Classic & Vintage - Anyone have a titanium Campy SR BB?

I was just curious about the crank bolts. I have one of these BB in a box with some titanium crank bolts, but since they don't have any markings on them at all, I'm hesitant to think they are from Campy. I know I had some aftermarket titanium crank bolts. The cups are aluminum with steel races, but the lock ring in the box is chromed steel. I'm wondering if that's original too.

Don't tell me these things are breakable, why do you think it's been in a box for 30 years? Actually, I was really surprised to find out that I had installed it at some point. I remember stealing the plastic parts, but don't remember what frame it would have been in.

I have one in my '77 Bianchi. It came with the standard Campy steel bolts and lockring. I think Ti bolts would have been aftermarket?

I think you're right. I wonder what Campy was thinking about the bolts. I never used my titanium ones to put the crank on, but they certainly are strong enough to keep it on.

I thought the titanium SR spindles were nutted.

The initial design of the Super Record BB used hollow spindle and steel bolts and washers. the redesign used a solid spindle, and steel nuts with formed washer as part of the nut.

Both used CP commercially pure ti, no alloys. Teledyne Linar also made a ti spindle at the time, with pressed on steel races to accept 1/4" ball bearings of the typical format and made ti bolts. Teledyne later advised to torque down the cranks with steel bolts and then install the ti bolts, the heads of the bolts had a habit of popping off if used to install the crank arms. Arnold Industries also made lightweight bolts, gold anno aluminum alloy, they also directed to install the arms with steel bolts first. By the way, the Teledyne spindle while hollow to accept the bolts, was not bored clear through.

I would not ride a Super Record BB of either type other than to the coffee house, I do not like to crash and I do not like the flex.

The initial design of the Super Record BB used hollow spindle and steel bolts and washers. the redesign used a solid spindle, and steel nuts with formed washer as part of the nut.

Both used CP commercially pure ti, no alloys. Teledyne Linar also made a ti spindle at the time, with pressed on steel races to accept 1/4" ball bearings of the typical format and made ti bolts. Teledyne later advised to torque down the cranks with steel bolts and then install the ti bolts, the heads of the bolts had a habit of popping off if used to install the crank arms. Arnold Industries also made lightweight bolts, gold anno aluminum alloy, they also directed to install the arms with steel bolts first. By the way, the Teledyne spindle while hollow to accept the bolts, was not bored clear through.

I would not ride a Super Record BB of either type other than to the coffee house, I do not like to crash and I do not like the flex.
Zeus and Stronglight also made titanium bottom brackets back then, but they avoided CP titanium and used a more suitable alloy. The Stronglight spindle also had an oversize diameter to make it stiffer, and used sealed cartridge bearings with aluminum cups. The Zeus spindle was essentially the same dimensions as the steel spindle, and was hollow with pressed on steel races. The cups were also titanium, with pressed in steel races. The steel races required that smaller balls be used; 7/32" rather than the typical 1/4" balls. The fastening bolts were also titanium.

I have one of the Zeus Ti bottom brackets on one of my bikes; I've never had any problems with it and haven't noticed it to be more flexible than a steel bottom bracket, but I'm sure I'm not that strong of a rider to bring out the difference.

I currently have titanium super record BB in two bikes and have had them in numerous other bikes in the past. I have never broken one and I do not judge them to be overly flexible. The Ofmega Mistral and Stronglight 106 BB's that I have are both considerably more flexible. The reputation of the BB's breaking is quite overblown in my experience.

im pretty sure that unless you are running clipless, you should be totally fine.

regarding the use of ti or other lightweight crankarm fixing bolts, first install the arms to the spindle using the standard steel bolts, bringing them up to full torque spec. remove them and replace with the lightweight bolts. torque to spec.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s269/caterham1700/AJbudrikkipicsnvid314.jpg

mine is one of the hollow ones. I'd also be concerned about aluminum cups in a steel frame. I don't think campy was too worried about them being used for too long.

The reputation of the BB's breaking is quite overblown in my experience.

Didn't Hinault or someone famously break one in the Tour? That might have something to do with it.

I never broke mine (I'm a tad weaker than most Tour riders) but I did manage to toast the pressed-on races. I looked for but couldn't find replacements, and decided that with the breakage threat, however overblown, it made sense to call off the search and put in a NR unit.

by the time I bought my Super Record group, I had pretty much had my fill of broken titanium given the two broken Teledyne titans I owned. I probably couldn't have broken a crank axle though, that seems like a lot of force and a lot of cycles would be required. I did notice that Campy used much lighter engraving for the size and other lettering. Probably smart of them to do that.

Didn't Hinault or someone famously break one in the Tour? That might have something to do with it.

I never broke mine (I'm a tad weaker than most Tour riders) but I did manage to toast the pressed-on races. I looked for but couldn't find replacements, and decided that with the breakage threat, however overblown, it made sense to call off the search and put in a NR unit.

It was actually Laurent Fignon and there is not definitive proof that I know of that it was axle material that was at fault.

I have a campy super record titanium in my Raleigh Team and one in my Pinarello...neither have ever given me a lot of grief. I did break a Phil once, on a steep climb, and I did not meet a dismal end, although I did have to pedal home one-legged.

Phil had a very horrible design at one time. I think I may still have the one where the two cranks were at about a 20 degree angle off from 180 degrees.

mine is one of the hollow ones. I'd also be concerned about aluminum cups in a steel frame. I don't think campy was too worried about them being used for too long.

What's wrong with Aluminum cups ?? Campy SR cups worked just fine for years for me.




I currently have titanium super record BB in two bikes and have had them in numerous other bikes in the past. I have never broken one and I do not judge them to be overly flexible. The Ofmega Mistral and Stronglight 106 BB's that I have are both considerably more flexible. The reputation of the BB's breaking is quite overblown in my experience.

Correct

My hollow Campy Ti axle on the other hand ....... :cry:

[QUOTE=Homebrew01;8973440]What's wrong with Aluminum cups ?? Campy SR cups worked just fine for years for me.

They tend to seize to the frame.

My hollow Campy Ti axle on the other hand ....... :cry:

How many times did you hit a pedal in a corner? Things break because they get subjected to undue stress. These lightweight parts were designed to be at the extreme of acceptable and any deviation from the ideal is bound to put it to the test.

What's wrong with Aluminum cups ?? Campy SR cups worked just fine for years for me.

They tend to seize to the frame.
That's all I was worried about. You'd have to overhaul them fairly often to keep them unstuck.

Surprised no one's yet mentioned O.M.A.S., who also made a Ti spindle BB.

It was actually Laurent Fignon


in a solo breakaway in a one-day Classic, not the TdF. It prompted a change of equipment by the Renault team.

According "The Custom Bicycle," Gerald O'Donovan arranged for Campagnolo to change the specifications for it's Ti spindles for the Ti Raleigh team, making them thicker then those commercially available.

Surprised no one's yet mentioned O.M.A.S., who also made a Ti spindle BB.

oh, yep. I lied. That is an OMAS in the Pinarello. Haven't had any trouble with it yet, either.