Mysteries of the Italian Threaded BB
06-08-06, 04:27 PM
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Mysteries of the Italian Threaded BB
I'm about to embark on my first Italian Job: building up a vintage Caldaro with Campy components. I have a few questions regarding the Italian threaded bottom bracket:
* Locktite or teflon tape? I've never used either with a standard English threaded Shimano BB, but it seems like one or the other is needed to keep one side from unscrewing itself from the pedaling motion.
* Campy or Park BB tool? I've had very good luck with generic tools for 99% of the stuff I do and then I'll use a Park tool for the other 1%. I'm guessing the Park BB tool is sufficient here too, right?
* Is it worth buying a torque wrench? With standard English BB's I just crank until it's good and tight and have never had a problem, but again, I wonder if it's worth shelling out a few bucks for the proper tool here.
* "Vented" BB shell? The Caldaro has big vents (for the lack of a better term) in the BB shell. Do I need to do anything to protect the BB? My guess is no, but let me know otherwise.
* Am I forgetting anything else?
* Locktite or teflon tape? I've never used either with a standard English threaded Shimano BB, but it seems like one or the other is needed to keep one side from unscrewing itself from the pedaling motion.
* Campy or Park BB tool? I've had very good luck with generic tools for 99% of the stuff I do and then I'll use a Park tool for the other 1%. I'm guessing the Park BB tool is sufficient here too, right?
* Is it worth buying a torque wrench? With standard English BB's I just crank until it's good and tight and have never had a problem, but again, I wonder if it's worth shelling out a few bucks for the proper tool here.
* "Vented" BB shell? The Caldaro has big vents (for the lack of a better term) in the BB shell. Do I need to do anything to protect the BB? My guess is no, but let me know otherwise.
* Am I forgetting anything else?
06-08-06, 05:06 PM
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-For an Italian bb, possibly Loctite is warrented. Maybe not essential but can't hurt.
- Either make tool is fine. Park tools are excellent quality so buying the official Campy tools isn't of any benefit.
-I'm enamoured with torque wrenches. I use them ever since I tightened a bottom bracket VERY tight and then used the torque wrench and got another 1/4 turn. Sheldon Brown to the contrary, torque wrenches are very useful for bike mechanic who doesn't work on them every day and hasn't developed a calibrated arm.
- If the bb is a sealed cartridge unit, no extra protection is needed. If it's a cup and cone, one of the plastic bb sleeves would be worthwhile.
- Either make tool is fine. Park tools are excellent quality so buying the official Campy tools isn't of any benefit.
-I'm enamoured with torque wrenches. I use them ever since I tightened a bottom bracket VERY tight and then used the torque wrench and got another 1/4 turn. Sheldon Brown to the contrary, torque wrenches are very useful for bike mechanic who doesn't work on them every day and hasn't developed a calibrated arm.
- If the bb is a sealed cartridge unit, no extra protection is needed. If it's a cup and cone, one of the plastic bb sleeves would be worthwhile.
06-08-06, 06:11 PM
#3
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Grease the threads, use a plastic BB sleeve, and torque to 30 ft/lbs and you'll be fine.
Top
(35 years on 70mm Italian BBs)
Top
(35 years on 70mm Italian BBs)
06-09-06, 02:11 AM
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Originally Posted by top506
Grease the threads, use a plastic BB sleeve, and torque to 30 ft/lbs and you'll be fine.
Top
(35 years on 70mm Italian BBs)
Top
(35 years on 70mm Italian BBs)
06-09-06, 10:56 AM
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For some reason, I thought I'd read somewhere that Italian threaded BB rings tend to come loose from the pedaling action and that it was necessary to use something stickier than grease.
And I should have mentioned that it's a new cartridge BB. As I think about it again, the whole reason for cartridge BBs is that they are sealed. Duh.
And I should have mentioned that it's a new cartridge BB. As I think about it again, the whole reason for cartridge BBs is that they are sealed. Duh.
06-09-06, 11:41 AM
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I'm gonna ask this question again here since I never got an answer on another thread. If you get a cartridge Italian BB, and it's not some phil-type system, do you put the main part the left side and the loose cup in the right, such that the side that's actually doing something is threaded correctly, or do you have to put the main part on the right to stabilize the drive side?
