|   how much do you think is reasonable to charge for.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 9:27 AM | | pulling cranks & a bb? not cleaning. not replacing. just pulling them off the bike.
just wondering....
rt |
| $5 (nm) | Murray
Nov 8, 2002 9:29 AM | | . |
| that's what i thought too.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 9:53 AM | | if they charged me at all.
wrong.
rt |
| My LBS would do it for free..... | 006_007
Nov 8, 2002 9:32 AM | | My LBS would pull my cranks/BB for free, or if they were too busy they would lend me the tools/tell me how to do it. This occured BEFORE I made them my primary LBS. |
| Don't know. After you've purchased the tools... | Biking Viking
Nov 8, 2002 9:32 AM | | ...it's pretty much free.
BV |
| except when... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 9:37 AM | | you have a girlie moment and can't get them off yourself. i let someone else put my bb in & tighten down my cranks the last time and being the girl that i am i couldn't get them off without a shop stand and a cheater bar.
rt <---has the tools, lacks the strength |
| Now I understand. If you have an old handlebar, it should... | Biking Viking
Nov 8, 2002 9:48 AM | | ...give you the leverage you need. That's what I use.
BV |
| problem is.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 9:50 AM | | because i only weigh 100 lbs i have to torque it with my entire weight and unless the stand is bolted to the floor it falls over on top of me!!!
oh the woes of being a wimpy (well, somewhat) girl.
rt |
| Backpack filled with rocks? No, seriously... | Biking Viking
Nov 8, 2002 9:57 AM | | ...I think the LBS should do it for free if you explained the situation.
BV |
| i agree.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 10:00 AM | | a backpack full of rocks might do the trick! hehe
seriously, i agree. they obviously didn't.
in addition to the rocks a few more inches of height would help with leverage.
rt - backpack full of rocks & platform shoes |
| You weigh a hunnert? | Finch Platte
Nov 8, 2002 9:42 PM | | Can we see a pic?
fp (intrigued) |
| Sure | radair
Nov 9, 2002 1:01 PM | | oh, you meant rt.
I wanna see pics of the mini bike, too. |
| not even, babe | Harovore
Nov 9, 2002 8:05 PM | | Don't ya ever type "rt" and "wimpy" or even "somewhat wimpy" anywhere near each other! "Chicks" with PhDs who finish a 24-hour mtn bike race? They're GODS!!! :-)
BTW, rt, what size roadie frame do you ride? What's your inseam? A buddy of mine is way cool and is giving me his wife's 52cm Trek 1000 frame this X-Mas. I'm just a tad over 5'6" and have like a 29"-30" inseam. When I visited colorado cyclist's website and did the measuring there, it looked like a 50cm or 52cm would do the trick nicely -- like most other Asians, my upper torso is "long" compared to my inseam length.
Cheers, doc! |
| rt.................. | Mike T.
Nov 8, 2002 9:55 AM | | .....at times like this ya hafta ferget yer a girlie (who needs us fellahs to open doors and jars for ya) and, using the power of Positive Thinking, say to yerself "*rt*, you WILL get these bleepin' cranks & BB off!"
Then, like a man who'd rather die than ask directions, you puff out yer chest (being careful not to snap any elastic) and using all your might, show that BB and crankset who's the boss.
Sailor's language is quite acceptable in this circumstance too. |
| cursed a blue streak -------> | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 9:58 AM | | but those stubborn cranks just would not come off. pesky suckers.
this time i put em on myself so, next time i KNOW i'll be able to get them off.
ya big strong jerk!
rt <----wimpy little jerkette |
| When all else fails... | Zignzag
Nov 8, 2002 10:04 AM | | whack the wrench or cheater bar with a hammer. |
| i don't know. i tried that remedy on my computer.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 10:17 AM | | somehow it just didn't work! ;-P
rt - needs a rubber mallet |
| Noooooo................... | Mike T.
Nov 8, 2002 10:19 AM | | ....you obviously didn't use the appropriate cusswords. Lookitt, I'll phone ya tonight and give you the ones guaranteed to work. They might fry yer delicate ears but it's worth it.
Girlie things like "oh shoot!" and "heckadoodle" won't do it.
