I just took delivery of a TA Specialtes french thread bottom bracket. When I opened the stapled plastic bag, I noticed a sticky residue on the inside of the adjustable cup, and a good size chunk, say half a pinky fingernail size, of flaked off coating material lying on the inside. I wiped the residue off with my finger, and I can see other areas along the inside rim that are chipped. I am really leary of installing this unit, it just doesn't seem to be a good thing to have chips coming off down there.

My question is, is this normal for the TA unit? Or did I get a previously installed/returned/put back on the parts shelf unit? I am pretty surprised to have received the unit in this condition given the $50 cost that didn't even include the spindle. If all TA's have this issue, I don't know what I'll do to get the BB sorted on my bike, options for french threaded ones are getting slimmer, and I had hoped to avoid the expense of the phil wood option.