Originally Posted by
reckon
where did I get this information, mr. hostility?,..uh lets see,.why the very bike I'm riding now with the shimano sealed BB in it (70's motobecane=swiss BB: sez "TANGE japan 35XP1" on it) the shimano sealed BB from my other MTB fit right in, nice and tight. (perfect size for a straight chainline too! go figure!)
and as far as re-tapping a BB ANYTHING is possible, or maybe you haven't visited a machine shop lately (btw I work in one and we could do it on our lunch hour), the question is: can you afford to do the work? (or is the bike really worth all the trouble and money?)
but thank you for your warm response, I hope you get fleas.
I would also be interested in how you re-tap a bottom bracket to a smaller diameter????
I can only see it being possible if you fill the shell with metal and then do the tapping. But a normal bike shop wouldn't be able to do this, therefore most likely not an option.
Changing the spindle in a French bottom bracket is not hard, and it is even possible to find new old stock French cups on ebay (i have some in my peugeot). Or if you got big bucks, get a phil woods bottom bracket with the French cups.
If you do decide to keep original French bottom bracket, make sure to check it often. They have a tendency to loosen up because the fixed cup is right threaded. You might even want to put some locktite on it, and crank it down hard.
Of course you could just read all this yourself....
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bbsize.html
-ray