So the bb on my road bike has finally died - needs replacing but one pinch bolt and the spindle bolts were seized and seemingly made of cheese so I've managed to strip them. Any tips for how to proceed? I've tried jamming in a torx, flathead screwdriver, soaking in wd40 and using shock and unlock but just keep rounding the bolt further! Where do I go from here and what's the point of no return for getting a shop to try and get it out?
Begrudgingly willing to accept the cranks may be ruined, right now I just want to get them out and something fitted so I can ride it again! But ideally I would save the cranks.
Haha starting to feel that might not be a bad option! How well do these type of screw extractors fare?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XT2P582/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fdGGAbXKGNYKT
Cut a flat slot in the bolt and use a flat head screwdriver?
I have a rounded bolt in my shimano cranks and I waiting for the BB to die before doing anything about it!
I had this problem. Nothing really worked so in the end had to weld onto the bolt to then unscrew it.
Triple square spline bits will sometimes take out rounded bolts. Easy out is worth a careful shot before drilling out the bolt, just dont snap one off in, they are a total pain to drill out. Weld something on to wind it out, drill it out, depends what you have avaliable.
How about jb welding a bolt in there? That's a real last resort I guess!
Fwiw the bolt extractor I linked to above got the pinch bolt out. Had to use a box wrench though as it made my drill put out a lot of funny smelling smoke!
Not had a proper go at the spindle one yet but hopefully one of the smaller extractors will take it out 🙂 will replace the lot with a shimano crankset i reckon, at £30 for an fsa bb I might as well pay a bit more for tiagra or ultegra.
What sort of cranks are they?
If they're HT2 ones with the two pinch bolts to clamp the crank arm onto the axle, you should be able to get a hacksaw blade in there and cut through the bolt to release the crankarm from the splines.
FSA Omega,the spindle bolt unfortunately is metal so it's gonna be difficult to remove I think!