Apollo Renegade 3600 Bottom Bracket

[iff]

Hi all. I have inherited (from my son in law)

mountain bike. I believe the cycle may have originated from Halfords and is possibly not a top or expensive model. Since he is a bit of a heavyweight and apt to favour, when riding, brute force over technique or style the cycle’s BB ist kuput. I was surprised to see that the BB is what I would consider of dated construction as it is not like those I have seen with a sealed unit and retaining nuts that need a special socket to remove. Maybe it is just because it is a little long in the tooth like me.


Anyhoo I have stripped the BB of crank arms, peddles, gears... and locking ring leaving just the crank axle and bearing assembly. I have been unable to shift either of the “nuts” that retain the crank axle/spindle either side of the bottom bracket with any of my extensive range of spanners/adjustables – there is just not enough nut depth to get a purchase.


My next step is to clamp the nut (bike and all) in a vice but before I do, I wanted to check the hand of the nuts. I understand that normally for UK/USA ... bikes the left hand side (non-drive gear side) is normally an ACW unscrew thread, and the right hand (Drive sprocket side) is a left hand thread, which requires a CW turn to unscrew. However, for France this is not the case. I am not sure if the Apollo is a French manufacture or not & so I am unclear of the hand of the nuts.

So can anyone confirm the thread directions?

Cheers

Ray

 

[PoweredByVeg]

Hi iff, you're correct, the BB unscrews ACW non-drive side, CW drive side. I doubt your Apollo frame was made anywhere other than the far east, so it'll be an English thread.

As for France using a different BB, Campagnolo/Italian bikes use the same thread either side, so it may be a continental thing, but my French Vitus frame sitting beside me has an English thread BB.

Has your BB got a lockring on the LH side and a plain bearing cup with spanner flats on the RH side?

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

If you have a traditional bb you can check this out for thread direction, parts code etc. and this for wise removal suggestions.

That homemade bolt, washers and nut tool, like practically everything the late great Sheldon suggested, works a treat IF you wish to replace the bb.

 

[iff]

Afternoon.
Thanks guys (PoweredByVeg's & RecordAceFromNew's) for the confirmation and hints. I’ll look into the Sheldon suggestion; I have heard of him before but must have had brain fade since I didn’t think to look him up. You just have to love and admire these eccentrics, pity he is no longer with us.

To answer the questions: Yes the BB has got a lockring on the LH side and a plain bearing cup with spanner flats on the RH side. I have obviously removed the lockring. The spanner flats on the RH side are pretty thin, especially considering the AF size, and it is real easy to slip and *&£* the cup up, hence my caution. The other side is not a lot better as it is too flats (narrow) and therefore not easy to get a good size spanner on.

Thanks again, back to the grease!


Cheers

Ray

 

[Zoiders]

Dirt cheap replacement if it has a 68/113 BB.

http://www.chainreac...x?ModelID=22376

 

[iff]

Ok. Success . It was relatively easy to get the bottom bracket bearing retaining cap/nut off from the non drive side using the Sheldon Vice method.

Sadly the axle/shaft is scored & therefore kaput.


I have tried in vain to source a new shaft/axle for the BB, even resorting to calling Halfords where I believe the bike originated. Woe is me! My efforts are futile and I am fast loosing the will to live.


I am obviously happy to replace the arrangement with a sealed unit, however it doesn’t seem to be an option, they don’t seem to be available for the size I have. I appear to have the only 134mm (actually 134.2 measured with vernier callipers & excluding the male threaded ends) BB axle in existence and that’s “us”. Oh well whatever, wasted energy but I wasn’t doing anything else anyway.

I will now go and strip everything off the bike and send the frame for “recycling” there’s irony.

Thanks all for your input

Ray