A good place to start is Chevy Chase's "Christmas Vacation" where he's cussing his stingy boss and does the long rant about the ".....sad sack o' monkey sh!t". |
| and if that doesn't work.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 10:29 AM | | perhaps the cranks would just wither in embarassment?
hehe
nah, i think i tried the "sad sack o'monkey sh!t" line. i have very resilient cranks!
rt - no girlie cuss words here |
| A six-pack | kristian
Nov 8, 2002 9:41 AM | | A six-pack of either a good local beer or something imported. |
| didn't work.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 9:49 AM | | i brought a 6 of Sweet Water 420 (excellent local pale ale).
do you know what the response was? "no one drinks"
well, sh!t, how was i supposed to know that? didn't anyone's mom ever teach them gift receiving manners? sheesh! ;-)
rt |
| That's it; you have an incompetent LBS | pedalAZ
Nov 8, 2002 9:55 AM | | Whoever heard of a competent LBS where NO ONE drinks beer?
That's ready for an eposiode of the Twilight Zone. |
| LOL! i felt like i'd entered the twilight zone when... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 10:01 AM | | they took the beer AND charged me $15!!!
rt - where are Scully & Mulder? |
| oh my god | Zaphod
Nov 8, 2002 12:23 PM | | Fifteen plus the beer. I'd be full of anger. Many here on MTBR make an effort to support the LBS but with that kind of service, supergo/speedgoat/etc. start to look better. I'm not for blindly supporting a LBS but supporting good ones.
But.. for the future.
Getting a bb removed without killing yourself, by Zaphod
The bike stand may be a liability for this removal. I recommend the upside-down bike approach.
Next, since you're going to apply a large amount of force and you don't have the strength for it to be precise you'll have to keep the splined bb tool in place in some way... but how???
Take a crank bolt and an old chainring (or large washer) and the bb tool. Install the bb tool then stick the crank bolt through the chainring/washer and tighten so it's fairly snug.
This with a wrench or whatever you are using (cheating with a pipe or equiv as necessary) with the bb tool can now be thrashed until you have successful movement.
Once the bb moves, you'll need to loosen the crank bolt as it is fighting against the loosening of the bb itself. This is not always necessary when the threaded cups are attached the the bb axle. The typical approach is to loosen the BB a quarter turn, adjust the crank bolt, repeat until loose enough to skip the cheater tool.
Zaphod |
| cool! thanks. | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 12:34 PM | | i'd heard about putting a skewer through the bb axle but this sounds like a really good idea.
you'd think i'd stop going back to this shop--they've screwed me over several times....but it's so convenient in an emergency....on the other hand after the equivalent of $23 for 5 minutes worth of work i think i'm going to give up.
rt |
| what kind of shop is that?!? avoid them like the plague... | TC
Nov 8, 2002 9:55 AM | | Anyone who turns down a fine brew for doing such a simple thing deserves my disrespect. i'd do it for 4 of those 6 beers. maybe you could start a bidding war here. |
| Ok, I think you need to post this shop's name and addy | kristian
Nov 8, 2002 10:29 AM | | I saw something funny a few months ago at Colorado Cyclist. This guy brought in a road bike to have some components switched out. He also brought in a full sized cooler and said he would pick up the cooler when he picked up the bike. I was thinking that the guy must be a really nice guy to bring in a cooler of that size until they opened it and it was full of ZIMA! I wonder how long his wheels stayed true after that.... |
| APB.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 10:34 AM | | their shopfront is about the coolest you've ever seen. their prices are scary!
i tried to find a pic of their shopfront - they've got metal work over the windows that looks like giant chainrings (also probably works great to deter break-ins - but the pics on their website are old.
welcome your typical Atlanta lbs
rt |
| Go to Outback from now on... | 2melow
Nov 8, 2002 12:36 PM | | tell Peter that Brett from Ultimate sent you in and treat you like a woman ought to be treated.
$15? Ouch |
| PS- they charged me... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 9:53 AM | | $15!!!
and i didn't feel right taking back the 6-pack i brought. so in effect it cost me $23 to have someone take 5 minutes and pull my cranks & bb.
think i'm going to go to the gym and work on upper body strength!!
rt |
| Ouch, didn't see this. You got taken. Time to find a new LBS? | Fat-tire
Nov 8, 2002 9:54 AM | | |
| tell me about it! | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 9:56 AM | | and once it's done, what can you do except pay and walk out....
to top it off the owner, who had just charged me $15, then said he'd like to ask me out!
yikes!
rt |
| Reminds me of a few weeks ago | pedalAZ
Nov 8, 2002 10:04 AM | | I was in a well regarded LBS and noticed the woman near the counter was extremely attractive. I had taken several items off the shelf without assistance and had arrived at the cash register to pay. It was if I was invisible! I decided to see how long this would play out. The one tech who was providing the young lady with his assistance could not look anywhere but at her, and I'd swear was wagging his little puppy dog tail. Everyone else was pretending to be working on a bike but staring at the woman.
