dickshoulders

Hi Y'all-

I want to buy a replacement BB for my old Superbe Pro crankset... I just need to sure that what I am buying will be compatible.

old BB: 68mm / 109mm spindle / double

Is there a specific make/ model that I need to find, or will almost any other BB with the same specs work?
Any recommendations?

Big thanks in advance... Dick

genericbikedude

any bb with same specs. a un72 (shimano) should work for you. its a shame you gotta get rid of the old one. is it pitted?

StarFangledNut

As long as the new BB has the same dimensions (68mm shell width and 109mm spindle) has a square tapered spindle (the Superbe has a square taper, right?), and the same type threads as the frame, it will work.

dickshoulders

Thanks for the info...
The cranks have become fairly loose and a couple of different local bike mechanics told me that the BB should be replaced. I must admit, although I've been an avid rider for years, I know very little about replacing the BB... never had to deal with one on any of my bikes up until now.
How can I tell whether it needs to be replaced or just serviced? I am fairly competent, mechanically speaking... don't have a BB tool, though...

Also, are there big differences in performance and quality when dealing w/ BB's from different manufacturers/ product lines? If so, which do you think is the best bang for the buck?

Thanks again! Dick

StarFangledNut

Dick, if you don't have any BB tools, it's going to be hard for you to service/check your old BB or take it out an install a new one. Unless you want to invest in a few tools, you might want to bring it into the shop.

dickshoulders

I'm having the shop do the installation... just buying the BB online.

StarFangledNut

As generic pointed out earlier, a shimano UN-53/72/73/etc... BB would be a safe bet. There are a bunch of different models of varying quality that they made which will work. Your ultimate choice will probably be based on where you order it and what models they have in those dimensions. All of these are relatively cheap now that the square taper has gone out of favor.

dickshoulders

Thanks again for the good advice...
In the scheme of cranksets (circa now), how do the ol' Superbe cranks rate?
Am I missing out by not upgrading to something more up to date?

Dick

sydney

Well actually people there were Superbe Pro cranks that used an ISO taper rather than JIS. I've got one of them. Since you have the original (?) spindle, you can have LBS measure the end of the taper and compare to current shimano JIS taper. The small end of the ISO taper will be smaller. If it's ISO, a current campy 111 spindle BB will substitute.

sydney

Ever heard of ISO vs JIS square tapers?

StarFangledNut

I did not realize that there were the 2 square taper types. Thanks for pointing that out. What's the difference in the measurements?

keevohn

I agree. I've got an old Superbe (pre-Superbe Pro) crankset that requires Campagnolo tapered BB's. I tried it on a bike with a Shimano BB... bad combo. A current Campagnolo bottom bracket, any level, will be an excellent substitute.

sydney

Check Sheldon Browns stuff at www.harriscyclery.com Cranks or spindle taper.

Gordon P

Also see if your old one is symetrical or asymetrical as it will affect the chainline. If asymetrical then you will have to determin how much longer it will have to be.