What bottom bracket to get?

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maxido

New Member
Location
London
Hi there, I've taken my bottom bracket out of my vintage bike because it felt loose pedalling (not an easy task but I managed to knock out the pins and pull it apart). Now I want to replace it, but I am aware that vintage bottom brackets can be tricky to replace. Based on the photos, could someone please advise as to what type I should be looking for?

Any help is much appreciated.

Thank you !

Max
 

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the_abhiG

Regular
If you can also have option to change crankset, then I would suggest to go with Square taper BB which is more modern version of vintage BB, but if you don't want to change crankset then it'll be a little tricky, you have to buy same BB components.
 

midlife

Guru
Give everything a really good clean and see what it looks like, might be OK with new balls and grease?
 
How is the bearing surface of the spindle? Unless it is badly pitted it should clean up OK. You can get new cottared bb spindles ( SJS cycles, Freemans of Norwich) . Keep your old cottar pins, new ones are made of cheese.
 
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rogerzilla

Legendary Member
Cotter pins are supposed to be soft (or at least softer than the crank). As well as not wearing the crank, they bed in better.

Apparently one firm briefly marketed aluminium cottered cranks. It did not go well.
 
OP
OP
M

maxido

New Member
Location
London
Thanks for all your comments, based on this advice I have ordered grease, bearings and white spirit to give it a good clean. I'll see how that goes!
 
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maxido

New Member
Location
London
I've cleaned the axle thoroughly and I've noticed a slight chip on one end (pictured here), and both ends seem quite used. Would this need replacing or can still be used?

Thanks again!
 

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