Grime Time - Hollowtech II bottom bracket swap

[kokong77]

thx very well done

[blackworx]

First tool used: hammer.

[tuubest]

the non-driveside crank is on --> camera moves to rearmech --> the crank is off..

[TheDoosh79]

You could also do with a bit more preventative maintenance rather than waiting until everything is fucked and needing to replace multiple parts.

[blumpher]

@TheDoosh79 ha ha ha!!! you can't ride every week in Welsh mud then,,the only maintenance you can do is keep it clean, and chain oiled, and change it every 3 months or so.The middle ring was on it's 5th or 6th chain I think. There's no maintenance you can do on the bottom bracket , eventually it just wears out.

[TheDoosh79]

You've preloaded the BB bearings wayyyy too much, it shouldn't be gorilla tight, just nip it then back it off about 1/4 turn, too much side loading on the bearing will just make it drag and massively reduce it's life.

[ryanincontrol]

Excellent video although could have been better if you can use both your hands and maybe put the cam on a tripod. Very helpful. Thanks for the upload!

[PCGHthedetonator]

would it work to punch a square taper bottom bracket axis out, usin a hammer ?

[luvpump1]

Tnaks for the upload, my hollowtech bottom bracket also has a bit ove playin in it after 3 years of use, i guess you need to repalce the whole item, rather than just a couple of bearings ?

[koko56]

OMFG - how did the middle rng get so worn out? :O Makes me wonder how the chain did not slip every time a butterfly sat on the pedals! :P

Thanks for the vid, intrstn.

[blumpher]

@koko56 Tthe ring wore out due to lots of miles in the Welsh mud!

[koko56]

@blumpher Did not think it was actually possible to wear out a front ring that bad! :P

[blumpher]

@koko56 those xt ones are very soft...the big ring is now getting very smooth now too!

[koko56]

@blumpher Guess it depends where you ride. I never really been in mud 24/7.

[damo010]

good vid, thanks for posting:)

[mekore]

lot6s of fun...

[blumpher]

@bloodstreak87 no, only for the older square taper or splined systems...hollowtech version can be tapped apart easily.

[RandomDirecter]

@blumpher I removed my hollowtech today but i didnt even need to tap it.

[Blumpheroni]

@RandomDirecter good..it must be the Welsh mud that made mine stick a bit....

[phisean]

@RandomDirecter Yeah, me too. But he's over-tightened the allen bolts - as he said "blisteringly tight", they should only be 14nM, which he'd know if he used a torque wrench. He's therefore deformed the end of the axle resulting in it not being able to go through the bearing shell. This also accounts for the crank arm coming off, he's went beyond the elastic zone of the hollow aluminium axel. It's not the job of the dust cap to keep the arm on, it's just like an adjustment bolt on an aheadset.

[3acdc3mtlca]

Thank you! i thought i needed a tool to get my bottom bracket off but you just wiggle it.

[saintabbott]

Good vid chief, got now worries about doing my own hollowtech replacement this weekend. If youre gonna do other videos tho, FFS dont zoom in on your hand lubing up the thread and crank!!! Lol, TY.

[blumpher]

@saintabbott good...

have fun doing the work.

comment noted!

[gavinmorris]

Proper good and proper Welsh. Excellent!

[hosusto]

not profesional

[rial1234]

great vid but that chain is actually longer than the orignal bcos you measured it against a streched chain, count the links or use an online chain calculator

[blumpher]

@rial1234 sorry, didn't show that. I normally just match the chain up, and push the worn links together so you end up with the same length.

[navdrum001]

Haha, very welsh. Good video. Cheers.

[blumpher]

@navdrum001 croeso boyo! Iecyd da, he says, dancing off around the daffodils, munching on a leek and singing heartily "how green was my vaaaallley"...!!

[cgshand]

legendary one hand action ! thanks for posting this - made my job a hell of a lot easier

[hyunsyu]

excellent job dude! greetings from the USA!

[blumpher]

hi...from Wales!

[hyunsyu]

Question. Here in the States Chris King seems to be the choice, but I have read great things about Hope Tech made in the UK. Any experience or input from your side of the pond??

[Blumpheroni]

@hyunsyu hope stuff is great!

[mrdaineseman]

hello how did you get the crank arm off

[blumpher]

sorry, didn;t show that ! Loosen the 2 allen bolts on the side of the crank, then undo the central nut(you will need the shimano special plastic thumbwheel) and the arm will pull off.

[mc123ed]

you are an absolute legend for doing this with one hand (Y) This video should help me when I eventually get a new frame for my hardtail. Thanks for this vid

[temsonx]

ur a bit of a legend for doin the vids with jus one hand. fair play

[Blumpheroni]

ha ha! I do my bit to keep people amused!

