Bought a take-off Ultegra 6500 BB because they didn't have a new one in stock, so I don't have the intructions.

Working from memory, I screwed in the cup on the left side first. Then I installed the BB body on the drive side, tightening the drive side as much as I reasonably could. Anyway, there is about a 3/4 mm gap between the bikes BB shell and the inside of the BB lockring on the drive side.

I just read another thread related to this and realized that I should have installed the BB body first, then tightened the left-side cup. First, is this accurate. Second, if I screwed up, should I re-do it right, or just leave it alone?

No problem. Take the thing out and do it again, starting with the right/drive side first. Thread in until you hit full stop against the frame. This determines chainline. The left/non-drive side is just there to brace the spindle/bearings.

Install the right cup first, and TORQUE it to the proper setting (30 nm IIRC). This is a key to success in a modern BB.

...should not be removed unless you are replacing the BB (as in your case). In most fixed cups on the right side, you should remove them with a bench vise. Place the frame with the thin raised lip of the right side lock nut in it, and twist clockwise (English thread) to loosen. The right (drive side) cup should be as tight as possible according to Zinn and others. The left side adjustable cup is where the adjustments come into play as determined by free play when adjusting the left cup.

I just serviced a BB this past weekend on a vintage 80's bike. A real treat getting rusted lock nuts off. But a bench vise did the trick. It is unwieldy to lift a bike onto the bench, but I had no choice. The lip is so small that it can be easily stripped with an adjustable wrench so it is not advisable to do so. And again, all servicing can be done through removal of the left cup only for routine care.

The Ultegra 6500 is a cartridge BB that uses the splined BB tool to remove both sides. There are no flats, and you cannot use a bench vice to remove or tighten this BB. Also, both sides of this BB are installed to a specified torque - this is not for adjusting play but for keeping things in place. The installation torque does not really affect bearing adjustment.

...should not be removed unless you are replacing the BB (as in your case). In most fixed cups on the right side, you should remove them with a bench vise. Place the frame with the thin raised lip of the right side lock nut in it, and twist clockwise (English thread) to loosen. The right (drive side) cup should be as tight as possible according to Zinn and others. The left side adjustable cup is where the adjustments come into play as determined by free play when adjusting the left cup.

I just serviced a BB this past weekend on a vintage 80's bike. A real treat getting rusted lock nuts off. But a bench vise did the trick. It is unwieldy to lift a bike onto the bench, but I had no choice. The lip is so small that it can be easily stripped with an adjustable wrench so it is not advisable to do so. And again, all servicing can be done through removal of the left cup only for routine care. You need to get up to speed on current cartridge BB. Somewhat different methodology than old school cup and ball stuff.

...should not be removed unless you are replacing the BB (as in your case). In most fixed cups on the right side, you should remove them with a bench vise. Place the frame with the thin raised lip of the right side lock nut in it, and twist clockwise (English thread) to loosen. The right (drive side) cup should be as tight as possible according to Zinn and others. The left side adjustable cup is where the adjustments come into play as determined by free play when adjusting the left cup.

I just serviced a BB this past weekend on a vintage 80's bike. A real treat getting rusted lock nuts off. But a bench vise did the trick. It is unwieldy to lift a bike onto the bench, but I had no choice. The lip is so small that it can be easily stripped with an adjustable wrench so it is not advisable to do so. And again, all servicing can be done through removal of the left cup only for routine care.

first, i've never had to put a drive side cup in a vise to get it off.
VAR makes a great tool for getting really tight cups loosened.

second, when was the last time you worked on a bike w/ cartridge bb? they are neither adjustable nor serviceable...

...you cannot use a bench vice to remove or tighten this BB....

Well, actually, you can. You need to put the tool into the vice first. Mine has flats to fit a 1" wrench on the outside, so, yeah, you can use a bench vice.

The Ultegra 6500 is a cartridge BB that uses the splined BB tool to remove both sides. There are no flats, and you cannot use a bench vice to remove or tighten this BB. Also, both sides of this BB are installed to a specified torque - this is not for adjusting play but for keeping things in place. The installation torque does not really affect bearing adjustment.

No Kerry, I was talking about a BB from the 1987. Don't know the brand. I wasn't referring to the Ultegra BB's. I had to replace a BB with an adjustable left cone, a fixed right one. I'm sorry if I was misleading. I haven't taken apart my new Ultegra BB yet! When I do, I'll read the Barnett section on these BB's.

first, i've never had to put a drive side cup in a vise to get it off.
VAR makes a great tool for getting really tight cups loosened.

second, when was the last time you worked on a bike w/ cartridge bb? they are neither adjustable nor serviceable...

That's true. From Sheldon Brown:
Three piece bottom bracket- Cartridge type: Bikes made the last few years tend to come with a "cartridge" bottom bracket. For the most part, these are unserviceable, and the entire unit is simply removed and replaced when they wear out.

I was talking about a BB from 1987. It was a REAL treat trying to get it off.

That's true. From Sheldon Brown:
Three piece bottom bracket- Cartridge type: Bikes made the last few years tend to come with a "cartridge" bottom bracket. For the most part, these are unserviceable, and the entire unit is simply removed and replaced when they wear out.

I was talking about a BB from 1987. It was a REAL treat trying to get it off.

try to find one of those VAR tools. it has a round piece, about 80-100mm dia., about 20-25mm thick, which has material machined away in the middle so that is mates up to the drive side cup of an old bb. a handle is attached through the bb shell, actually on the driveside, but there is a piece that goes through the shell that tightens up to the handle. you can also add some leverage to the standard handle and that always helps. i wish i had a photo of it. gotta remember to bring the camera to work...

Don't know how, exactly, you jumped from the OP's question about his Ultegra 6500 BB to your 1987 loose-ball BB. They guy wanted to know about his BB install, and you started talking about not removing the right fixed cup. They call that "Changing the subject" and it tends to throw people. Note that a few other people got confused as well.

Don't know how, exactly, you jumped from OP's question about his Ultegra 6500 BB to your 1987 loose-ball BB. Thy guy wanted to know about his BB install, and you started talking about not removing the right fixed cup. They call that "Changing the subject" and it tends to throw people. Note that a few other people got confused as well.

Sorry about that Kerry. Was just relating a recent frustrating experience. Old age (actually I'm not really that old) does that. Did the work for a friend for free, ended up scraping my knuckles and other minor injuries. No good deed goes unpunished, as they say.

What's a VAR tool? Does anybody have a picture?