Convert From Square Taper to Hollowtech II Bottom Bracket/Crankset

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I love the look of those old chain rings. It's what's preventing me from upgrading my old steel frame.

I haven't been in bicycling for years, yet I'm still passionate as its the best mechanical contraption ever engineered for the human body. You're videos have enabled the masses what is current, what is technically superior, and what is the new standard in the industry. And your "how to, DIY approach" is quite amazing. Anybody that is "technically challenged" can perform their own changeovers and upgrades with your easy narration and clear videos. Thanks again RJ. Keep-up the great work. .

RJ has the best bike videos. I built a custom fixie for my son, and restored an old tandem using parts from two scrap bikes and a tandem frame I got for free, mainly with info from RJ's videos and memories of working on my Schwinn 20 years ago. Now I'm restoring a mountain bike I got for $20 on Craigslist for my husband.

No nonsense, clear and informative. One of the most useful videos I've come across in years. Will subscribe and look at the others. You're providing a sterling service to cyclists and the interweb.

One little tip for the preload cap is to screw it in tight then unscrew it then just screw it back in until it just touches the crank , that will set the preload perfectly with no undue stress on the bearings , nice vid mate keep them coming ;)

I'm currently running an old '93 Ultegra crank on a square tapered bottom bracket and was thinking about upgrading to Shimano 105 5800 Hollowtech on a bike I've owned since new and have recently rebuilt.  Your tutorials are superb, I've learn a lot. Thank you very much.

My friend inherited his dad's Zunow Hummingbird and wants to put Hollowtech crank on it since the drivetrain is worn out and needs to be completely replaced. I balked a little since this is such a classic bike and it has all its original components. This video will let us get it done. THANKS RJ!!!

Still the best video on YouTube for updating vintage cranks to Hollowtech II. Straight to the point! the tip on Ultegra BB new diameter tool will save me lots of frustration. Thank you

This is just great! Finally I get the answer I was looking for since a while: So it is possible to change the old massive axe for a new modern one! Now I know I can update the hole drive train of my so beloved 25 year old steel frame, which was handmade to my personal specs. You can't imagine how happy your video made me, thanks!! (even my local bike shop couldn't tell me much about this upgrade)

Could not possibly be any clearer. Your vids are the best, sir. Thank you.

Hey mate, just wanted to say a big thank you for all your uploads and because of them I was confident enough to upgrade my own bike. The only thing that's original is the frame and forks lol. I've just done my final upgrade (for now) changing out the old cotter pin crank to a hollowtech II. The difference is night and day! I couldn't be happier with the bike now and I owe a lot of it to you and your videos. So thank you for all the knowledge you've passed on and I'll pay it forward to someone else. Cheers, Phil.

Excellent and informative video. Nice to update on new bicycle technology especially next generation in cranksets, bottom brackets, and drive trains in general. This Hollowtech upgrade is definitely the way to go. Thanks RJ - you're the best !!

Another great RJ video. I recently picked up an old FUJI Sagres that had been sitting outside for a very long time. Everything is badly rusted but I'm slowly bringing it back to life. The paint and decals are in good shape. Taking care to not damage the bike cosmetically, I removed the wheels and bolted the frame to a 4"x4"x10' with two long lag bolts run through the kickstand bracket and a scrap 2"x4"x7" across the rear of the frame, as clamps to hold the frame so I could get leverage enough to twist the seat post out using a large pipe-wrench. That went well with the help of some boiling water on the seat post tube and some PB Blaster. But then came the bottom bracket which I removed today. After removing both ends I discovered 12 very grimy ball bearings caked in old grease and sand on one side and 8 dry and equally bad bearings on the other side. There is also no dust cap inside the frame so the rusty crank axle may be trash. After watching this video my question is; how do I measure to determine what size bottom bracket to purchase to convert the old school loose bearing system to the sealed bearing bottom bracket? Thanks for any help.🚲

Really easy to follow video. I'd also encourage mentioning the simplicity of the Shimano bottom bracket design. No little ball bearings, hardly any nuts to tighten, no more cone wrenches needed once you're onto the new stuff, just one very large bearing in each end of the bottom bracket part, and still the ease of fit and alignment that goes with threaded bottom brackets.

Once again, thank you. Very helpful indeed. I have an old Paconi with Shimano 600 and a suntour sprint crank. I’ve been thinking of updating everything to 105 11 speed instead of getting a new bike, the bottom bracket part was confusing me a lot, but now thanks to you I’m going to give it a shot!

Much more detailed than some of the other videos I've watched. Spot on 👍

Thanks. As always, informative and useful. Really appreciate the consistent quality that you provide. Cheers

watch at half speed if you wanna see a drunk rj work on a bike

Thanks for the video. I just took by 2017 mountain bike to upgrade my drive train, the tech guy barely looked at my bike and said he could not do the upgrade. I had the parts, but just wanted it professionally done. Will do it myself and take it to another shop to do the alignment of the gears if I can't get it work. Thanks.