Old timer
Über Member
- Location
- Norfolk, UK
It` s been many years since I had to do much work on a bike so bare with me.
I noticed a small amount of play in my sq tapered bottom bracket. I dismantled it today to see if it needed grease and it did. There is a solid spindle with two lips. There are two ball bearing cages and as you tighten up and adjust it seems like the balls are pressed against the lips on one side and the inseide of the cups on the other. One of the cages let the bearings drop out as I dismantled it and one stayed intack(just) they are not actually proper roller bearings or even tapered bearing but just a loose fitting cage. Anyway, I cleaned and repacked with grease that held the balls in place till I reasembled. When I tighten up to remove any vertical movement there is a tight spot, if I slacken off to get rid of the tight spot there is a touch of vertical movement at one spot of the revolution. Total mileage of the bike is maybe 500 miles. I`ve managed to tighten up to a compromise (just enough to feel the tight spot when turning the BB spindle by hand but not enough to feel when the cranks are back on.) It`s quite a long spindle and one side from the lip is about 5mm longer than the other( the crank side is the longest I gather)
What next? just ride and see what happens or replace the bearing cages and cups or can I convert to a more modern all in one assemble and where are they available.
Thanks for your help
BTW I don`t do vast mileages on the bike, maybe 1,000-1,500 miles total per year
Dave
I noticed a small amount of play in my sq tapered bottom bracket. I dismantled it today to see if it needed grease and it did. There is a solid spindle with two lips. There are two ball bearing cages and as you tighten up and adjust it seems like the balls are pressed against the lips on one side and the inseide of the cups on the other. One of the cages let the bearings drop out as I dismantled it and one stayed intack(just) they are not actually proper roller bearings or even tapered bearing but just a loose fitting cage. Anyway, I cleaned and repacked with grease that held the balls in place till I reasembled. When I tighten up to remove any vertical movement there is a tight spot, if I slacken off to get rid of the tight spot there is a touch of vertical movement at one spot of the revolution. Total mileage of the bike is maybe 500 miles. I`ve managed to tighten up to a compromise (just enough to feel the tight spot when turning the BB spindle by hand but not enough to feel when the cranks are back on.) It`s quite a long spindle and one side from the lip is about 5mm longer than the other( the crank side is the longest I gather)
What next? just ride and see what happens or replace the bearing cages and cups or can I convert to a more modern all in one assemble and where are they available.
Thanks for your help
BTW I don`t do vast mileages on the bike, maybe 1,000-1,500 miles total per year
Dave