Hi everyone. I just got back from a CA to FL coast to coast tour (which was awesome) on my Trek 540. Around Destin,FL, my bottom bracket totally went out. I managed to limp the bike over to a bike shop to get it repaired and basically the internal threads went out (completely mashed and mangled). The mechanic at the shop managed to clean out the threads and put in a square style bracket, but its only hanging on by 3 1/4 threads. Any ideas on how long this bottom bracket is gonna last? Is there anyway to repair the damage to my frame or find a work around solution?


Thanks!

Mavic and YST made some BB that don't require threads, but do require other machining so it's far from perfect. If you started with English you can tap it out to the larger Italian (I have one bike retapped from French). My suggestion for now is Loctite - maybe even the permanent red stuff. Hopefully someone on here has a better solution.

And great trip!

Is the bike new enough to have the frame warrantied?

I was told that Italian wasn't any bigger by one mechanic and the opposite by another. Help? Whats loctite?

Alas, I tried the warranty. I'm not the original owner so it won't work.

I looked into Loctite. Thats probably my best option. Any ideas on what is the longest lasting bottom bracket ever made (cause its the only one this bike is ever gonna have).

Don't go back to that first mechanic. The outside thread diameter (assuming English) of your BB is 34.8mm (1.37"), and the inside thread diameter of an Italian BB shell is about 35.2mm (outside 36mm), so there's room to retap if need be.

Long lasting - Phil Wood, but not cheap.

I dont have the extra .4mm of metal, I'll go with the Phil Wood. Any idea how many miles it will last. I understand your typical shimano square style will last 10-15k.

Any idea where I can find these bottom brackets that dont require threads?

I looked for YST and couldn't find anything, help?

I know Harris Cyclery carried these at one time, look at their site.

They stopped carrying them. But the site gave me some hints on other places to look. I found a cannondale r300 (mint condition) for sale in a bike shop for 200 bucks yesterday. I just bought it (the guy who owned it never paid his service bill and the bill was 200 bucks) and figured if all else fails i'll throw all my touring stuff on that bike. Who knows, it could work.