seau grateau

If it's s standard 120mm spaced single speed/fixed gear hub, it'll be fine.

IAmSam

Well I am behind my planned schedule but maybe its better I didn't rush my project...since in some of the last few posts we got onto Phil Wood's factory bottom bracket installation instructions - please allow me to personalize my earlier BB question a bit as that is what I just installed on my bike and it is those very instructions that brought it about.

I've always done it before anyway, and considering they say to do it - I'm going to put a light grease coating on my tapers.

Now onto my next dilemma(s)...

Out of curiosity - is anybody here actually running a Phil's BB? Due to its few mm adjustabiliy -their cup/cartridge interface is different from all the other square taper BBs I have used before, so I have a couple questions...

1) I've never used thread lock when I intalled the cups in my previous bottom brackets. In fact, I greased the threads some and cranked them in. Even so, I had a helluva time breaking my old BB loose on this bike. Phil is telling me that it is a must to use their included blue thread lock but I don't want to - is anybody here with any Phil Woods bottom bracket experience going to tell me it will assplode, if I don't?

2) I don't own a torque wrench but that has never been a problem before since I am not a hamfist. Like I said earlier - this BB has a different cup/cartridge interface than I am used to so I am having trouble deciding whether to leave it a tiny bit looser to make it freer-spinning or tighten it a little more for "safety", which gives it some "sealed bearing resistance." Can I get any educated comments here on what to do about this?

Sorry for TL;DR and TIA for any help...

50voltphantom

I've been using one for about two years now.

1)Blue Loctite is required. It prevents the cups from loosening and simultaneously acts as anti-seize compound. I hold the cup vertically and put a few drops on top and let them bleed down into all of the threads. Make sure the threads in your frame are thoroughly clean and grease-free.

2) Phil Wood's official instructions say to torque the the cups to 40 N-m. I don't know how they arrived at this figure, as I actually destroyed the bearings in mine doing this when installing it for the first time in my Steamroller. Here's what I do: Once you figure out where you want the cartridge located laterally in the frame simply tighten the cups and you'll feel the bearings is seating into the cups and then they'll 'stop' once fully seated. Turn the spindle with your hand, it should spin just like it did before installing. If it's draggy at all, back off one side a smidge. IMO, the cups should only be tight enough to ensure there is no play (just like a hub bearing), then let the Loctite take it from there. Just be sure to let the Loctite set for 12 hours before riding.

I pulled mine out after 3,000 miles of silent operation to check it's condition after cyclocross season and it was still good-to-go. I have two Phil BB's right now (one is waiting for a new frame) and they both work perfectly when installed this way. Also, having two installation tools is highly recommended.

IAmSam

Thanx for the info & recommendations - am waiting now for the Loctite to cure...

Maybe I'll get this thing put back together sometime

50voltphantom

No problem. When I removed mine the first time I found it took quite a lot of force to actually break the cups loose (Loctite, duh) but there was no corrosion/seize-ing of the threads whatsoever. Worked great.

the sci guy 

Would some shallow riser bars look weird with a quill stem? I can't seem to picture it - I feel like they look more natural on newer stems.
This bike

SquidPuppet

I think it would be fine. But those rims look wrong for that frame to me.

the sci guy 

Yeah I know I kinda got talked into them at the shop when I was first rebuilding this bike. I don't love them but can't afford new wheels right now.

seau grateau

Yeah, risers will look fine. Just don't put Oury grips on them or someone will have a heart attack. Also, Velomine has H+Son TB14/Formula wheelsets for under 200, which would be super slick on that bike.

SquidPuppet

Now that's hatin.

seau grateau

Hahaha, I keed. In all seriousness I'm totally willing to put aside differences in the name of keeping Ourys off road bikes.

the sci guy 

You needn't worry - I just googled them and threw-up a little bit in my mouth.
Suggestions for acceptable grips?
(Also a cool bar? Shallow rise?)

SquidPuppet

Long chain stays and slack angles are screamin for townie bars. Yes, of course, I would say that.

the sci guy 

Not my style, unfortunately.

veganbikes

My favorite grips are from Ergon

Carcosa

I'm looking at new brake levers for the Nature Boy, the TRP's I have now are screwing up my hands.

Thinking SRAM. Should I go with the S500s, S900s or ball out even more and get two left Force?

https://tinyurl.com/ybpgqwzv

seau grateau

I would assume the lefthand levers aren't designed with righthand ergonomics in mind, but then I've never used SRAM levers.

50voltphantom

S500's, that way you won't cry when slam them into a fence post, barn or tree like I have. I assume the last option is a joke.

JeremyLC

Well... my Little Wing has S900s, but she's a little spoiled. The S500s are probably better than fine.

TimothyH

S500 are $52.84 at Ribble right now but you have to pay $5.46 for shipping.

Niagra has them for $58.95 + shipping.

veganbikes

I like the S500s and certainly are cheaper to replace when you are a moron and lean your bike up haphazardly at work because you forgot to change into your cycling shoes and are in a rush to leave and your bike falls and cracks the body so you cannot tighten it properly.

If you want crabons the S900s would be fine but again more costly to replace but no real change in ergonomics. I wouldn't go double left because that would be whacky but you could potentially buy one S900 right hand and a Force left hand if you really felt that need?

JeremyLC

I have a Crane Suzue bell that I've used with my Cross Check for years. I finally got around to upgrading... everything but the frame, fork, and seat collar. The stock build kit includes 25.4mm (IIRC) bars, my new setup is 31.8mm and my bell's clamp doesn't fit. Can anyone suggest a way to mount it?

50voltphantom

Stem spacer mount?

https://www.retro-gression.com/colle...cer-mount-bell

JeremyLC

Yeah, but that bell is 15mm smaller than my current bell. :/

Carcosa

Thanks for the replies guys. 500s it is.

Half joke, half waiting to see if some crazy bastard actually made that a thing.