Now I’ve been happily using XTR HTII BB’s for years and have had the required BB removal tools. However, I went to fit a newly purchased XTR HTII BB today and the spline diameter is narrower than my previous XTR BBs and my tool?!

I won’t ask why the hell Shimano has decided to narrow the outer spline diameter however what new BB removal tool do I now need to purchase for an XTR BB?

I know! Stupid and annoying right?

What you need is a TL-FC24

New bb should come with a grey plastic reducer to fit inside a std ht2 bb tool.if not order one there a couple of quid

Someone was offering one for free on the classifieds the other day.

If you get the boxed version it comes with the tool. Cheaper OE kit might not. Sadly you never know which you’ll get because bike shops rarely say.

I have some spare plastic reducers which you can have FOC, if you are short.