Installing Campy BB, need to face shell?
06-29-08, 12:09 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NYC - where bicycles go to die
Posts: 1,313
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Installing Campy BB, need to face shell?
I bought one of those bikesdirect Motobecane SL frames used and ordered most of a Campy group for it. The frame previously had a SRAM group on it, including the external BB. Should I be worried about needing to face the BB shell? My thinking is that since there was already an external BB on the bicycle, the shell should be adequately shaped for the Campy BB. Thoughts?
Last edited by lukasz; 07-01-08 at 10:06 PM.
06-29-08, 12:25 PM
#2
Senior Member
there is no need face the BB if you are going to use a external unit.
06-29-08, 12:51 PM
#4
Senior Member
is there wear on the cups or bearings if not then there nothing to worry about . if there is then yes it need to be done . but since you are talking about external then usually there no need for it because the external handle the stress which is a problem for the older BB sets.
06-29-08, 01:33 PM
#5
My bikes became Vintage
When a frame is first built by the frame builder or factory, the BB shell needs to be faced and have the threads chased. The steering head also needs to be squared and reamed. Maybe even the seat tube. Most over-the-counter mass produced frames didn't have this done to save cost and it was up to the bike shop that built the bike to do it. That's probably why it says to do it in the instructions.
07-01-08, 05:49 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NYC - where bicycles go to die
Posts: 1,313
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
When a frame is first built by the frame builder or factory, the BB shell needs to be faced and have the threads chased. The steering head also needs to be squared and reamed. Maybe even the seat tube. Most over-the-counter mass produced frames didn't have this done to save cost and it was up to the bike shop that built the bike to do it. That's probably why it says to do it in the instructions.
07-01-08, 05:55 PM
#7
My bikes became Vintage
07-01-08, 07:48 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
Assuming the SRAM bottom bracket lasted adequately and had no signs of distress, the the bb shell should be good to go. If the SRAM bb died a premature death then I'd have the shell faced. External bbs are less tolerant of shell misalignment than cup-and-cone or internal cartridge types.
07-01-08, 08:10 PM
#10
My bikes became Vintage
07-01-08, 10:06 PM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NYC - where bicycles go to die
Posts: 1,313
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The SRAM BB came installed on the bike. I installed the Campy BB myself. I can ask the previous owner if he had any trouble I suppose. I'll be taking the frame to my LBS on Thursday to get it checked out - can't hurt (except my wallet).
