Winter bike - Part 2

So now it is time to chase the threads and install the bottom bracket bearings. Any time you have a frame painted it is a good idea to take it to your favorite local bike shop and have the threads chased. This will help clean out all the paint overspray that might have settled on the threads. Clean threads make the bottom bracket easier to install and minimizes the risk of cross-threading. The right tools make the job go much easier. I am using an External Bottom Bracket Tool from Enduro. It has steel pins that engage the entire length of the grooves on the external bearings. It also has a 1/2″ drive socket on the back side so that you can use a torque wrench to get it tightened properly. This tool works much better than the Shimano tool that comes with their new cranksets, it is even better than the Park tool.

Now that the crankset is installed we will start working on the rest of the bike, but that will have to wait until later, it’s not quite winter here yet. To view a slideshow click on any of the pictures below.

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