I couldn'd decide whether to loudly announce that there was a customer with no boobs and scrawny legs at the cash register, or to push the invisibility enevelope far enough to get out the front door with the merchandise.
Finally, she left and everything went back to normal - AFTER a big, collective sigh was released from the entire staff!
That is a group which would accept beer as coin of the realm. |
| wha wha wha WhaaaaaaaAAT? | LW
Nov 8, 2002 10:06 AM | | That's inSANE! Don't go back there again!!!
You aren't a wimpy girl, *rt*. Far from it. You just shouldn't have to work that hard to get cranks off - tell whoever put them on for you to get a durn torque wrench.
What happened to that dude you were hangin with, couldn't he help get the things off for ya? |
| wha wha wha WhaaaaaaaAAT? | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 10:09 AM | | he's up in western NC & i wanted to have the bike overhauled & ready to go before i leave to go up there this afternoon.
i'm like a 4 year old: NO! i can do it all by myself!!
hey, when your hubby put my cranks on he got em so tight we had to drill out the bolt!! hehehe (i'm serious!)
rt |
| Should have told him... | GregR
Nov 8, 2002 10:24 AM | | You already fvcked me, now you want a kiss too?
:)
G |
| lol! (nm) | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 10:35 AM | | . |
| thoughts for next time... | TC
Nov 8, 2002 10:00 AM | | since you have the tools, take the bike off the stand next time and prop it agains a table, then take your cheater bar (any extension of your BB tool to give you more torque) and set it so it is just above or below the rear chainstay and then just squeeze the chainstay and extender bar towards each other. just make sure your BB tool is properly set into the BB and doesn't slip. i've had to lay the bike down and practically sit on the tool to remove BB once they've been in a while. bike yoga. |
| hmmm....interesting idea.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 10:03 AM | | i'll give it a try.
hopefully now that i've done the reinstallation myself, it won't be so hard next time.
rt |
| more thoughts before next time... | TwoWheelinTim
Nov 8, 2002 11:11 AM | | When you install the BB you should wrap the threads with PTFE tape. The crank bolts should be torqued with a torque wrench. I also (I know this is controversial) lightly grease the spindle on a square taper BB before sliding the crank on. All these precautions will help you next time you have to take the bugger apart.
Tim |
| i don't usually wrap the bb threads.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 11:15 AM | | but i do grease the h3ll out of the bb threads & the threads in the bb sleeve. i have no clue if when the cranks were installed the last time the wrench used a torque wrench. normally i do that sort of thing myself but i had to have a bolt drilled out because another person had cranked it down so tight that we rounded out the head trying to get it out.
controversial or not i ALWAYS lightly grease the tapers before reinstalling the cranks. metal on metal with no grease always makes me cringe.
rt |
| I second this... | grundy
Nov 8, 2002 11:43 AM | | good suggestion from TC - that is exactly what I do when I can't work something loose. I've also propped the bike up and stepped on the wrench (very carefully) to break things loose. You have to be careful that your tool doesn't slip when you do this. A good tip I picked up here in passion: if you are removing a bb with a hollow spindle you can use a wheel skewer/QR to clamp the tool to the bottom bracket. |
| thoughts for next time... | TC
Nov 8, 2002 10:02 AM | | since you have the tools, take the bike off the stand next time and prop it agains a table, then take your cheater bar (any extension of your BB tool to give you more torque) and set it so it is just above or below the rear chainstay and then just squeeze the chainstay and extender bar towards each other. just make sure your BB tool is properly set into the BB and doesn't slip. i've had to lay the bike down and practically sit on the tool to remove BB once they've been in a while. bike yoga. |
| I would have done it for free.... | Raja
Nov 8, 2002 10:06 AM | | Between keeping up two mounatin bikes and two road bikes for my wife and I, whats another crank. Let me know if you need anything like that again.
ps: Laurie and I are doing Chilhowee Saturday if your interested. |
| thanks! | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 10:12 AM | | i'd successfully done my road bike on wed, but i think all that conyers mud cemented my cranks onto my mtb!
one day i will own a shop stand that is bolted to the floor...or is so heavy that i can put 100 lbs of weight (feet off the floor) on it & it won't move!
can't make Sunday--i'm heading up to western NC for the long weekend (i've got monday off).
rt |
| I-eeeeeeeeee!!!! that's $345.00 CAD | JimC.
