Ok I think i'm totally being stupid here with this question I need to replace my BB cups but i cant find them on Niagara... its just a standard english set 1.37" x 24 TPI, cant use this one cause it has these weird indentations on the cups...

I think i'm being totally dumb with this one.

Are you talking about those marks around the spindle hole??
If you are you should not worry about those marks as the bearings do not contact them.
The spindle just floats at the hole held up away from it's edges by the bearings.
Marks like those are common on most mid to low priced loose bearing BBs. You should look at most older French BB cups. You'll be amazed on what was sold as new back then.

Chombi

thanx chombi for the reply.

I was wondering if they would be ok to use. I was more worried about the indent at the top and bottom section of the cup, on the other side of the cup the spanner wrench would go in those little slots and for some odd reason it made small indentions on this side. Ill give them a run and see how they go.


thanx

Hi James,

I'm seeing the pic better on the screen at home and I think I see what you are talking about this time. I thought that was a reflection I was seeing at the top of the spindle hole, but if that is indeed and indent, then it could be a different story if that indent does extend into the bearing race area. and cause a dip in the bearing's path. Not sure how those what cou,d have caused the indents, but I do think that it's something that shouldn't be there. As you noted, testing it might be the only way to find out if those indents are indeed affecting the bearing action in the BB.
Good Luck, hope it's OK.

Chombi

Totally unrelated, but how do you keep your hands so clean when working on such things?

@3speed

lots of dish soap...

but then again don't look under my nails though.

...back to your original question...it doesn't surprise me that they aren't stocking cup/cone bottom brackets. Most shops would consider them obsolete. What are you putting this on? If the crank is JIS why not just stick a cartridge in there and be done with it? You can pick up a decent cartridge Shimano BB pretty cheap.

I guess i could go the cartridge route, I honestly have never used a cartridge BB. This is going on my 1980 trek. I was just using the original parts that I had on hand and then noticed the cups. I just figured that a bicycle shop would have one laying around then decided to look on Niagara.

Rewind, please. Is this a bike you've had for a while? Did you take it apart because you could sense a problem or is this just routine maintenance? Maybe that cup is fine.

I bet your LBS does have one lying around. If not, just tap the indent back down with a punch. You can see the actual bearing surface just above the 'corner' of the cup and it looks fine. Unless the indent is high enough to contact the bearing balls it should matter. If it is that high, knocking it down should work since the balls normally don't contact that part of the cup.

Yeah I have had it for awhile i was finally putting it back together. I bought this bike awhile ago and just am in the process of cleaning it up and on the road. While cleaning the cups i noticed the cups.

A little trick known to painters and mechanics...before starting work scrape your fingernails across a bar of soap. When work finishes,use whatever you normally use to wash your hands and take a nailbrush to your fingernails. the paint/grease falls out with minimal scrubbing required.

Nice tip on the nails. I have these stupid little cracks, particularly on the side of my pointers toward my thumbs, that I can Not seem to get the dirt/grease out of.