Replacement for shimano ff system
 

Would anyone know a replacement BB to replace a shimano ff system BB, I also want a square tapered one so I can up grade the cranks from shimano selecta type.

Since the FFS is heavy and typically found on gas pipe frames, unless you have sentimental attachment, I'd suggest you consider a whole new bike. The proceeds from the FFS bike and savings from not buying those components could get you to a new used mount. One Florida member just sold a Panasonic FFS for mid $100s.

What is ment by gas pipe frame ?

A derogartory term used to describe inexpensive yet strong and heavier tubing often used on cheaper model bikes

By replacement I mean something to go in instead of it. Would a different BB cost so much that I'd be better off getting a whole new bike ?

Ah ok, what would be considered a heavy road bike ? I'll weigh mine now

Lots of bike snobs don't like bikes with big bottom brackets so they call them "gas pipe" to let you know they hate your bike.

If you like your bike, it's worth doing and it's cheaper than a new bike. An adapter is ~$15, a sealed bb is ~$15. If you have a set of square taper cranks laying around it's a low cost upgrade. I've done it to a few sweet vintage Super Sports and they're being loved and ridden decades later....

Is yours a 3 piece or a one piece crank at the moment? The 3 piece is pretty common (the English/Japanese size) and if you get a mountain bike out of a dumpster, you can have a triple crank to go with it. The one piece (Ashtabula) is also pretty easy to come by and can be found on a cheap dumpster mountain bike, maybe with a triple.
Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary Bo--Bz

It's a three peace, ok that dosnt sound too bad I'll try put up pics if the bike soon. I do like it, it runs nice

It dosnt look nice at the moment haha hopefully it'll be sprayed soonish

The bike is 23lbs as it stands now

Tracy94, I saw your other thread. Please post a picture of the bottom bracket shell, it doesn't look like the larger BMX style I'd expect to see on a FF system.

I will when I'm at the laptop top. It's not possible to from an iphone I don't think

I suspect he has English 1.370" cups. If so, it wouldn't be hard to find an appropriate sq taper spindle and cups for it.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...p;d=1395420166

I had a Panasonic Villager with FFS, IIRC the BB shell was unthreaded. Otherwise, i would have kept the frame and installed JIS cups.

I had a Panasonic Villager with FFS, IIRC the BB shell was unthreaded. Otherwise, i would have kept the frame and installed JIS cups.

So the OP would be looking at $50 for the truvativ adapter and cartridge BB, plus $30 or more for an SS crank, plus $20 for non mtb pedals, plus BBT tool at $20. IMHO, $120 total is not low cost, just $25 more than a Brooks B-17!

Well, if it runs nice... Why not just service it? The problem with these bikes is that nobody ever does periodic maintenance of basic bikes, thus making second hand bikes like that always a gamble. If yours is still in good nick, you can just regrease the bearings as the powers that be at Shimano intended. A well greased bike used for around town trips can and will outlast the owner.

If it is an American bb diameter than a Truvativ would be a way to go.
- But if it is an English bb diameter as I suspect it is (and no more than 71mm (Raleigh) wide, then VO's Grand Cru threadless bb would be the way I would proceed. However - OJ's point that this is only about half of the total cost is right-on, regardless. :(

It could well be that the OP's bottom bracket is standard English thread, in which case using a standard traditional or cartridge bottom bracket would be trivial. Shimano Front-Freewheel bottom brackets came in English thread:

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/shimano-ffw-bb.jpg

Plus a freewheel that actually freewheels, and the kind of obscure old-style Shimano freewheel removal tool to get the old one off, and new derailleurs, cables, and levers. (Or don't all FFS bikes have Positron deraulleurs?)

I like my 40lb Suburban, but replacing the FFS on it would ultimately cost more than an used Raleigh Sprite.

Take a close look at the picture above. The only thing that keeps the crank from freewheeling is a zip tie. Keeping the freewheeling crank is not an option.

I'd never run across that. That would be a pain.
Are there any cranks that would just fit the FFS spindle?

No, it is a Rube Goldberg engineering design.

What's the exact harm in having two freewheels in tandem, besides looking like ****? I noticed it, but in a previous thread the owner was talking about a flip flop hub. Also, it's much cheaper to swap out the rear freewheel for a 10$ track cog.

It freewheel a just fine. I love in irelad and there isn't many decent vintage road bikes for sale here and the ones that are for sale either arnt very good like mine. Or are way too expensive. And shipping from England or the ya would be way to expensive. That's why I wanted to just change it out. The BB has a small amount of wiggle so it would need to be regreased and or new bearings. It comes with a splined spindle to allow the selecta crank wich looks horrible and I would really like to change it out for a nicer track set. I do plan on keeping the bike for commuting and the odd weekend cycle. As the new wheels have sealed bearings I woul like to go that way with the BB if anyone knows if there are any out there. I still am not home so it will be tomorrow night before I get a photo of the BB size up.

I also already have a 16t fixed gear cog on the hub so I could use that if it would be better for the time being until I replace the BB

It's a raleigh made in 1980 in gazelle jut for info here's some pics taken on the iphone sorry for lighting best I could do at this time.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=370401


Heres red a side on as u can see it is only slightly larger diameter than the crank arms

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=370402
Sorry this photo should be rotated 90 degrees clock wise.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=370403