On Monday, October 24, 2016 at 5:46:28 PM UTC-7, jbeattie wrote:
On Monday, October 24, 2016 at 2:51:47 PM UTC-7, wrote:
The cranks have "Shimano 600" printed on them.

-- Will a universal crank puller like the ones sold for a few dollars on eBay work? Or do I need a Shimano crank puller like this: http://www.ebay..com/itm/Sealey-BC02...AOSwAuZX1vx s ? Or do I need something else?

-- The Vitus has a cup and cone crank. Can I put new bearings in? If so what are the important specs on the bearing to search for them on eBay? Or how does one proceed with a rebuild of the bottom bracket?

Thank you for any help. I bought this bike in 1987 brand new. I have not ridden this too much in the last ten years but am now enjoying it regularly again. It's a little creaky at the bottom bracket, and I would at least like to inspect down there, if it's at all possible.

You also need BB tools -- lock ring spanner, pin tool and, maybe, fixed cup remover. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/2724161...3&rmv SB=true Not these, but something like them to get into the BB.

You would be better off having it serviced or removed by a local shop. Skip buying tools for a dead technology (the fixed cup may be tough to remove with a cheap BB wrench in any event). Get a cartridge bearing and the inexpensive tool to go with it. Incroyable, a NOS UN71 for $100. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/2721921...&ul_noapp=true Screw that! Something like this would do: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-bb-u...ritish-thread/ Its symetrical, though, and may not look as swanky as the original. Tange makes a suitable replacement, too.

Or enter the modern era. http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTQwMFgxNjAw/z/3OEAAOSwNyFWgNqN/$_35.JPG

-- Jay Beattie

Usually a bottom bracket that has been in so long that it has loose bearings is so old that you will probably screw it all up taking it off. The new bottom brackets installed with a splined tool, insert and remove all hell and gone better anyway.