u/Lowtech_Living

Swapping out BB for first time

Update: Got the cranks off, but I'm now stuck. I have the apporopriate BB removal tool, but not the 24mm key needed to use it!

TLDR I'm probably just being too feeble, but I can't get the crank(s) off.
I have a standard crank puller, and it fits, so that's not the problem.
Trying to make one good bike out of two very similar ones with different problems.
Back story:
I hadn't cycled in ~20 years and my bike hadn't seen the light of day for about the same. I got it out a few weeks back and gave it a good clean. Its in pretty good nick for it's age, except that, some water trapped in the rear fork had at some point frozen and split the frame open...
Funds are a bit restricted atm, so I looked on gumtree and finally found a bike very similar to my old one (Claud Butler Odyssey - old one is CB Classic, both comfort style.) I didn't look too closely, the frame was ok, tyres good, etc, so it was worth what I was paying, and I figured I could swap out parts from my old but not much ridden bike to this new to me one.
First thing that I did was adjust the rear brake so I could release the wheel more easily and as a bonus the brake was easier to use. Next thing was to swap out the busted easy release axle on the front wheel. Easy peasy.
After a couple of rides I noticed that changing gears was sometimes 'iffy' and the chain even slipped off one time, so I looked up how to adjust them, tinkered a bit but the chain still has a tendency to slip off when changing down in a hurry.
Then I noticed the wobbly pedals (I didn't know what that part is called, the "bottom bracket"). No worries, that's rock solid on my old bike. Eventually with a bit of judicious whacking, I finally managed to get the bolt out, but now I can't shift the crank and I'm nervous to try similar tactics with the crank puller for fear of stripping threads. There's no sign of rust, it's all shiny even, is there any point/is it ok to try wd40? Am I just being too girly? TIA and thanks (and congrats!) for reading. :)

reddit.com
u/Lowtech_Living — 5 days ago

I wanted to buy the Bobcat1, and see it before I bought it, but they are out of stock in both stores near me and also the supply depot, so I looked to see what else might suit my purposes. Found the Phoxx I, small pack, decently light without being silly money, a bit on the short side, at 75cm, but figured I'll just duck my head a bit when getting in or out (I'm not much over 5ft.) and on the flipside, lower profile does have advantages, but ...
I've just got the poles out of the bag to get a feel for the size of it before I try and set it up properly in the daylight, and there is no way the top is anywhere near 75 cm high, even with the side arms sqeezed in to a lot less than the stated width.
Does anyone know what the real dimensions are when it's set up?

reddit.com
u/Lowtech_Living — 13 days ago