jamesj

My Schwinn Voyageur SP has a Suntour Sealed VX Bottom Bracket Since this is bottom bracket is such a weird older one I want to replace it with something different. The crankset is a "Sugino AT Triple Crankset" I was looking at Sheldon browns guide and saw that I can use a Shimano UN-73, is there anything else I can use.

kunsunoke 

Sure, you could replace it with any number of different BBs - Tange, Phil's, American Classic, vintage Campagnolo, other Shimano types as well - so long as the shell width and spindle length are the same. I doubt it's necessary, though. Suntour made some good ball brackets.

RubberLegs

I like the Velo Orange one I put in my Felt, ALL metal....none of that plastic stuff. Feels good and stiff even when I mash the pedals.

auchencrow

In general, I have no fondness for Cartridge bb's given that I burned up TWO such Shimano bottom brackets in one season (though admittedly under harsh (winter) conditions.)
Conversely, I have never destroyed a ball and cup type bb.

jamesj

The only reason I wanted to change it is because the tool to take it out was nowhere to be found. I just want something that I can easily use. Thanx for the help.

WNG

That was the first thought that came to mind..."How did James pull that BB off the frame?"

I ran into the same situation back in 2010 with a Specialized Expedition with the same BB and crank combo.
I was advised to leave it on there as the tool isn't available, and it's a pretty stout BB anyway.

I'm not certain what a Vx taper refers to. I know Suntour Superbe cranks used a proprietary taper.
But given it's used on a Sugino AT. I'd bet it's JIS taper.

Measure the spindle length, and try to match up with any cartridge BBs on the market.
I like the VO Grand Cru BB suggestion. It has dual adjustable cups like the Suntour Vx, so you can fine tune chain line. If there is one with the correct spindle length, that would be my 1st choice.

I don't think they make UN-73 BBs anymore. Someone could chime in on that.

JohnDThompson 

FWIW, Phil BB mounting rings fit just fine on SunTour cartridges and they're available in just about every plausible BB thread spec.

jamesj

Measured the spindle length and it came out to be 125mm, also I believe it is a JIS Taper, Velobase also confirms this.

https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...c-23fb9e204511

Would a Gran Cru still work? The nearest size is a 127mm.

thanx for the help everyone.

LesterOfPuppets

I probably wouldn't swap it 'til it broke. It's probably a pretty nice bottom bracket.

jamesj

It is a nice bottom bracket, Im just afraid I'm not going to be able to get it out again. Luckily when me and the bike shop pulled it out it wasn't a super hard battle.

jiangshi

Shimano UN26 would be very close (127.5).

dddd

VX taper size is indeed the normal, super-precise JIS size, which is 12.90mm, measured 3.2mm (1/8") from the end of the spindle.

There is a lot of offset with some of these Suntour BB's, so a Shimano UN5X in 127mm is what I'd normally use with an AT triple.

But in this case, I have the needed Suntour tool, which perhaps can be found on Ebay?

jamesj

Ok awesome! so I can get one of these Shimano UN55
https://www.niagaracycle.com/categori...-x-127-english

Or a Grand Cru
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...lloy-cups.html

thanx everyone for the help again!

dddd

Yeah, I'd go with the Shimano unit. Recent production again is using alloy left-side cups instead of plastic.

Niagara's prices are pretty good, but unlike most other retailers they apply their fixed shipping cost to EACH item in any order of multiple items.
So, the shipping fee can be surprisingly high for orders of multiple items where the entire order still falls under their $100 free-shipping rule.

JohnDThompson 

What's the part number on that tool?

Pars 

Here's another thread on one of these:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Bottom-Bracket

Didn't watch the video to see how he got it out. I've seen reference to a Park BBT-1, but haven't found a pic of it so don't know if that is the right one or not. Seems like I did find a thread somewhere that pictured the Suntour tool, but can't find it now.

cyclotoine

I'd just use the old flat slot type BB tool. Either the yellow park spanner or something else and install it. I can't see it being too difficult to do. You could make a spanner out of plate aluminum and two shorty bolts as well and even file the ends squarish to fit better. A bit of work, but I am sure it is better then a UN-2x

onespeedbiker

The tool for your Suntour BB is this one.



However, since the fixed side is not fixed, all that's necessary is to hold the Cartridge in place while tightening the lockring so a common spanner wrench for the lockring and a pin spanner for the notches in cartridge body will work as demonstrated by it's easy removal at your LBS.