Originally Posted by
garage sale GT
Just get the right [cartridge] length and offset.
Dumb question, if I have a bike whose BB is shot and I want to replace with a cartridge, how do I go about finding out which size I need to order?
Originally Posted by
Jeff Wills
Yes and no. The vast majority of loose-bearing bottom brackets use 1/4" ball bearings, available anywhere. Bicycle shops typically sell them in retainers, for ease of installation if nothing else. Cheap retainers have 9, 1/4" balls, more expensive retainers have 11, 1/4" balls.
But the 9-ball and 11-ball retainers are the same diameter, and it's just the # of balls that differs? In other words, there aren't different race sizes and retainer sizes to worry about?
Originally Posted by
HillRider
Loose balls can be used in place of retainer held balls but you will need a couple of extras per side.
Is there anything specific I should keep in mind if I'm using loose balls rather than a retainer? I just add a couple extra balls until it "looks pretty full"? I'm just scared to ever try it without a retainer, cuz I learned hub overhauling from reading Sheldon Brown, who wrote to be very very careful about the number of balls that go in the race. ("If there is one too many [balls], the wheel will tilt slightly one way and another after installation, and can not be trued.") I just want to make sure I can't goof up a bottom bracket somehow.
Sorry for the thread sidetrack, I just have similar questions and I didn't want to bother starting a whole new thread. Thank you all for the help, by the way.