Need advice on buying a bottom bracket
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
Need advice on buying a bottom bracket
I have an old Bianchi Limited road bike converted to a fixed gear. I think it was still using the orignal bottom bracket up until today when I was powering up a hill and all of a sudden the bottom brack just snapped and then popped out.
Anyway now I need to get a new bottom bracket. How do I know what type an size I need to get? I have a formula rear flip flop hub and 126mm spaced droupouts. Any help?
Anyway now I need to get a new bottom bracket. How do I know what type an size I need to get? I have a formula rear flip flop hub and 126mm spaced droupouts. Any help?
#3
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
Right now the bike has the original cranks and I can not tell what they are. They only branding I could find said "SR" and the chainring has 42 teeth. Would it be wise to get a new crank now too or is that not necessary?
#4
stay free.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 0
From: Ellensburg, WA
Bikes: EAI Bare Knuckle, 1980's Ross Signature 292s 12 speed
probably unnecessary to buy a new crank, though if you have the cash I'd do it because a newer crankset is probably lighter. I would say something between 107 and 110 will put you in the right ballpark for your rear spacing, pending some clever work with washers/spacers/flipping chainrings etc. Maybe look at the old bottom bracket spindle and see if there is a number in the 100's marked (probably 105-115ish). That should be the spindle size you need.
Edit: take some pictures and we can probably help better.
Edit: take some pictures and we can probably help better.
#5
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
probably unnecessary to buy a new crank, though if you have the cash I'd do it because a newer crankset is probably lighter. I would say something between 107 and 110 will put you in the right ballpark for your rear spacing, pending some clever work with washers/spacers/flipping chainrings etc. Maybe look at the old bottom bracket spindle and see if there is a number in the 100's marked (probably 105-115ish). That should be the spindle size you need.
Edit: take some pictures and we can probably help better.
Edit: take some pictures and we can probably help better.
#6
How was the chainline with the old BB? You should be able to find the measurements of it stamped on the spindle or cartridge shell. If the chainline was good, get the same length. If it was off one way or another, get a longer or shorter spindle.
#10
#11
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
The bottom bracket is still sitting in the bottom of the bike and I don't have the tool to remove it, so it is very difficult to see anything on the spindle.
Now that I am looking at Sheldon's site it looks like the cap busted off some how, then the cone (?) slide out and dropped a couple bearrings. The spindle itself looks like it is in tact because I can't remove it until I take the crangs off.
Now that I am looking at Sheldon's site it looks like the cap busted off some how, then the cone (?) slide out and dropped a couple bearrings. The spindle itself looks like it is in tact because I can't remove it until I take the crangs off.
#12
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
So I'm thinking about buying a new sugino RD crank set and a sugino BB. If I go though route, first is there any chance there could be a problem with this setup, and second what size BB should I get?
#15
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
Due to the fact that this is a conversion and not a track frame, is there any chance that the chain ring could hit the chain stays?
Also are there any threading issues to be concerned about or are those very rare?
#16
Geek Extraordinaire
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 0
From: Long Beach, CA
Bikes: Bianchi Advantage Fixed Conversion; Specialized Stumpjumper FS Hardtail
The measurement means that the spindle is 103mm long. The chainline is the distance from the center of the frame to the center of the chainring. 42 is standard for track, but 45 isn't a problem. Plus, you can't find a bb shorter than 103mm. There is a small chance the ring could hit the chainstays, but unless the bike is made for wide tires or fenders, it shouldn't be a problem. Even if the bike is made for wider tires, you shouldn't have any problem with a 42t chainring. If you go to a 46 or 47, you may have some issues depending on the frame. both of my recent conversions easily fit a 48t chainring ( a crosscheck and an old japanese-made road frame) but I had issues with an old Bianchi strada touring/city style bike with anything bigger than 44t.
__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.
Sintesi Conversion Serotta Track
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.
Sintesi Conversion Serotta Track
#17
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
The measurement means that the spindle is 103mm long. The chainline is the distance from the center of the frame to the center of the chainring. 42 is standard for track, but 45 isn't a problem. Plus, you can't find a bb shorter than 103mm. There is a small chance the ring could hit the chainstays, but unless the bike is made for wide tires or fenders, it shouldn't be a problem. Even if the bike is made for wider tires, you shouldn't have any problem with a 42t chainring. If you go to a 46 or 47, you may have some issues depending on the frame. both of my recent conversions easily fit a 48t chainring ( a crosscheck and an old japanese-made road frame) but I had issues with an old Bianchi strada touring/city style bike with anything bigger than 44t.
#19
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
I can't remove the spindle because I don't have the right tools. So I tried to measure spindle length, it appears about 135 to 140 mm. Does this seem like the right ball park? It was origanlly a double crank and I was previously using the inside part.
I took some picutres of the BB. Look at the side near the chain ring. That is the damaged part and where the bearings fell out.

I took some picutres of the BB. Look at the side near the chain ring. That is the damaged part and where the bearings fell out.

#20
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,744
Likes: 1
From: Van BC
I can't remove the spindle because I don't have the right tools. So I tried to measure spindle length, it appears about 135 to 140 mm. Does this seem like the right ball park? It was origanlly a double crank and I was previously using the inside part.
I took some picutres of the BB. Look at the side near the chain ring. That is the damaged part and where the bearings fell out.


I took some picutres of the BB. Look at the side near the chain ring. That is the damaged part and where the bearings fell out.


Your bb may not even be broken, it might have just come loose.
Look, if you really want to do this yourself then sooner or later you will have to get your cranks off and get that bb out. In this case you will need to get your hands on the tools to do it. When the bb is out you can make a proper measurement for a new bb, put the old one back together, or whatever.
Last edited by mander; 02-26-08 at 06:33 PM.
#22
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: GATINEAU, QUEBEC, CANADA
Like Mander said, you gotta take off those cranks first.
But it looks like your cup came loose, if thats the case all you need is new bearings and some grease.(any lbs should have both)
Here are some instructions on how to do it:
https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/208402-maintain-sexy-not-so-sexy-track-bb.html
But it looks like your cup came loose, if thats the case all you need is new bearings and some grease.(any lbs should have both)
Here are some instructions on how to do it:
https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/208402-maintain-sexy-not-so-sexy-track-bb.html
#23
cab horn

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 28,353
Likes: 30
From: Toronto
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
It means you shouldn't buy those cranks if you can help it.
#24
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver
Like Mander said, you gotta take off those cranks first.
But it looks like your cup came loose, if thats the case all you need is new bearings and some grease.(any lbs should have both)
Here are some instructions on how to do it:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=208402
But it looks like your cup came loose, if thats the case all you need is new bearings and some grease.(any lbs should have both)
Here are some instructions on how to do it:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=208402
I guess my next question then, once I pull out my spindle this weekend and can accurately measure it, am I better off buying a new cartridge BB or servicing this one?




