Not the best quality but I can take another one, but I'm pretty sure there are no holes, but there are sunken bits at each side.

Looks like spanner flats there to me

Yeah me too, might even be able to get that into a bench vice if it gives too much resistance.

definitely spanner flats. Take off the lock ring and then get yourself a decent big nut-fucker (otherwise know as an adjustable spanner or cresent) and go to it.

I think that usually the left hand side when sitting on the bike has a left hand thread (i.e. you have to turn it in the opposite direction to normal to undo it).

I have an enormous crescent so I'll get that onto it. Thanks boys.

Woooo! Mission accomplished.

Nice! Interwebs help at its best

Trail wrote:... I think that usually the left hand side when sitting on the bike has a left hand thread (i.e. you have to turn it in the opposite direction to normal to undo it).

Yeah nah it is the drive side cup which usually has the reversed thread.
Exceptions where both sides have ordinary right-hand threads are:
- Italian threaded BBs
- French threaded BBs - this died out in the early 1980s, bon riddance.

Pedals are the other way around, the left pedal always has a reverse thread.

And something that only old bike fiends would need to know, I think some freewheel outer cones have reversed threads. And conceivably some Left pedal end caps, so they don't unscrew when they hit the road.

I'm swapping out parts onto a new frame (On-one inbred 29r).

I think the drive-side bottom bracket shell thread needs to be cleaned up. (Yup. reverse thread - lucky my bottom bearing cups have nice arrows reminding me which way to turn). I can't even turn it a 3/4 turn - and doesn't want to go in straight. The BB cup thread is still good, as it goes back into the old frame smooth as butter.

Do I need to get the bottom bracket shell thread cleaned up with a tool? I've also heard stories about people just forcing an old steel bottom bracket on with a tool to clean up the thread. Anyone tried that?

Also - Is it normal to sell brand new frames that need this work done?

Cheers for helping out a noob.

Some new frames do need the threads chasing, due to paint, whatever stuck in them. Don't force it. Get a shop to do it. I'd wager somewhere around $20-$30 would be the usual.

Cool - thanks.

xxgreg wrote:Do I need to get the bottom bracket shell thread cleaned up with a tool?

Yes. It probably needs a good facing too. If not, you can try cleaning the threads with a comb type thread tool.

xxgreg wrote:I've also heard stories about people just forcing an old steel bottom bracket on with a tool to clean up the thread. Anyone tried that?

Works, but extremely easy to do badly and ruin frame.

xxgreg wrote:Also - Is it normal to sell brand new frames that need this work done?

Sadly, most framesets need it these days, even some particularly expensive ones.

How accurately aligned are the BB threads in steel bikes, and are any brands known to be particularly good or bad?
I have never been game to try external bearings so far but might be driven to it by the rarity of square taper compact cranks above 170mm long.

Face the frame and use shimano or chris king bb, no problem.

musket wrote:Face the frame and use shimano or chris king bb, no problem.

seconded