Nov 8, 2002 11:45 AM | | sorry you got such a Royal, well, you know. Go work out! Jim |
| Sammy Smith Nut Brown 22 ouncer, or a 6 pack of Bud. | Fat-tire
Nov 8, 2002 9:53 AM | | |
| Sweet Water 420 (see my response to Kristian) | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 9:54 AM | | didn't work. |
| "6 pack of Bud."?? | Finch Platte
Nov 8, 2002 9:47 PM | | I'd be offended.
fp |
| Losers! $5 bucks and a six pack was more than enough (nm) | troy
Nov 8, 2002 10:09 AM | | |
| What about the golf cart guys?? | Dude
Nov 8, 2002 10:27 AM | | Just think of the day they would have had..... knock knock..... Hi is ______ home?? Uh, yes hold on....... Youngster shows up at door....... "rt" Hi you helped me the other day and I was in need of someone to pull my crank and it seems I have a problem with my BottomBracket.......
This is about the time the youngster either thinks this is too much like weird science or just hits the floor and his body bounces around...... |
| You think that's bad? | andy f
Nov 8, 2002 10:27 AM | | A new shop by my house wanted $25 to press my headset cups. The headtube had already been faced. I told them no thanks, i'll take my business elsewhere.
BTW, this was the new Bob's Cycle Center location in El Dorado Hills. I was stoked to see a well stocked LBS opening up so close to my house but now I doubt i'll be spending my money there. |
| i should have asked.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 10:38 AM | | how much it would be before i let them do it, but it never occurred to me that they'd charge me $15!! i figured it'd be $5 if anything at all....and, silly me, i thought a 6-pack would suffice!
for $5 i can get you 2 blocks of wood & lend you a hammer. presto! instant (though not very efficient) headset press.
rt |
| Wooden blocks... | TwoWheelinTim
Nov 8, 2002 11:17 AM | | work well for many applications. The headset press is just one and it works well. Just be careful not to let the cup get cocked one way or the other and it's a done deal. I did finally get a press but I beat more than one cup home with a hammer and a block of wood. |
| my current headset... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 11:22 AM | | is pressed in thanks to 2 blocks of wood and a hammer. actually....no come to think of it, what i am remembering is getting the crown race onto my fork using the headset/headtube and the handle-end of a screw driver. i learned an important lesson. never beat on unprotected cable housing. it cracks......but duct tape fixes all!
rt |
| I've done it before too | andy f
Nov 8, 2002 11:47 AM | | and i've also used the homemade bolt and washer press method but I just like the fact that the Park HS press tool lines everything up perfectly from the beginning instead of starting off slightly cockeyed then straightening out as the cups push in. I never had a problem with the other methods, though.
Also, it's my brand new Ventana frame. The two Ventanas i've built up have had tighter tolernaces at the head tube and bottom bracket than any of the other bikes i've assembled (Truth, Dean Z-Link, Dean Colonel, Specialized Enduro). |
| WHATTTT??? | Mike T.
Nov 9, 2002 3:44 AM | | "2 blocks of wood......(....not very efficient) headset press"
For a #&^$#@ comment like that *rt* take THAT !!! (Mike T. smacking *rt* across the chops with his FAQ) |
| it depends on.... | Soacemoose
Nov 8, 2002 10:36 AM | | Well, if you went in there and they had never seen you before and you said you needed the BB pulled so you could replace it at home with the one you just bought from NASHBAR and you can't get this one out and the BB is so rusted into the frame that it takes a gallon lf liquid wrench and three guys to pull it and you need it done right away.... $15 is a bargain.
If you are a regular customer and you wanted them to pull it for maintenance and just couldn't do it because you weren't strong enough, or you weren't sure which way the fixed cup turned, and they weren't too busy and you ASKED if they could do it right away as opposed to expecting it right away, then they charge you $5 or less, you had better drop off a 6-pack.
the lesson? #1: treat your LBS well, and they should treat you well. #2: Leave the beer in the car until you find out if they earn it. |
| you have a point with lesson 2.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 10:43 AM | | the lbs in question knows me well. the bike was clean and i told them that i was overhauling my bike and was "having a girlie moment" and couldn't get the cranks off. i didn't ask them to do it right away (and in fact left the bike and came back several hours later).
this was a $5, 5 minute job for them.
i've seen bikes that i'd charge $50 to pull the cranks & bb. it never ceased to amaze me what people would bring into the shop i used to work in. however, this wasn't that bike.
rt |
| Which shop? | Rit-Atl
Nov 8, 2002 11:06 AM | | Sorry, didn't notice if you'd mentioned the shop in question. I'm in Atlanta also (obvious from the screen name) and am just curious which LBS this was. I've had relatively good experience with Peachtree Bikes in Buckhead, and I know Atlanta Cycling is average from a service perspective (but insane on the purchasing side).
