Swiss-threaded BB options
 

So, I recently figured out that I have swiss threads to deal with on a bike I'd like to still use as it's a nice ride. I'd like to be able to upgrade and use a newer crank that needs square tapers... so... aside from dropping a pile of cash on a phil wood setup, I'm thinking about putting in a standard threaded BB and using red loctite to hold it in there, as I've heard you can fit a standard threaded cartridge BB into a Swiss shell though it'll be loose.

Otherwise, is there anywhere I can get square tapered spindles and just rebuild the loose bearings and go that route?

I'm open to other ideas too... any decent threadless solutions? The YSTs don't seem to have much good said about them... :S TIA!

Bad option. Go to Sheldon Brown website and look at the sedtion on BBs. I think you may be able to retap the Swiss BB to an Italian size (may be the other way around). Check it out. If not the Phil wood would be a great option. Expensive but will last forever. Try your LBS and have them check out EuroAsia Imports. Sometimes they have the oddest bits.

Hello,

I've been confronted to this problem myself since my favorite bike has a french bottom bracket.

The options are:
1) Rebuild your bottom bracket using your original cups + new bearings and spindle. You should be able to find a square tapered spindle quite easily
2) Buy an extremely rare Mavic bottom bracket such as this one
I've just bought one from a local trade site, and I'm anxious to see how it goes.
3) Buy a cheapish Pyramid Repair bottom bracket such as this one

Good luck

I'd just go with the phil wood setup if you *really* like the bike.

Don't go modifying the frame or slamming stuff in there that can potentially screw the shell over. Are you sure it's swiss? The only difference between swiss and french is the right side cup direction. (left hand for swiss).

A well stocked LBS/bike kitchen/coop place should have lots of loose axles floating around for the old style bb's. I'd suggest trying that route first (cheapest as well). You can also try and scour ebay for swiss/french stuff.

I have a frame that was rethreaded Italian. Just need a 2mm spacer with every BB. I bought it that way so I have no idea what it cost the previous owner.

This happened to a Motobecane with Swiss BB that I took to an LBS. I don't think they did it intentionally - sad to say they seemed clueless & botched a bunch of other stuff too. I was advised by others incl. Sheldon on this forum to just leave it alone. Anyway, the LBS lost the lockring. There was otherwise nothing wrong with the old cup & cone parts.... :cry:

I rode it dozens of miles -- it was too whippy for me & a bit large -- sold it to a lighter-weight friend who still has it & it's still going fine -- doubt it has more than a couple hundred miles on it though -- so here's a definite 'thumbs-sideways' to the idea.

I think I'm going to scour the only open LBS tomorrow to see if they have a square taper spindle that I can use to rebuild the old cup and cone system. I didn't realise that you could swap out a cottered spindle for a cotterless one. I did manage to get both sides off with the torch the other night and if I can rebuild it and grab a spare or two, I'll be happy.

I also was toying with the idea of sweating off the old shell and brazing a new one on but the framebuilders peeps advised against that.

You're in Kitchener? Go to Braun's. Oldest shop in town. They likely have what you need.

I haven't tried it, but I understand that a British-threaded cartridge bottom bracket forced into a Swiss threaded shell works really well. I've never heard that it will be loose or that Loctite is needed. There's no way you're going to hurt the threads in a steel BB with a soft aluminum cartridge BB.

You say you need a square tapered spindle, but you must have one now if you have Swiss threads. That's all there was when Swiss threads were being used, unless you have a cottered crank.

That does seem to be the case here.

OP- I'd go the route of trying to swap the spindle and keeping the cups first.

Those threads on the standard shimano cart bb are not AL. Ever tried removing a cross threaded bottom bracket? Or one that someone installed with the wrong cup direction? You CAN install a bb in the wrong way, and you WILL **** up the threads.