>What is the threading on the drive side of the bottom bracket? Is it it normal right handed or left handed?
It's left hand threaded on the drive side.
>A 70 mm bb shell is usually Italian threaded (right handed on both sides) but that would be extremely >unlikely on an 80's vintage Japanese bike. They were almost all English threaded, had 68 mm bb shell >widths and left-hand threads on the drive side. I'd measure again to be sure.
I'll measure again. I'm just using a ruler, so it's possible my eyes are deceiving me (though I've checked it a few times).
>Most likely your frame is English threaded and, if it is, getting a new cartridge bb is easy. Actually, even if it is Italian threaded, a new bb is easy to find.
I guess I can also try to dig up a 68mm cartridge for an english threaded frame and see if it fits.
Thanks for your help.