[urbanfireblade]

Another great video from u Blumpher! I always feel sorry for you doing everything one handed, Lol. I'm like 'Nooo!!! Give yourself a break!' Lolol. Some of the best mtb videos are by you! 'Thumbs up!' :)

[Blumpheroni]

thanks for the very kind comments! It's always fun to do a bit of video to give people a laugh. I've got to do a big service this week...rear gear cable snapped on a ride in the Quantocks, rear brake pads wore out, this bottom bracket is completely worn out and the forks need a service. Will bleed the brakes again and ready for the spring! have fun...

[xXtomboulterXx]

just to let you know, the preload bolt should only be done up finger tight. If you do it up as tight as you can ruin the bearings. your cranks probably fell off because of the pinch bolts rather than that little bolt! just a tip for next time!

otherwise great vid!

[blumpher]

yes, comments on preload correct, that's why they give you sucha small plastic tool to tighten it up. My mate said I did it up too tight but it's only just worn out so not bad for the time it's been on there and the weather this summer in Wales! The cranks came off when the plastic bolt split whilst out on a ride...the pinch bolts wouldn't keep the crank arm on even when done up creakingly tight. thanks for the kind comments, merry xmas!

[jonezy0123456789]

wait so to get the spindel out u can jst hit it with a hammer

[russiannuke]

@jonezy0123456789 he used a rubber mallet to do it, and i do believe that park makes a tool to pull off stubborn hollowtech 2 cranks. fwiw mine came off without needing either.

[tinnitusuk]

Fantastic video - very helpful.

I might even try replacing the crank myself - but it typically never goes according to plan when I try it!

[blumpher]

Thanks for the very kind comments!

Have a go...you know it will be satisfying when it all goes swimmingly...

[blumpher]

that's ok, glad it helped! This bearing has now worn out and a new bottom bracket is due, so that's 18 months use...it has been worn out for 6 months though and I've just carried on using it! the cranks are wobbling too much now...

[squirrelybmx]

thanks for replying

[squirrelybmx]

is that a european bottom bracket?

[pixuma]

it's probably either english or italian

and i think turner uses english

euro, spanish, mid, and american are usually only found on BMX bikes.

but you probably already knew that :)

[blumpher]

it's the standard hollowtech 2 mountain bike bottom bracket...there's only one type for mtb's I think...I've gone through the whole european/spanish/american hassle with my jump bike and still don't uderstand the difference!

[sunlee77]

cool vid, you need an assistant to hold the camera whilst you work though.. :)

[filthuponyou]

i wish i saw this yesterday

[blumpher]

!

hope it reassured you that you had done it right!

[filthuponyou]

i replaced the bottom bracket, trying to fix a screeching noise. but i think it's coming from the crank itself

[blumpher]

?

take the chain off ans spin the pedals to see if you get the noise then. It might be something else, pedal axle perhaps, or is it the freewheel? good luck

[anthonydacko51]

Excellent video, Also very helpful.

[Gromitdog1]

is that the proper technique if you wish to save the bb and not replace it? I can see the hammer inducing flat spots into the bearing surfaces. A puller might be the better tool if there is such a thing.

[blumpher]

the axle is a push fit so it would be unlikely I would have thought... mind you i only ever take it apart when it is worn out...

if you could get a puller to fit on the gear side, you might do more damage to the cogs, than any possible slight damage to the bearings?

[Darrenov]

I put the brake disc on wrong way round, i pity the fool.

[blumpher]

!

you will only do that once..

surprised this caused a problem though..

[Darrenov]

Excellent and very funny commentary

[blumpher]

I try to keep the viewers amused....

[Darrenov]

Done my bottom bracket and forks according to your video, cheers. I also regreased my front hub fine. When i took my rear cassette off to clean it and regrease my bearings, after putting it back together the wheel sits skiwiff, its very close to the left chainstay part of the frame almost rubbing it. Any clues? Born in Pontypool now in Bristol.

[blumpher]

sure the wheel has gone properly fully into the dropouts?undo the quick release, take the wheel out, check for any dirt in there and check it's fully home.If you've only undone the cassette then the wheel won't have been affected.

[Darrenov]

Wheel sits nicely in. I've taken the bearings and axle out, regreased and put back in, seems to spin smooth and there is no play. The cassette tool only just fitted, i had to whack it a few times with my hand so it stayed in so i could get some purchase with the whip. Is it possible i've pushed the spokes in a little from one side and changed the shape of the wheel?

[blumpher]

? I'd be amazed if you've done that. Are they cup and cone bearings, eg shimano hubs? are you sure you have put the right bearings and number in the hub, and have you put the spacers and washers back as they came off? You don't need to use the chain whip to refit the cassette...I'd take it all apart again and check you've got it together right.

