large adjustable spanner. It took a couple of hardware shops to find
one big enough. I use this for headsets also.
I know many will disagree, and I know that the right tool for the right job is generally a sound
adage, but with increasing use of cartrige BBs it really isn't worth investing in these just to
maintain a BB on an old bike.
There, now I will duck down behind the parapet and await the barage.