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I bought a BMX style bottom bracket called a "Spanish" bottom bracket for a dirt jumper.

Instead of using a hammer and a block of wood, I would like to do it correctly with a press... however, I'm not sure what specs I should be looking for in the press?

How do I buy the right press for the job?

I know asking for specific products is against the rules, so if you could just explain the specs for what I should Google to find the right press.

This is my bottom bracket... it is 19mm inner diameter and 73mm width enter image description here

This is my frame

enter image description here

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The rather trivial answer is look at the documentation for various bottom bracket presses and see if a bushing set for the BMX Spanish type is available.

For example the Park Tool BBP-1 documentation explicitly specifies that it supports the BMX Spanish type.

If the Spanish BB is not listed you need a press that has an bushing set that works with a 19mm axle and 37mm outer bearing race.

This is the type of task where rather than buy a tool that costs several hundred of dollars it is better to go to your local bike repair shop and have their mechanic do it or go to a bike repair co-op and rent space and tools for the 15 minutes it will take you to press the bearings.

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  • Question: is "axel" synonymous to "spindle"? I could never figure out if the "axel" refers to the spacer in-between the BB or the spindle that comes with cranks
    – Kellen Stuart
    Commented Jun 12, 2018 at 17:59
  • Man, you might be right. That Park Tools MSRP's for $200
    – Kellen Stuart
    Commented Jun 12, 2018 at 18:00
  • I just saw a video that says you can build the tool with parts from Home Depot
    – Kellen Stuart
    Commented Jun 12, 2018 at 18:02
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    @KolobCanyon Axle/spindle colloquially means the same thing, although I think technically an axle does not rotate but a spindle does. So wheels have an axle and cranks have a spindle.
    – Argenti Apparatus
    Commented Jun 12, 2018 at 18:37
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    @KolobCanyon Yes, home made bearing presses are possible, you just need to be sure the 'bushing' presses on the outer bearing race, not the inner, and that the bearings go in straight. My LBS would happily press BB or headset bearings for me and charge me for 5 mins of shop time, which is very cost effective.
    – Argenti Apparatus
    Commented Jun 12, 2018 at 18:41

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