Good luck!

[Darrenov]

Thanks for your advice

[GarJE]

Can I do this one-handed? LOL.

Where abouts are you from? I'm down in Swansea. Good guide!

[blumpher]

you can try...

I'm not far away, near Pontypridd

[goldenWillmen]

thx for showing how to uninstal it ! :P lol i use a dirt jump bike named distric 1, on the one i want to fix a chain guard. I have external bearing but they are not looking like ur one and im not able to uninstal it,that %&$% ?%** anyway. XD if someone know an answhere for that .. send me a reply pleas ! *_*

[MTBTrevor]

so to get the bottom bracket out all you have to do is beat on it?

[blumpher]

don't know what you mean...just use the correct spanner and turn in as indicated on the bearing housing

[jondogh]

ok thanks alot

[jondogh]

very helpful and easy to follow what pedels do you have on the bike

[blumpher]

thanks for your comments. Pedals are freeplay downhill flats, they were only £20 from cyclebasket com and are greasable. I greased them when new, and have regreased them every 6 months and the bearings are still like new.Lovely grip too with the 5 10 impact shoes which are also great.

[ivan001]

This was very nice. Actually I want to change the frame of my bike keeping the components and I know I can do everything but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to dissasemble and assemble de pedals and crank... now it looks like possible

[blumpher]

yes, it's easy! go and buy the new frame, you know you want to!

[Suzukibandit444]

Looks more easy than i thought.

Did the LX middle ring sorted out the chainsuck?

[blumpher]

it isn't hard as long as you have the right tools to undo/tighten up everything. The xt standard middle ring wears really quickly as it's aluminium, bu the lx is steel and beiong marginally heavier lasts a lot longer.

LX ring sorts the chainsuck for some considerable time! remember to change the chains regularly for maximum life...

[blumpher]

It has lasted a year so far, it did start to grind a bit but that seems to have worn off!

They are much more rigid than the old square taper though...

[chocolategourmand]

"Thanks Shimano...yet more money" LOL. So true. This is great video. I'm getting ready for my first hollowtech install, once frame and parts are ready.

[blumpher]

thanks for the kind remarks...and thanks as  well for subscribing!

[rompemonster]

thanks a bunch -most impressive the one handed sram quicklocking :-)

[blumpher]

thanks...

going to service my marzocchi 66's shortly and have a pair of Fox Vanillas to do so more maintenance vids to come...

got to do the Kona Mashup this weekend, so that will get it set up for an oil change!

[jamesb15uk]

now... can I do this one handed? HaHa :) great vid cheers.

[drewdj]

I'm changing out my crankset for a shimano hollowtech. How do I know how many BB spacers to use?

[blumpher]

Depends on the bottom bracket shell width...the instructions explain it, and say where and how many spacers to use. You should also get the spacers in the box with the crankset.Have fun!

[cstubing]

Have you tried any of those wax-based chain lubes?  Any impressions?

[blumpher]

yes I have, they work okish on the roadbike but seem to last no time at all off road, with the chain squeaking really quickly, especially if you get it wet. I use the finish line wet lube, but dust does tend to stick to it when it's dry(not very often in Wales this year...)

[jonbrummond]

exactly what I was looking for. I was about to spend $60 to have my local bike shop do what I thought was beyond my skill set. Thanks for the vid.

[blumpher]

that's ok, send the money to my website!

Glad it helped.Subscribe to our video channel and see the other videos.

[Jakero2020]

Awesome video, helped heaps

[blumpher]

I've been amaed how many people have found this helpful...will try and video every bit of maintenance now..thanks for all the kind comments.

[peterahughes]

The honour is all mine dude, from one fellow Welshman to another, (assuming you're Welsh).

Top postings throughout bro!

[blumpher]

yes...from near pontypridd...if you are local come along to a ride!

[peterahughes]

Very nicely done, and very helpful. Many thnks for this. All the best

[blumpher]

thanks for the nice comment! and welcome to the site, I see you have subscribed..video of the Dyfi enduro to follow shortly..

should have videoed the rim change I did on a wheel last night, blast it!

[taius20]

quality vid. very helpfull. are most bikes set up like that with the bottom bracket or are there many variations?

[Blumpheroni]

this is the current shimano design, there were a couple of variations they did before then, the octalink one wears out almost instantly and is not recommended, and the old square taper has fallen out of fashion.

[blumpher]

what do you mean tighetened too much?

it must be my climbing grip!

Music was Janis Joplin(in my Hippy phase at present....)

[patriot6]

the crank tension nut was tightened a bit much??

but what is the music playing in the background??? and how much is the computer from pc world on the advert in the paper??

[bradbiker]

one handed well done