as much as i was trying to avoid going to the LBS I think i will since im in queens its just spanish guys trying to stiff people for just looking at the bike no fixies or tall bikes much around Queens. thanks a million everybody.all this info has been incredibly helpful.

-dave.

Or you could operate a ruler and get a decent idea of the bottom bracket size...no spanish guys involved.

What part of queens do you live in? I'm in queens and go to a shop that does honest work at reasonable prices. A really helpful dude and no ripoffs.

Unfortunately, both english and french bottom brackets use a 68 mm shell, so that wont tell you what you have.

Sometimes the threading spec is stamped into the face of the cups, and should be visible with the cranks removed. See if yours says anything like "1.37 x 24 tpi" and compare to Sheldon's chart.

I may be overemphasizing the likelihood of the problem, as it seems like french threading was probably abandoned in the 60's/70's. However, it is an important detail.

English, french and swiss BB all have 68 mm shell so measuring isn't going to help at all. Italian is the only one that has a different shell width (70mm). If you got a bike with the BB/cranks what do the BB cups say anything on them (1.37x24 is english, 35 x 1 is french or swiss). The majority of Motobecanes actually came with Swiss bottom brackets which is the same threading as French, but the fixed cup is left threaded unlike French. What that means is to remove a french BB you go lefty loosy righty tighty for both cups. English/Swiss is lefty loosely righty tighty for the adjustable cup (non-drive side) and the opposite for the fixed cup.

my 70's 80's motobecane super mirage had a SWISS threaded BB so I just swapped out a shimano sealed BB I had from a MTB (110mm)
my BB has "TANGE japan 35XP1" stamped on it.

so I think you need a french bike older than the 70's to have the dreaded french threaded BB (which is like $50 to have re-tapped)

(if anyone wants that original BB PM me)

Assuming you're not going super-bling with this conversion, and assuming the bottom bracket cups aren't destroyed, just leave the fixed cup (the one that's being a pain to remove) in place. Figure out what crank you want to use, and bring everything to a well-stocked bike shop to find a spindle that (a) fits your bottom bracket shell and (b) gives you the right chainline with your crank.

You could try to obtain a modern, sealed bottom bracket, which has the cups, bearings, and spindle all built into a single unit. But because of the threading headaches mentioned in previous posts, I would just work with what you've got, switch up the spindle, and avoid the extra hassle (and potentially very high cost) of replacing the whole thing.

i dont know who you think are ripping you off, but you are much better shopping local here in nyc and talking to a mechanic about what you need and what you are trying to do than guessing about it on milwaukee bikes. go to bike works or trackstar. dura ace cog=$22 & lockring=$10. they can also help your bb issues. or, go to a times-up repair workshop and learn about the parts, tools and how to fix things. you'll be much better off.
...and im sure there are some people riding in queens already...

I got a chance today to look at my bb since i work last night the bb was made in japan one cup says siguino and the other says "SAKAE SR-SC 35xP1 Japan" I think pretty much its a french /swiss after reading all these post's i assume so i guess ill look for a spindle and call it a day.



As for shops in queens i've been to busy bee bikes in the LES and some shop in astoria the one in astoria was a bit better though.