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1977 Motobecane Grand Record bottom bracket: Is it French threads

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1977 Motobecane Grand Record bottom bracket: Is it French threads

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Old 02-22-16, 03:44 PM
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1977 Motobecane Grand Record bottom bracket: Is it French threads

What are the odds my 1977 Motobecane Grand Record has a French threaded bottom bracket? 100% or not?
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Old 02-22-16, 04:00 PM
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My 78 Moto is a Swiss BB, many Motobecanes use it
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Old 02-22-16, 04:13 PM
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You might be able to tell by removing the left cup and peeking across at the threads.
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Old 02-22-16, 04:24 PM
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I'd like to determine whats needed before tearing it all down.

The cost of a Swiss compatible bottom bracket might kill the crank update project I was considering.
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Old 02-22-16, 05:40 PM
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my '76 g.record is swiss.

so ... that's a bb with french threads (just like its steerer tube) but the fixed cup is reverse (left hand) threaded like an english bb.
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Old 02-22-16, 06:10 PM
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If it has has the OEM TA crankset and bottom bracket, French cups have a single ring engraved around the spindle hole. English cups have two rings, while Italian cups have no rings. If the fixed cup is Swiss it will have the single ring plus a 'G' stamp.
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Old 02-22-16, 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted by T-Mar
If it has has the OEM TA crankset and bottom bracket, French cups have a single ring engraved around the spindle hole. English cups have two rings, while Italian cups have no rings. If the fixed cup is Swiss it will have the single ring plus a 'G' stamp.
yeah, let's see the cups (if you have them).


Source: Sutherland's 4th Edition
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Old 02-22-16, 09:20 PM
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...every Moto GR I've run into here (five total) from about that era have been French threaded. Which, sadly, tells you nothing.
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Old 02-22-16, 09:49 PM
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If all else fails, you can always try the Sheldon Brown method. It worked for me once: Turn the fixed cup clockwise, pretty hard. If nothing happens, turn it clockwise a little harder. If nothing still happens, turn it clockwise even harder. If nothing still happens, turn it counterclockwise harder yet. And so on. This is a shamelessly empirical approach, but eventually the cup will tell you which way it wants to go.

This is a lot easier if you have a good torque wrench, so you can be sure you are in fact turning it harder with each change of direction.

Good luck!
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Old 02-24-16, 12:48 PM
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I'm 99% sure the BB is Swiss, based on the details and opinions provided. I'll keep the original BB and crankset on the bike. I was going to install a VO Grand Cru 50.4 crank, but the total cost of the conversion is more than $270.
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Old 02-24-16, 03:36 PM
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My 77 GR has a 1.27x24t adjustable side cup, the locking side im not sure, I'll need to check, the cup says T P A FG
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Old 02-25-16, 03:19 PM
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My EARLIER GR (either '74 or '75) has FR threads, could be the year after is when the SW threading starts to appear...
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Old 02-25-16, 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson


Source: Sutherland's 4th Edition
I have 71 or 72 GR (Reynolds main tubes, fork without chrome "socks"). According to this page from Sutherland's, my BB is the French threaded Stronglight.
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