Just curious. |
| APB.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 11:17 AM | | on N. Highland. it's walking distance from my house & i've been trying to cultivate a good relationship with Chris. so far all i've cultivated is a hole in my pocket!! and a date should i ever want it.
not exactly what i was aiming for! ;-)
rt |
| you got rooked | bn
Nov 8, 2002 11:36 AM | | BTW, wouldn't you get better leverage if the bike wasn't in a stand? I never put bikes on when trying to break loose crank bolts, pull cranks and BB. sometimes it tough, but standing on the handle usually get it done. maybe it's an itsy-bitsy girl thing.
since you know what you're doing, why not just find some big burly dude- neighbor, guy on the street, whatever- to do the muscle work. give 'em your best "oh woe is me look"- who could resist? just make sure they are torquing the right way |
| someone else suggested that.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 12:04 PM | | it just never occurred to me NOT to keep the bike in the stand. i guess because i'm so used to using a shop stand that can take all the abuse i throw at it plus more. i got very spoiled having access to a shop for the last 3 years. this do it yourself at home thing is new to me.
next time, i'll definately take it out of the stand!
rt |
| A Twelve Pack of Corona and a Lime... | Dirt Pilot
Nov 8, 2002 11:58 AM | | ...That's what my friend brought over a coupla' weeks ago when he needed his done.
I would have done it as a favor but hey... I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. (stoopid old sayings!) |
| these guys not only looked the gift horse in the mouth but.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 12:01 PM | | tried to pull it's tooth out too!
they refused the 6 of excellent brew i offered (and then felt compelled to leave) and still charged me $15.
oh well.
rt |
| nothing... | deanna
Nov 8, 2002 12:11 PM | | ...especially if they're not busy. just my opinion. i've had issues removing parts (1 bb, 2 pedals... shop where bike was originally purchased didn't grease pedal threads into crankarm, they'd fused) and wasn't charged to have the parts removed--the shop who removed the old crunchy bb didn't charge to install the new one either, i just had to buy the part.
d |
| Mechanics of bike mechanics... | sdbelt
Nov 8, 2002 12:23 PM | | I find that if I really need leverage, the old fashioned (free) stand works best. That's with the bike upside down on handle bars and seat. You can push really hard into the ground before the ground is going to move...
And FYI, if the lever arm you are using is 1 ft long (many wrenches are about that long), and you weigh 100 lbs, that means you can apply 100 ft-lbs of torque to that bolt, without your Camelbak! Bottom brackets are normally torqued (when done properly) to about 30 ft-lbs. Anything torqued over 50 ft-lbs is going to need either one very strong mechanic, or one very poorly calibrated torque wrench.
I love watching my LBS use a torque wrench, and even tell me what they are torquing my stuff to...there's nothing more confidence building.
Good luck in the future,
--sdb
PS- My LBS charged me $10 the last time they pulled, cleaned, lubed, and re-installed my cranks and BB. Then when I brought it back in the next day, they realized my BB was actually toast. They only charged me the cost of the part that next day...no labor at all. I couldn't be happier with them. |
| chances are.... | mtbfreak9er
Nov 8, 2002 12:38 PM | | when i torque my bb i don't get it much tighter than 30 ft-lbs. the problem is that most of the guys i know who wrench just clamp stuff down as hard as they can. must be a macho thing or something. ;-)
Zaphod (above) also suggested the upside down approach. i'll give that a try next time.
for now, i'm $15 & 1 6-pack poorer, but i installed both the bb & the cranks myself so i know i will be able to get them off later.
rt |
| That depends on how regular a customer you are. | Twilight Error®
Nov 8, 2002 4:49 PM | | If you're a regular at the shop I work in, I'll do a job like that on the spot for nothing. It takes 5 minutes and there is no adjusting of bits when all is said and done. If you wanted to bring in a six pack, well, I wouldn't stop you at the door....
For a difficult job - like a siezed BB - or non-regular customer I'll charge $5-$10 depending on how bad it is. I've worked on BB cups that were hacked to bits by ham-fisted lummoxes, that kind of pain-in-the-ass work gets a $15 rate or more.
Neat metalwork on the window or not, you were charged far too much for the work. |
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