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Vent: A customer brought in a bike with a seized bottom bracket that had been sitting for 15 years.
It was totally frozen and covered in rust, but after a full day of soaking it in penetrating oil and using a big breaker bar, it finally came loose. What's the longest you've spent freeing a single part, and what finally got it to move?
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ninas671mo ago
Honestly, a full day seems like a lot for a bottom bracket. I've had a few like that, but a good soak overnight in a mix of acetone and ATF usually does the trick by morning. Sometimes you just need the right mix and a solid impact, not just brute force. Spending that long on one part means the shop rate goes out the window.
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the_aaron1mo ago
Ngl, that acetone and ATF mix is the real deal. Let it sit for a couple days if you have the time, it creeps into everything. A heat gun on the frame around the bracket can make the difference when it's really stubborn.
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