Originally Posted by
Cowtown Cumuter
A bike that old perhaps had some metal fatigue in the BB. I had my '82 re done because I was scared it would let go. Time for some maintenance Reich...you heal up there buddy.
I replaced the BB on my ancient (30+ years) Raleigh just a couple of weeks ago. I gotta tell you, the new-design sealed bearing BBs are light-years ahead of the old style, ball-bearing, lockring/fixed cup/adjustable cup things of the past.
Just pop in a Shimano sealed-bearing unit (they come with solid or hollow spindles, whichever you want). It's a breeze, and requires next to no adjustment compared to the old onese. And the sealed bearings mean no maintenance.