Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Ball bearing bottom brackets

Hi;

I've been running Race Face Signature XS ISIS bottom brackets in my single speeds for the last two years. I like the fact that both cups are not fixed - that is, neither has a flange which locks up against the frame. This allows the BB to be shifted slightly to either side in order to fine tune chain line. However, what I don't necessarily appreciate about most modern BB's - including Race Face ISIS - is their cartridge bearings. Oh they seem very smooth. But after a year or so they're not so smooth... ridable, but they begin to drag a bit. Race Face claims these cartrige bearings are 'servicable and replaceable', but I've yet to talk to a bike shop with any experience doing so.

So my question is; does anyone know of a modern bottom bracket that uses old fashioned ball bearings? Sometimes I wish I could simply take the thing apart and repack it with grease myself - no matter how often that might be necessary.

Also; has anyone ever replaced the cartidge bearings on a newer BB, or had it done by the LBS? How much does this cost? And is it worth doing, as oppossed to simply buying a new BB for $60 - $70 bucks?

Thanks a bunch. DanO

I can't imagine wanting to go back to loose ball BB's. I have one on one of my rides but only because I got it that way and it's held up just fine. If I had to service it, I'd probably go to a sealed or cartridge unit. New bearing cartridges don't really cost much more than a bunch of loose balls (though for that price, you generally get higher quality loose balls than what's in the cartridges--but then you're not an olympic racer, right?).

Still, the first thing that comes to my mind for loose bearing BB is Keirin. I think NJS certified BB's are all loose bearings. Otherwise you could do just as well by going to your local collective/coop/whereever you can get used and browsing their old-school BB's. Pick up a few and some balls for not too much.

you can definately get extremely high end loose ball BB's for keirin, just as bostontrevor said. i have absolutely no problems running a looseball BB, in most situations i actually prefer it. the only draw back to a loose ball BB in my opinion is the difficulty of finding different length spindles.

as a plus for modern units, i really do like the chain line tunability of some of the modern sealed units. but, you can acheive the same effect if you have an italian or old french BB shell threading. swap out the fixed cup and replace it so that you have 2 adjustable cups. you can do this bc both sides are threaded in the same direction, unlike english and swiss BB threading. but, that doesnt really help you...

sooo....get a keirin BB! (or an italian frame)

Also; has anyone ever replaced the cartidge bearings on a newer BB, or had it done by the LBS? How much does this cost? And is it worth doing, as oppossed to simply buying a new BB for $60 - $70 bucks?


Dan,

It's really easy to replace the cartridge bearings on a bottom bracket (unless they're completely sealed like the Shimano UN-XX) because they're friction fit on there. You just have to have something hold the cartridge bearing, then pound out the spindle. Having a vice makes it even easier.

Is it worth it? Heck yeah. Cartridge bearings sell for ~$6 each, so for $12, my RaceFace BB is running like new again.

just be aware that most keirin or track specific BB cups do not have any seal to the axle. If you ride in weather this is not ideal.

This part is not about cartridge bearings vs cup&cone, an old style cup&cone road BB will usually have seals.

I don't like the shimano throw out bottom brackets, but as Drevil said, replaceable cartridge bearings are a nice idea. $12 and you have a brand new bottom bracket. I'm hoping my Phil Wood seals last a long time but even when the bearings get trashed it's very cheap to get new bearings and press them in.

i think hatta and sugino bb's are cup and cone style (both njs). but they're square-tapered, i believe.

i have a cup and cone ( i think) french bottom bracket (im actualy looking to replace the cups one is a plastic pos). origionally it was intended for cottered cranks but when i decided to replace the arms, the crankset i got was square taper. i just took the square tapered spindle out of a junky standard sized bb and stuck it in the french cups....it worke dlike a charm and even brough my chsain line little bit coser to not crappy.