Viscount with pressed in BB
 

I have a Viscount frame from around 1977 or so and want to install a modern BB, how do I remove the old pressed in BB and how do I get the new threaded BB in there?

If it's pressed in for certain (no threads involved), then a punch or screwdriver and a hammer will knock it out with ease.

Have a picture? I'm surprised a '77 Viscount would be using a one-piece crankset & bottom-bracket.

might help.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=320618

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=396067

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

For swapping to a 3-piece BB, you need to get the old one out of there first. Measure the width of the shell on your bike (look it up). And make sure the pitch of the threads in the BB-shell match those you wish to install. A standard thread-pitch is 24 X 1 inch.

So do your homework before you settle into one thing or another.

Oh yes - Last Analysis Dept: This is a job commonly done. And YES! It's very possible.

The sealed cartridge bearings on Viscount BBs can easily be replaced. They're press fit, so you need to remove the circlips on both sides of the spindle and knock out the spindle with the frame in a vise and a block of hardwood to protect the spindle end. Give it some good whacks with a BFH, and one side will either come out with the spindle or once the spindle is out, you can knock out those BBs with a long punch or rod. You can find replacement bearings for around $5 each. Those spindles were also prone to failure at the circlip grooves, but those are much harder to find replacements for, unfortunately. And you're out of luck to install a standard threaded BB as you have no threads on the shell.

Neal

Viscount BB shells are unthreaded, with press-fitted cartridge bearings. The old bearings can simply be punched out. There's a circlip on each side of the spindle holding it in place. Pop those off and hammer away. I've heard that the shells can be tapped to accept a threaded bottom bracket, but it may be cheaper and easier just to use a threadless cartridge bottom bracket.

Would something like this help? Good ol' VO!
http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2009...adless-bb.html

If it's pressed in for certain (no threads involved), then a punch or screwdriver and a hammer will knock it out with ease.

Have a picture? I'm surprised a '77 Viscount would be using a one-piece crankset & bottom-bracket.


For swapping to a 3-piece BB, you need to get the old one out of there first. Measure the width of the shell on your bike (look it up). And make sure the pitch of the threads in the BB-shell match those you wish to install. A standard thread-pitch is 24 X 1 inch.

So do your homework before you settle into one thing or another.

Oh yes - Last Analysis Dept: This is a job commonly done. And YES! It's very possible.


:thumb:

I just replaced my bearings. Took it to my LBS to remove the old ones and found the replacement 6003 17x35x10 sealed bearings at a local industrial supplier for $10 each--you can find them for $5 or so online but by the time you pay shipping and wait for delivery it's about a wash--cleaned up the spindle on a wire wheel and spend 70 cents for a couple of new circlips. The guys at my LBS installed the new bearings with their headset press and didn't charge me anything at all for the removal and install. Now if I could only get the frozen Death Fork out of the head tube...

Here is a pic of it:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...p/DSCN1181.jpg


I was thinking about tapping a thread in there after the old BB was removed. That way I can install a new modern crankset such as this http://cgi.ebay.com/EIGHTHINCH-FIXED...d=p3286.c0.m14

Can my LBS do all this?

Also, is there a way I can identify the exact year of my Viscount?

PS. Mine still has the death fork also. It's really neat looking.

Not likely without pictures.

Neal

Now that looks like it would do the trick but I guess won't be available for a couple of months.

I'm sure the VO BB will be better quality, but if you want something NOW, your LBS should be able to get one of the YST threadless BB units for less than $20. They come in JIS spindles from 110 to 127.5 and they are sold cheap because they are cheap but might do the trick for you.

Man, what a beautiful piece of work! Wish it had been around 3-4 years ago when I converted my Lambert. This would definitely be in contention for all Lambert/Viscount fans.

So, can you identify what year and specific model this viscount is?

Why not just use the existing BB with the new crankset? Is that spindle the non-tapered type?

You could just press in a new axle if needed. MOMBAT has a few sizes Klein spindles for about $40.

FWIW, I pulled the BB on my old Lambert with a long 10mm bolt, a nut, some washers and a 36 mm socket. That way you pull the axle and on bearing out. The take a punch and drive the other side out. Then you figure out how much the new spindle needs to clear the left side, press the bearing onto the spindle, the press the bearingi into the BB shell. Then press the right side bearing on the spindle into the BB at the same time.

Phil ABEC 10 bearings are about $10 each. So for $40 for the Klein spindle, $20 for the Phil bearings, and maybe $10 worth of hardware you'll have a solid smooth running BB that needs no adjustment and is very low maintenance.

BTW, I'm not sure about the year of your Viscount. I bought my Lambert in 1972 or 1973. It looks pretty much the same, but I think the Viscounts were made after the Lamberts. If it has the non-tapered spindle it's probably and early model, so that would place it about 75 or 76, I think.

Anyway, replace the death fork before you ride.

Sheldon's site has Lambert info, and you might want to surf the web, too.
As I recall, Lambert's were sold as such for only a few years. Then Yamaha bought them and changed the name to Viscounts in (I want to say) '77. They didn't last much longer due to poor sales and the death fork thing. Maybe '83?
I knew better 3 years ago when I had a Lambert, but once I flipped it the knowledge slipped away.

Could be as late as 77, but I'm pretty sure they were history by 83.

The threadless bbs might not work on those frames without some work because of tubing intruding into the bb shell.

My lbs was not able to thread the shell to take a standard 3-piece bottom bracket.

I saw newly manufactured replacement spindles for viscount/lambert on the web somewhere. Can't remember but maybe you could find them if you looked. The old one and new cartridge bearings would work, but apparently the old spindles fail from time to time and that sounds dangerous.

Boy, those bars sure look uncomfortable. I think I'd swap on some Nitto Noodles.

Pretty much exhausted Sheldon's site knowledge about this model. There is a Colorado University 1979 sticker on it so I'm thinking around '77 or so for this model. Why do you suggest Nitto bars?

Go to www.reset-racing.de and look for the "fur Klein, Storck, Cannondale" section of this German website (these brands used some threadless BBs). I believe these are complete BBs, cartridge type, to fit threadless shells.

I looked at those for my Klein. They would probably work well, bu they are expensive. Maybe more than the Phil Wood.

Dude! I saw this pic and for some reason the first thing that came to mind was "Ultraman!"
Yes, I know he was red and silver, thats why I said "for some reason." ;)
Nice looking bike BTW!