I'll update this thread with pics this evening. I don't think this one will be a crowd-pleaser, but I'm liking how it is shaping up.
I had the damnedest time with the bottom bracket. I removed the Stronglight cups and spindle as I had a VO cartridge unit that would give me a good chainline with a NR Strada crankset and single, outer ring. I couldn't get the fixed cup to thread in straight, so I re-installed the original Stronglight cups. It threaded in relatively easily, but not flush against the shell. As a result, any spindle I tried would bind at one point in the rotation. . . obviously. I sent an email to the previous owner:
My email:
What's the story with this bottom bracket? I'm having a hell of a time with it. The fixed cup did not fit flush with the shell when I removed it. I thoroughly cleaned and lubed the shell then tried a VO 35x1 cartridge unit. It threaded in about half way and then started binding. So, I reinstalled the original cups and tried various spindles and they all would bind at the same point in the rotation. The fixed cup will not seat against the shell and is misaligned with the non-drive side cup. A cleaning of threads and facing of the shell would be in order, but there's no shop in my town with a set of French taps and a French facing tool. This sucks. I don't even know if a threadless BB unit will solve the issue.
Prior owner's response:
jeeze im sorry that things been sitting un used for so long i completely forgot about that bb mess i had a hell of a time getting it out when i took it out and must have tried for an hour to get it to thread in correctly just kept binding up so i kept turning but it was never a problem riding and there was little to no play in the bb but if you do decide to go the threadless route the velo orange grand cru bb is listed as working in french bb shells
sorry again
Ha! I instantly thought of this:
I'm not sweating it, though. I'll put a VO cartridge unit in it, cut my losses and (hopefully) get it on the road. I'm trying a few new things out with this build including a bullhorn bar, a TT and interrupter lever, plastic seatpost, deep wall rims, Gatorskins and clipless with a fixed drivetrain.
I have an observation and question for the group. First, I'm aware that metric 531DB is generally supposed to take a 26.4mm seatpost, but this frame as well as both Jeunet 630s I've owned have taken 26.2mm seatposts without pinched ears. And it's not just that the 26.2mm would work, but that it fit appropriately snug with a parallel slit in the seat tube.
My question is regarding the seatpost binder bolt. This is narrower than the other bikes I have and it does require a keyed bolt. I forgot to measure it, but should this take a 19mm keyed binder bolt?