Originally Posted by
dobber
Have you removed the bottom bracket from the bike since you installed it? I'm betting you got some cross threading action going on, hence the "tightness".
As far as buttery-smooth action, the functionality of the spindle has nothing to with the fit of the cups into the shell. My spare Phil Wood spins silky smooth, but it's still in the box.
Glad this worked for you, but that doesn't negate the fact that the two are incompatible.
You know, you just ruined his day. Now every time he rides his bike he will be afraid his BB is cross threaded. to afraid to remove it and see. Knowing if it is it will never go back together and when the BB dies, the frame and BB will go on CL and passed to some unsuspecting punter, and then we will be blessed with a thread about Stripped BB threads.