Hi, I haven't posted in C&V before, I've been over at SS&FG, but I needed some questions answered, so I came to where the knowledge is.

I have what is to the best of my knowledge a '77 or '78 Peugeot UO-9 (maybe, maybe not) that I am converting to a fixed gear. My Dad had the bike in his basement, and mailed it to me because we live 800 miles apart. Here's how it came to me:




I finally finished disassembly last night and I ran into a few things that confused me as to the true model of this bike. First, the crank was a cotterless crank:



You can also see in the photo above the left side of the bottom bracket with lockring. This cup and lockring had a normal right hand thread and came off turning counter-clockwise.

This is where I need to post some new pictures (which I will try soon) but anyway...the right cup of the bottom bracket has a left handed thread and came off turning clockwise. To my knowledge, a French thread bottom bracket would have this cup with a right handed thread. Here's a picture you can sort of see the right cup:



Curiosity is just getting to me and I'm confused as to the true model and year of this Peugeot because the bottom bracket and crank don't seem to match up with my original guess as to the model and year. I can take more pictures, and can do measurements if anyone is able to help me figure out what this is. Also, the real reason I need to know is because I need to buy a new bottom bracket, and I'm confused as to which to buy.

Thanks!

Some later model Peugeots apparently came with Swiss thread bottom brackets (35.0 x 1.0, but left hand thread fixed cup. And some -- particularly for the North American market -- came with English thread (1.37" x 24tpi).

Try threading an English cup into the shell. If you can fully seat it without too much effort, the shell has English threading.

Why do you need to buy a new bottom bracket? Are the cups so bad on this one that you can't simply change the spindle?

-Kurt

I just assumed I needed one. When I got the left cup off, all the ball bearings just fell out. I would like the bike to have some new stuff on it, and I think a new bottom bracket is a good investment considering the simplicity of a fixed gear.

Simplicity is the process of not complicating your build, of which you will undoubtedly do if you intend to look for a replacement Swiss BB (you won't find one new, and the only good threadless one available is Velo-Orange's $60 Gran Cru).

If the raceways are clean, clean them, and re-install the bearings. Don't like loose bearings? Install caged bearings. Source out BB spindle of proper width and raceway spacing (a English or French BB spindle should fit, depending on cup width) to your intended crankset, put it back together, and leave it at that.

There isn't anything easier then what I've listed above.

-Kurt

P.S.: Don't throw away that crankset.
P.P.S.: Is that seatpost still in the frame? If so, go and put that saddle back on it before you have a hell of a time getting it out without it.

My late-70's Peugeot frameset that I'm building up has a Swiss thread. I decided to order the above threadless and, while the colors are ugly (my opinion) the bb itself works great. It installed easily and is nice and tight in the frame.

Do you have any pictures?

I don't have anything against it, but I don't understand the point of spending $60 for a BB that will do the same job as the existing Swiss BB cleaned up w/a new spindle (which would probably cost, at most, $25).

-Kurt

The frame came without a bottom bracket. The only complete Swiss one I had located was a Campy SR at $75. I also liked the idea of a cartridge bb (I've got a couple on my other bikes and like them) and decided for my situation that was the best option for me.

Kenneth - I haven't taken any photos of the bb in the bike, but can do so and PM it to you.

Didn't throw out the crankset.

Seatpost came out no problem, without saddle attached.



I'm leaning towards getting the Gran Cru threadless BB from VO.

I'm with Kurt on this one. You already have a square taper BB. If the spindle races are OK why mess with it? Find a GJC form the early 80's and be done with. In all honesty, by the time your done you'll have much more $$$ into it than it'll be worth.

As the infamous BG once said, "why, dont you buy a a brand new one from bikesdirect for $299 and save yourself the hassle." Or something like that.

You were lucky enough to get a cheap peugeot with cotterless cranks, run with it.
95% of the loose bearing BBs I open just need some cleaning and greasing. I had a stronglight bottom bracket on a 73 PR-10 that felt toast, it took, I kid you not, 10lbs of pedal force just to turn the cranks. The original grease turned to glue somehow but after two hours with rags and isopropyl it was clean as new, add some phil green and its just like new.

For some reason I take great joy in stripping a frame and overhauling the BB, HS, open race hubs, pedals... its very rewarding, almost like a whole new bike. Plus the new bearings are dirt cheap compared to cartridge or sealed bearings.

I guess I don't see the harm in trying to overhaul the original BB. It seems pretty simple, but is there a "how-to" on this? I haven't played around with BBs before, and the loose bearings are confusing me...

I'd add, if you are going to use the crankset, keep the spindle. At least clean the spindle well and take a good look at the races - they might be really good.

You can use the spindle you have since that type of crank allows you to use spacers to move your chainring inward. it should be just about the easiest conversion ever.

I didn't realize that they were using Swiss bottom brackets that early.

This is how I go about overhauling a vintage road bike bottom bracket.

Hope it is a help.

well I did end up overhauling the bottom bracket, came out great! the bike isn't quite finished yet, but here's a picture. thanks for the help

You were just about to add a front brake, right? :-) What is that crankset? It looks pretty good.

It's an eighthinch crank. Looks nice cuz it's new, nothing too special...the lighting may be helping too.

I will be adding a front brake, swapping the saddle, and probably flop and chop the bars into bullhorns

Ditch that stone stand for a newer, lighter aluminum one

ha, yeah good point, it does weigh me down when i carry it... .... .... (where's the sarcasm smiley?)

Go Harvard!

Good work. I agree that you owe yourself and everyone else to put a front brake on.

It's a UO-10. Same frame as a UO-8 or UO-10, but only the UO-10 had Weinmann brakes. It also came with aluminum rims, which the UO-8 and UO-9 did not. I think it's a 1978 model.

Although I am no fixie/SS fan, I would have to say that your Peugeot came out looking very nice and elegant looking!
And the great thing is, you didn't have to cut off a derailleur hanger to do it!
Congratulations with the successful build-up!

Chombi
84 Peugeot PSV
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7

Good looking bike!

nice bike! Peugeots are a uphill battle the whole way. I found out the hard way but i also perfer my peugeot over all my other steeds. Maybe it was all the research and build time to get it running or maybe it just rides better ......all i know is it is about the best bike ive been on.