Am slowly going thru a '55 Raleigh and have read of folks retapping the bottom bracket from 26 to the "standard" 24 tpi thread. Anyone that has done this had any problems? Details good and bad please.

Thanks
Robert

Too much trouble. Just use the original cups and swap spindles to something that'll work for you (I'm assuming you're thinking of going from a cottered crank to a cotterless).

If you're not changing from a cottered crank, why would you want to bother?

Hi I've just found Raleigh Bottom Bracket Cups on the internet on a well know auction website. This guy https://shop.ebay.co.uk/the_official_....c0.m14&_pgn=1 is selling 26tpi Raleigh style BB cups and 71mm shell compatible Cottered Axles.Thats me sorted!
Mickey.

A bike shop should have the tools required to retap a Raleigh bottom bracket so it can accept standard 24" BSC TPI parts, which are readily available. Or you can use a Phil Wood 26" TPI bottom bracket but its a very expensive solution.

The link doesn't work, whats the seller's eBay ID?

+1 to what Sykerocker said.

I hope that OP hasn't been waiting these two + years for a solution!

Neal

Sounds like a shill for the poster's own ad, but I think you're referring to this auction:

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PAIR-RALEIGH-B...item5d28e39848

I'm still scratching my head as to what 1955 Raleigh model would warrant a 26-to-24 TPI thread conversion (why did Sheldon even broach this subject?).

-Krut

The point is the 26 TPI parts where unique to Raleigh and no one else made them. So if you need to replace a worn out or damaged part that can be a problem because there are no 26 TPI replacement parts available. So the solution is to retap a Raleigh's thread to take standard 24 TPI parts. As a solution it works well.

Incorrect. Replacement BB's are out there. Local shop has some in their drawer, and one need only strip a beat up Raleigh Sports frame with good hardware to acquire a set of completely usable cups.

This argument has even less validity then the French BB theory, because parts-bike Raleighs are even easier to find then a UO-8 for parts.

Until the threads go; then it's a trip to VO to pick up a threadless BB.

-Kurt

Neal,

That would have been a lesson in patience

Rebuilt the bottom bracket with some cups stripped from another bike. Bike has since found a new home. Have been thinning the "herd" to bikes I actually ride. The Dawn Tourist that I was working one was a beautiful classy bike, but not suited form my location or the distances traveled.

Excellent. Glad to hear that the sensible solution worked out.

-Kurt

Hi,

No the listing is https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Raleigh-26tpi-...item4aa0d2b090

There id is the_official_katie_price_closet

They appear to have more than 1 set as they are new and they have cottered axles for a 71mm shell also. But no square taper ones. That is the problem with a retap the shell is still 3mm wide.

Mike

In situations like that, I've usually gone digging and come up with a square taper 5-series spindle which is 55mm in the middle, as opposed to a 3-series which is 52. That 3mm extra width takes care of the bottom bracket difference. The 5-series spindle is long obsolete and I dug up my supply about four years ago (which I jealously guard), but they've gotten me through a few situations like you describe very nicely.

This is what I did back in the day. I've also re-tapped the threads to 24tpi. These days you could convert the threads to 24tpi and use a 68mm/73mm MTB BB and just use one of the washers.