Facing Bottom Bracket Shell - When?
05-20-16, 09:54 AM
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Facing Bottom Bracket Shell - When?
You're refurbishing an old steel bike, and have removed the bottom bracket, which is an old cup and cone square taper.
Would you face the BB shell as a matter of routine? When do you consider this step necessary, recommended, pointless, disrecommended?
Do you do something to protect the bare metal edge, before reinstalling the bottom bracket?
Would you face the BB shell as a matter of routine? When do you consider this step necessary, recommended, pointless, disrecommended?
Do you do something to protect the bare metal edge, before reinstalling the bottom bracket?
05-20-16, 10:08 AM
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What is the replacement bottom bracket and how high quality is the frame? If it's a low cost frame and the new bottom bracket is an external bearing type, then yes, have it faced. However, I'd try-fit the bearings and crank first and see if the spindle inserts without forcing it into alignment. If it does, you are good. If it doesn't, have the frame faced.
If the frame is faced, a smear of grease is plenty to protect the cut edges.
If the frame is faced, a smear of grease is plenty to protect the cut edges.
05-20-16, 10:09 AM
#3
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Depends.
If it's a precious thing I'm building for myself and I already have the BB completely out anyway, sure, why not.
If it's just something I'm flipping, where either the original BB is going back in, or even more so if it will be replaced with a new cartridge bearing BB, not so much, why bother.
If it's a precious thing I'm building for myself and I already have the BB completely out anyway, sure, why not.
If it's just something I'm flipping, where either the original BB is going back in, or even more so if it will be replaced with a new cartridge bearing BB, not so much, why bother.
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05-20-16, 10:17 AM
#4
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In the 80's, famed Italian steel frames were shipped out expecting the dealer would be using their set of tools ,
Like, those Boxed Campagnolo tool sets .. and do the final thread cutting, facing , reaming and all that.
BB fixed cup flanges and the lock ring cover the faced edges of the BB shell..
Like, those Boxed Campagnolo tool sets .. and do the final thread cutting, facing , reaming and all that.
BB fixed cup flanges and the lock ring cover the faced edges of the BB shell..
Last edited by fietsbob; 05-20-16 at 10:21 AM.
05-20-16, 10:40 AM
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You would face it AFTER painting, right before you screw the cups in. You don't need to mask it, unless you have some sort of spastic condition that might make your hands jerk so much that you can't fit the tool into a 1.375" hole, but then, if you were that bad, you shouldn't be riding a bike at all.....
05-20-16, 01:38 PM
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Unless you are using an external bottom bracket, its probably not necessary. A facing tool removes metal, so you don't want to do it more than once on each face or you'll end up with a BB that is too narrow. There is no need to protect the bare metal edge, some grease from the threads will always end up there and rust is not a problem.
05-20-16, 02:19 PM
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The original BB will be reinstalled after painting. It is a Campagnolo from the early 1960s.
05-20-16, 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by dsaul
Unless you are using an external bottom bracket, its probably not necessary. A facing tool removes metal, so you don't want to do it more than once on each face or you'll end up with a BB that is too narrow. There is no need to protect the bare metal edge, some grease from the threads will always end up there and rust is not a problem.
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05-20-16, 08:01 PM
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I'd check the BB to ensure it's OK, assemble it and adjust it the best I can. If it turns smoothly without play or binding at any place I'd leave it as it is.
