Found a hack for stuck bottom bracket threads using a hair dryer

I was trying to remove a seized bottom bracket from a 90s Trek frame last Tuesday and nothing was working with my normal tools. After 30 minutes of swearing I grabbed my wife's hair dryer and hit the shell area with hot air for about 5 minutes straight. Did I just get lucky or has anyone else tried heat from a hair dryer for stubborn threads?

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2 Comments

susan_wells2mo ago

Hot air works but a hairdryer won't get hot enough for actual seized threads.

4

dianab682mo ago

Honestly, "won't get hot enough" is exactly right. I've tried it on a rusted bolt before and it just laughed at me. You really need a proper heat gun or a torch to get that kind of expansion going.

1