"John Miller" wrote in message
...

"Rick Hughes" wrote in message
...
I have an old but working fine, Muddy Fox Mountain Bike ... after about 10
years of no use ... I want to service it and use again.

Noticed that if I hold crank and frame down tube I can move it, which I
assume is what is referred to as 'play' in bottom bracket.
The play is not much a few mm only .... so I assume that adjustment is
probably all it needs.

The chain set is a Shimano 400LX (in case it makes a difference).

The very simple manual I have which came with bike says to adjust by
using a locking tool to slacken lock ring and adjust the adjustable cup.
Is it this simple or do I need a bit more information ?

Should I just adjust it to remove play, or should I look at stripping
down completely - clean & re-grease (never been done before on bike -
and it's 21 yrs old)

Am I right to assume I can buy the 2 tools in a cycle shop ? or anybody
have a good on-line source.

I agree with other posters that you'll get all the help you need from one
of the cycling forums - I subscribe to uk.rec.cycling and they're a really
helpful bunch. However, rather than try to adjust your existing bottom
bracket which is likely to be badly worn, you might think about replacing
it with the modern cartridge equivalent. The left hand cup and lock ring
should be easily removeable with fairly rudimentary tools unless they're
rusted in, but the right hand cup is much more difficult to remove
(right-hand thread as well!) and may require a visit to your local cycle
shop unless you want to splash out on the special tool. Another (cheap)
tool is required to insert the new cartridge BB, but is a better long-term
bet than your existing set-up. Measuring your existing axle should give
you a good idea about the size of cartridge BB you need, but your local
bike shop will usually help if you ask nicely. If you want to buy on-line,
Ribble Cycles (Preston) are about the cheapest around, but a Google search
will throw up plenty of alternatives if you want a closer one.


My bottom bracket went recently - at the end of the day it was about £45 all
in to have the cartridge changed in the local bike shop (shout out for Pedal
Power in Abingdon - old fashioned father and son business). If you take it
in and ask a decent shop will give you all the answers you need.


--
Bob Mannix
(anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)