ColonelJLloyd 

I'm restoring a 1989 Bianchi Giro d'Italia. I removed the Campagnolo Athena BB and would like to replace the cartridge bearings.

The trouble is, I'm not sure how to go about it. I'm familiar with the IRD type in which the bearings can essentially be "pulled" off of the spindle after the cups are removed, but this looks different to me.

I read that this BB has two bearings on the drive side and one on the non-drive side. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I don't have a photo of the actual BB, but here is a photo from Velobase.

fietsbob

Do you have access to an Arbor Press, its a Machine Shop standard tool.

not a hand tool.. big, & heavy but simple ... arch of heavy steel and a hydraulic jack
kind of force applicator.

ColonelJLloyd 

No. Is that what is needed to service this BB? Should I take it to a machine shop?

Once the old bearing units are off, will I need this tool again to install the replacements?

canopus 

Yes you will, assuming everything comes apart and nothing breaks. That is why they just replace these bottom brackets and not repair them. For the time and money involved its cheaper to replace it, or buy Phil Wood for easy bearing replacement in 10 to 20 years...

badamsjr

I have replaced the bearings on a few Chorus and Record BB's with no problem. I chose to use ceramics, but G5 steel are available at very reasonable prices. On the Record and Chorus, there is a snap ring on the non-drive side that needs to be removed before pressing off the non-drive side 6903 bearing. then the center section comes right off, and the two 6803 bearings on the drive side can be pressed off. Reverse order to reassemble. On the ones I have renewed, it seems like the 6803 drive side bearings are the ones to go out first. I guess they take more stress on that side. I have access to a hydraulic press, and it works very well for this, and the only problem I have had was trying to install full ceramic 6803's--the races broke, so I went back to hybrid G5 ceramic. Good luck.

ColonelJLloyd 

This article seems to indicate that the Campagnolo BBs are designed to be serviced. The bearings are relatively inexpensive, right? I don't expect my local machine shop to charge much remove and install the bearings. My LBS has sourced cartridge bearings from a local company.

Here's a thread I found that discusses this subject, but unfortunately it ends with the question I'm asking unanswered.

Badamsjr, can you tell me how to do it or what to tell the machine shop to do?

badamsjr

As I said in my previous post, I have not done this to Athens BB, but on Chorus and Record, the only trick to watch out for is to remove the snap ring (after removing the left cup) from the non-drive side of the BB. Then you just need to figure out how to get a sturdy 'purchase' on the non-drive side 6903, and press the spindle out of the non-drive side 6903. The rest is pretty much self-explanatory. I usually wipe everything clean before I start reassembly, and put a thin coating of lube on the spindle to help with pressing the bearings back on. Hope this helps.

zebede

I am not familiar with your bottom bracket but have put quite a few cartridge bearings on electric motors and rebuilt gear boxes, I do not consider my self an expert.

1, You should only push on the inner race, (Unless you want to destructively remove the cartdige bearing in pieces).

If you don't have access to a press.

2. Get some metal tubing of the same diameter as the inner race and tap them on.

To aide installation:

-Clean spindle with emery cloth and then lube
-Put the spindle in freezer to shrink it slightly.
-You can warm t-he bearing in a oven to expand it slightly (keep below it's specified max operational temperature.

ColonelJLloyd 

Thanks!