Bottom bracket threads ruined -- a solution
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 7
Bottom bracket threads ruined -- a solution
Routinely we have posts on subject, often pondering if the frame is now dead and must be replaced or the dreaded "how does a n00by fix this".
Finally re-found the site which has the replacement BB which does not rely on the threading at all.
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...-brackets.html
At $66 ($55 on Amazon) they aren't super cheap, but probably better than buying a lot of specialty tools to attempt a restoral of the buggered up threads.
Note 7 or 8 different spindle lengths and that it fits any of the shells except Italian.
Hope this helps
/K
Finally re-found the site which has the replacement BB which does not rely on the threading at all.
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...-brackets.html
At $66 ($55 on Amazon) they aren't super cheap, but probably better than buying a lot of specialty tools to attempt a restoral of the buggered up threads.
Note 7 or 8 different spindle lengths and that it fits any of the shells except Italian.
Hope this helps
/K
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Routinely we have posts on subject, often pondering if the frame is now dead and must be replaced or the dreaded "how does a n00by fix this".
Finally re-found the site which has the replacement BB which does not rely on the threading at all.
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...-brackets.html
At $66 ($55 on Amazon) they aren't super cheap, but probably better than buying a lot of specialty tools to attempt a restoral of the buggered up threads.
Note 7 or 8 different spindle lengths and that it fits any of the shells except Italian.
Hope this helps
/K
Finally re-found the site which has the replacement BB which does not rely on the threading at all.
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...-brackets.html
At $66 ($55 on Amazon) they aren't super cheap, but probably better than buying a lot of specialty tools to attempt a restoral of the buggered up threads.
Note 7 or 8 different spindle lengths and that it fits any of the shells except Italian.
Hope this helps
/K
#3
Goes to 11.

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 4
From: Wichita, KS, USA
Bikes: 2015 Soma Double Cross
You're also limited somewhat in that this bottom bracket may not work for some spindle length/crankset combinations. I tried a 68x107mm JIS version in a Peugeot UO-9 with a Shimano 105 crankset, and the DS crank arm would bottom out against the BB cup.
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 428
Likes: 3
From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: 2003 Lemond Zurich; 1987 Schwinn Tempo; 1968 PX10; 1978 PX10LE, Peugeot Course; A-D Vent Noir
The old school way to fix ruined BB threads is to rethread them with a BB thread tap. They are available in various sizes and are not cheap.
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,563
Likes: 735
From: Melbourne, Oz
Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231
Chasing the threads won't always work, particularly on ally frames; the taps are cutting tools which remove metal, and if most of the threads are already sheared off... not much chance of joy. Worth a shot though, and teflon tape may help.
I've used one of these VO BBs; it's a pretty nice bit of kit, so it isn't a rip-off. Pretty sure there's a cheaper one from someone else all in steel if a heavy one will do, too.
One odd thing about the VO BB is it was half pink and half blue; a guy from VO told me it was a random thing the supplier did off his own bat, and future batches would be all silver. No idea if the multicoloured ones are all gone yet... I sanded the anodising off mine and painted it black.
I've used one of these VO BBs; it's a pretty nice bit of kit, so it isn't a rip-off. Pretty sure there's a cheaper one from someone else all in steel if a heavy one will do, too.
One odd thing about the VO BB is it was half pink and half blue; a guy from VO told me it was a random thing the supplier did off his own bat, and future batches would be all silver. No idea if the multicoloured ones are all gone yet... I sanded the anodising off mine and painted it black.
#6
Also back in the old days Campagnolo made oversized BB cups in case threads were damaged; in most cases they had 2 oversizes so you could repair the BB threads a second time if they were damaged after the first fix; they also supplied the very expensive tools needed to drill out and re-thread the BB shell.
#7
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...=YS-BB99368110
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...=YS-BB99368113
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...=YS-BB99368116
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...=YS-BB99368119
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...=YS-BB99368122
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...=YS-BB99368124
(Something tells me that I know Striknein from somewhere...)
__________________
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
I've heard mixed reports about those YSY bottom brackets' durability but they are cheap enough that keeping a spare or two on hand doesn't tie up a bunch of money.
Last edited by HillRider; 02-05-13 at 08:48 AM.
#10
Rides Majestic
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 7
From: Westfield, MA
Bikes: 1983 Univega Gran Turismo, 1970 Schwinn Super Sport, 2001 Univega Modo Vincere, Self-Built Nashbar Touring, 1974 Peugeot U08, 1974 Atala Grand Prix, 1986 Ross Mt. Hood, 80's Maruishi MT-18
#13
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 17
From: Upstate NY
Bikes: Bianchi San Mateo and a few others
Any of the Velo Orange treadless bottom brackets should fit your frame (I'm assuming the shell is English threaded and 68 mm wide), but you'll need to pick the one whose spindle is the required length for your crankset. If you're keeping the original crankset, just measure the length of your original spindle to figure out the length
Last edited by SkyDog75; 01-27-16 at 10:32 PM.
#15
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 17
From: Upstate NY
Bikes: Bianchi San Mateo and a few others
Those cheap YST bottom brackets require a chamfered bottom bracket shell. Once you add the cost of chamfering the shell to the price of the bottom bracket itself, it will likely wind up costing you more than one of the Velo Orange bottom brackets. (And from what I gather, those YST bottom brackets don't have a good reputation, to put it kindly.)
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 2
From: Morris County, NJ
Bikes: 90's Bianchi Premio, Raleigh-framed fixed gear, Trek 3500, Centurion hybrid, Dunelt 3-spd, Trek 800
I was too cheap to buy a VO for my Raleigh. It still had good threads and cups, but I wanted to go cotterless. Couldn't find a cotterless "Raleigh conversion" spindle to fit the 71mm shell except on Ebay in the UK, and they wouldn't ship to the U.S. There are plenty of spindles available for >$10 that fit a 68mm shell, so I ground a couple of millimeters off my shell with a hand-held electric sander. Success.
I wonder how many Raleighs are still out there with the original cottered steel cranks. Mine were not only heavy, the chrome was gone too.
I wonder how many Raleighs are still out there with the original cottered steel cranks. Mine were not only heavy, the chrome was gone too.
Last edited by habilis; 01-28-16 at 07:20 AM.
#17
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
I know one that doesn't. A friend has a '71 or '72 Super Course that came with a cottered Stronglight crank (I loved that name since the crank was neither) and Raleigh's proprietary threading. We reused the OEM cups and swapped in an SR square taper spindle and SR crank for the originals. The 71 mm bb width made us thread the adjustable cup in a bit deep but there were just enough exposed threads to add the lock ring.







