Best way to remove BB cups?
- Thread starter John DelGato
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I also hammer them out, but use something heavier than a screwdriver. Also more of a blunt striking surface. I have a section of 5/8ths steel rod leftover from making seat posts that works great to knock out cups on the headtube also. As long as you don't damage the race it should be fine.
Almost the exact same but I now use a brass rod
Well you can make a dedicated tool out of a piece of pipe. You need it to be a little less in diameter than the BB. Then cut one end in a cross pattern, maybe four inches, this will make the ends spread a little so they will rest against the BB cup and when you hit with the mallet the force will be distributed evenly.
Wood dowel for aluminum cups with sealed bottom brackets.
I use a large wooden dowel. PVC pipe that's just fits enough to let you tilt it so it will strike the race also works good and doesn't seem to mar the parts.
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Just adding a photo. This tool is intended for headsets, but the same concept applies to bottom bracket cups.
I second RustySpokes, use the correct tool for the job to avoid damaging frames/cups or yourself 
https://www.parktool.com/product/head-cup-remover-rt-1
https://www.parktool.com/product/head-cup-remover-oversized-rt-2
https://www.parktool.com/product/head-cup-remover-rt-1
https://www.parktool.com/product/head-cup-remover-oversized-rt-2
Exactly.
I must admit I had to do this procedure only three times so far, so I simply used a large flathead screwdriver that I positioned on the BB cup and NOT between the cup and the BB housing.
The first time I used a rubber mallet, out of fear I might damage the frame. It took me half an hour and half a gallon of sweat to realize that I need to use a regular steel hammer.
I must admit I had to do this procedure only three times so far, so I simply used a large flathead screwdriver that I positioned on the BB cup and NOT between the cup and the BB housing.
The first time I used a rubber mallet, out of fear I might damage the frame. It took me half an hour and half a gallon of sweat to realize that I need to use a regular steel hammer.
MattiThundrrr
Rattus All Terrainus
That is almost EXACTLY what the homemade version is. Just adds the plastic tip and a logo. I'll stick with my ghetto fab model for nowJust adding a photo. This tool is intended for headsets, but the same concept applies to bottom bracket cups.
MattiThundrrr
Rattus All Terrainus
I used a chunk of electrical conduit, biggest diameter I had laying around. Primitive, and dangerous!
My method.
Make sure you have a solid support behind what you are striking (I rest my frames across a couple 2x4's) I use a brass rod and 3#...spray ..let soak..nice even taps around the inside of the cup.
Make sure you have a solid support behind what you are striking (I rest my frames across a couple 2x4's) I use a brass rod and 3#...spray ..let soak..nice even taps around the inside of the cup.
I use a foot long piece of 1x1 end-grain maple for more than a few jobs.
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Glens bicycle repair manual, the old bike repair bible, from the 60s - 70s used a punch and hammer. I don’t think all these fancy tools were around then. Good enough for Glen, good enough for me.
