Viscount Aerospace BB
 

I recently acquired a Viscount Aerospace, Mid 70s fillet brazed. but am having a nightmare getting a crank to fit it. The Bottom bracket is a push fit type. but stranger than that is that the Axle is square but not tapered, it makes fitting any crank a nightmare. Anyone got any tips or workarounds, or Viscount (Lambert) cranks??

I think I've seen something about it here...I'll have to poke around and take a look.

East Hill

The press fit bearings themselves are easily replaced. Loosescrews.com sells them for about $5 each (item #UB-6003). The spindles are a bit more of a challenge. I replaced one awhile back with an ActionTech titatinium spindle that I got on eBay for $20. Phil Wood spindles also work but are very pricey. The key is one that doesn't have bearing surface ridges, but is instead smooth. I have seen Viscount/Lambert cranksets selling on eBay fairly regularly (bought one myself a year or so ago for about $20). Good luck!

Neal

I'd suggest that you really don't want to keep that non-tapered spindle/crank as they have a reputation for failure (see Sheldon Brown). As far as a replacement, you might have some luck with one of the Ritchey spindles on close-out sale at www.icyclesusa.com, and I'd stick on a TA Cyclotouriste crank for a close approximation to the original look, but a more reliable crankset. Good luck!

Those look promising, but wouldn't you need a spindle with the C clip grooves?

You could use an Action Tec spindle collar: http://www.actiontec.us/attack.htm (scroll to the bottom of the page).

Neal

some of the hi-end BMX spindels don't have barring surface ridges and are made for splined cranks---some very cool looking bmx sprockets too---I'd check into them ---sam

Have your LBS tap out the BB to italian threading, that was the standard treatment
back in the day when the Viscount's were still being produced.

Marty

really? the steel is pretty thin, why would I have it done italian?

Italian is larger diameter (36mm vs 35mm for Fr and close enough to 35mm for BSC) so that is the only choice if you have to retap. But since you say there isn't much steel there maybe you should consider going to a threadless BB. Mavic made a very nice one that you'll have to find on eBay or such since it's out of production. It requires you have the outer shell chamfered, not a big deal for somebody who has the tool and experience, but maybe beyond the home mechanic. YST (Taiwan) makes a much cheaper (and cruder) model that does not require chamfering, they can be had from www.biketoolsetc.com, among others. I would guess that the Mavic has an ISO taper and the YST a JIS taper, so consider what crank you will be using, too. (see how much FUN these vintage bikes provide for us?)

The YST threadless BB requires chamfering the BB shell. You could install it without chamfering, but I don't think it would be satisfactory. It's a POS part anyway.

Where can I get replacement cartridge hub bearings for Lambert hubs?

I never used one (YST) myself, but folks I know who did had not chamfered the shell and hadn't had any problem with the BB...so far. I don't doubt that it's a pretty inferior product. My preference would be to rework a replacement spindle to get it to accept the cartridge bearings and snap-rings...just a little work on the lathe is all it might take.
if you can measure all 3 dimensions of the Lambert hub bearing, you should be able to source one from one of the bearing houses that carry a huge stock, like this one
www.bocabearings.com
unless it's a very oddball size: I couldn't find a replacement needle bearing for a Zeus pedal set, but was able to stack 2 cartridge bearings to make a work-around.

I just won the Lambert hub on eBay, so I don't have it to take measurements. I was hoping that someone had dealt with it before and could tell me what number to order and maybe give me a link. It was worth a shot.

I was researching Lambert hubs this morning at work and I found a Forum discussion of the bottom bracket problem with a link to a site with solutions. I'll try to find it.

Here it is:

http://bikecult.com/works/parts/bbViscount.html

If you use the Phil spindle and bearings, what keeps the spindle from moving sideways?

Theres no way you're going to get a cartridge BB in there unless you trim those tube ends!