Campy. Bottom Bracket overhaul
 

On my spare bike I have a Campy group with a 9 sprocket set up. I use a Chorus sealed bottom bracket on the Litespeed. I was riding the other day and noticed some play in the spindles. I replaced the bottom bracket with a new sealed one.

Question

Can you fix these bottom brackets? It seems I only get five to seven thousand miles on these sealed brackets.

Any suggestions?
Thanks

Post some detailed photos of your bottom bracket.

The Shimano bottom brackets I have don't appear to be easy to disassemble.

Other brands such as Interloc racing appear to be easy to replace the bearings in. Most cartridge bearings will have writing on the sides indicating the size which any bearing store should be able to cross reference.

This popped up with a quick internet search.
Campagnolo Chorus Ultra Torque Bottom Bracket Bearing Bicycle Bearings

square taper cartridge? maybe not .

though with a home machine shop (dont have one) I could Try.

Campag overhaul for a 9 speed bike will = remove BB, check size, send to scrap recycling, order new one (if you haven't already) fit and ride.

They are sealed units, nothing to overhaul on them, other than replace.

For liketime, have had one fitted since 2000, pulled it a few years back when re-finishing the frame, and apart from a little surface rust, was smooth as new, still is, and it's done more than the distance you have on yours.

It's not an Ultra Torque (external bearing) crank or bottom bracket since it's 9-speed. UT was first introduced with 10-speed groups.

jimc101 is correct, Campy's sealed square taper cartridge bottom brackets, like most Shimano equivalents, are not user serviceable.

I'll bet you're using the Campy 102mm square-taper BB that can still be bought on all of the online sites for about $100. This unit has 2 cartridge bearings on the drive side and one larger cartridge on the non-drive side. Going from memory.

These units are completely parts compatible with Record BBs, but not the 111mm Centaur units.

I have replaced the cartridge bearings on these several times. Takes about 30 minutes, including the BB removal; the cartridge bearings are pretty standard, and can be bought online from Asia for about $5 each. Or about $50 for (scam) ceramics.

Almost always, it is the smaller outboard cartridge that goes, and only this has to be replaced.

The only tools required is a bench vice, some pliers (to remove C-clips) and a small hammer to punch the carts out and then back in. Plus the correct BB tool of course.

Abandon hope in taking this to a shop, I that they'll first strip your old cups by using the wrong tool, lose all of the old parts, and then balk at any repair task that does not involve replacing the entire unit.

Why would I fuss with this? Because I can replace the bearings in less time than hauling my bike to the shop.

since OP was not saying which Chorus ( a Model name retained for Decades) we Guess ..

Old Loose Ball Yes .. Sealed cartridge or external Bearing? (But I may not be up to date) No.

I have 2 cartridge types : internal spline (mounts with their cassette lock ring tool) and external spline ..

I fitted the external spline as it comes closer to the axle & I added an O Ring before I put the crank arms on.

So , then I have another seal of the cartridge faces and the environment.

OP stated 9-speed on a Litespeed. This places the date in the early to mid 90s. Chorus 7 and 8-speed used a 111mm spindle, both in the loose ball and first generation cartridge BBs. The first gen cart BBs from Campy were not serviceable.

The last generation of square-taper BBs from Campy are very nice. 102mm Chorus/Record and 111mm Centaur for the doubles. Lightweight, very well sealed, indefinitely serviceable and worth saving.

I'm having second thoughts about the OP's original problem. Chorus BBs should last many many thousands of miles before requiring any work. Is it possible that one of the cups has just loosened up, and need tightening? Like on the drive side of an Italian BB, which tends to loosen by itself?

Old thread, but worth revisiting - would you mind telling me more re servicing BB - have one of those, 102mm Record and would not mind reusing it if possible?

Many thanks in advance