Top pic is with the fixed cup. Experiment was done with the caged bearings in place. Pretty sure it's the right spindle with the cups. I'm no frame guru - always assumed thread chasing was strictly to clean up the threads, but I wonder if a proper thread chasing, along with facing will address any subtle misalignment between left side and right side threading.

A BB shell would have to be super crazy out of whack to bind up a BB. Especially a traditional cup/spindle BB.

Run that fixed cup in by itself. Does go in ok by hand? If not how much effort does it take? Just as the cup flange meets the BB face check for gaps with bright light. You could also mark up the shell face and cup flange with a Sharpie or dry erase marker then lightly seat the cup then remove and check for a wear pattern.

With a Campy cartridge BB its easy to check for BB face alignment. Screw in the Cartridge first, maybe half way in, the screw in the cup. If the cup goes in with minimal effort the BB shell itself is in fairly good alignment. Now fully seat the cartridge. If the face is out of wack the cup will have a hard time tightening down.

Yeah that's the idea. BB shells get literally red hot when they are brazed in. Metal warps when it's hot. Chase and face with a precision tool ensures everything is perfectly aligned, as well as cleaned of any brazing debris, paint, etc.

From looking at those cups, I would try a 68mm axle just to see at this point.
I agree with miamijim that it doesn't make sense that it binds, especially with cup and cone. Can you get the bearings set up right if you ignore the cups sticking out too far?

After that, I would find the best framebuilder close to you for help with this. :foo:

And not to rain on the parade, but you may be just now finding out why this frame was never built up. :(

You have a NOS Cinelli SC and you are debating whether or not to have the BB properly faced and chased?

SMH.

OK so.....

Lets go back to the cup/cone/spindle BB and try a few things. Starting with the fixed cup...

1. Measure the depth of the threads on the cup and compare to the depth of the threads in the frame. To me it doesn't look like the frames threads are cut overly deep. Is there a chance the cups bottoming out?

2. If the thread depth measures out OK. Thread the fixed cup in by hand. There appears to be a lot of crud in the threads. Clean frame threads with a tooth brush and retry threading in the cup. A tick of effort to thread the cup is OK but just a tick.

3. Move on to the adjustable side and repeat.

4. After fully seating the fixed cup the adjusting cup should only sit out distance equal to the width of the lock ring... OK, maybe 1 extra thread is ok. Anything more than that means either the spindle is too long, the cups are too thick or both.

So the answer is yes.
 

Just got back from a quick trip to the not-local bike shop. Bottom bracket now installs like Tullio intended!

I think it was actually the thread chasing that fixed the problem.

Great news indeed, the threads being clean and properly chased makes things go much smoother.

Bill

Any new frame should be faced and chased, goes double for a NOS Cinelli SC.

That should have been step one. Thank goodness you didn’t take the homebrew route offered by so many ‘experts’.

My homebrew fixes them every time without a trip to the shop, don't claim to be an expert but my success record is 100%. A full understanding of these problems when they arise can facilitate a much quicker resolution the next time and therefore be invaluable. ;)

And yes, good to here the problem is solved. :)

No surprise there.
Those of us who invested in a flat table, fork jig and Campag tool kit for our shop and developed a QC/finishing SOP for each and every frameset that was built for customers "back when" did so out of necessity.

-Bandera

Cool!

Is the build done yet?

Didn't you also suggest 68mm BB?

:innocent:

In progress. I've agonized over saddle choice. Tentatively settles on the Turbo Special. The brown suede Volare is the sentimental choice, but it is a little worn and heavier, plus I don't think it looks quite right with this build.

Boy I need to tidy up my work space!

As a test, yes, just for a data point and to see if it would make any difference. ;)

OP: glad you got this figured out.

And yeah, some cleaning of your workspace is indeed in order! First time I've seen a kitchen used as a workshop :)

DD

Glad you solved it, but I still can't figure out how a not properly chased and faced BB shell will cause a cartridge BB to bind.

Yeah, stumped me too. Scott, the frame guy, told me that there was a fair amount of brass used in the shell and it might have been a little out of round.

DD - about every other year I use the oven for extra baking capacity at Thanksgiving, otherwise it’s the bike shop and beer storage area. About every 2weeks I think about taking all that stuff out, knocking out that wall to make a nice shop with the next door laundry room.

Realizing you have a problem is the first step in overcoming your addiction.......:innocent:

Bill

Why so long? Good LBSs are capable of this and have the tools. It doesn't take that long nor cost a $K.

Nearest set of Italian BB tools is over an hour from me. As it turns out, the shop was able to do the job while I waited, only a couple of days after I called, unlike last time when I had to drop off. The bike is done and first ride was yesterday.

[MENTION=396646]Spaghetti Legs[/MENTION] next time that you encounter a problem that needs a special tool it could be that someone here will work out a method for mailing the tool to you to accomplish the job. Once you are finished just mail the tool(s) back to the owner.

I have loaned tools for this situation, and its been posted in this forum by others, in the past. As long as you feel comfortable doing the task needing the tool(s) the members here most likely will be glad to work with you.

As much as I want a complete Campagnolo wood cased tool set, they are steadily increasing in price and they aren’t being made now either. Saw one on ebay this weekend with a BIN of $6500, I will be visiting the LBS where the owner has two of them and knows how to do the various tasks.

Bill