BSA Bottom Bracket Won't Thread - Damaged Threads?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Los Gatos, CA
Posts: 161
Bikes: VeloBuild VB-R-022 // '89 Specialized Allez Full Dura-Ace 7400 // Santa Cruz Stigmata CC // Bridgestone MB-3 BoxTwo 1x Conversion // Bridgestone MB-6 // Santa Cruz Highball C // Ibis Spanky
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times
in
13 Posts
BSA Bottom Bracket Won't Thread - Damaged Threads?
Hey guys -
So today I went to replace the GXP crankset and bottom bracket on my VeloBuild VBR-022 to replace them with a Rotor 3DF crankset and Rotor 30mm BSA bottom bracket. I was able to unscrew the old GXP BB just fine, non-drive side of the new one went in just fine, but the drive side just will not go in. Yes, I am turning it correctly (counter-clockwise), it goes a tiny bit then just completely jams up. Looking at the threads (photos below) it does seem like the first couple threads are almost reversed or damaged? I don't know how this would have happened - I'm the original owner of the bike and I've had the GXP on there for 6 years with no issue. I did have to tighten it a few times - maybe I over-tightened it and messed up the threads? Do they look damaged to you guys?
LBS says they can chase the threads for $45 which kinda sucks and they can't do it for a week so I'll be riding my vintage steel until then, but man are bikes frustrating.
So today I went to replace the GXP crankset and bottom bracket on my VeloBuild VBR-022 to replace them with a Rotor 3DF crankset and Rotor 30mm BSA bottom bracket. I was able to unscrew the old GXP BB just fine, non-drive side of the new one went in just fine, but the drive side just will not go in. Yes, I am turning it correctly (counter-clockwise), it goes a tiny bit then just completely jams up. Looking at the threads (photos below) it does seem like the first couple threads are almost reversed or damaged? I don't know how this would have happened - I'm the original owner of the bike and I've had the GXP on there for 6 years with no issue. I did have to tighten it a few times - maybe I over-tightened it and messed up the threads? Do they look damaged to you guys?
LBS says they can chase the threads for $45 which kinda sucks and they can't do it for a week so I'll be riding my vintage steel until then, but man are bikes frustrating.
#3
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,610
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10955 Post(s)
Liked 7,483 Times
in
4,185 Posts
Did you clean the threads? Some wd40 and a toothbrush, wipe it down, then apply grease to the shell and bb threads.
That helps with install and removal.
It doesn't look really bad to me from the pics, but threadijg can be finicky.
That helps with install and removal.
It doesn't look really bad to me from the pics, but threadijg can be finicky.
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Los Gatos, CA
Posts: 161
Bikes: VeloBuild VB-R-022 // '89 Specialized Allez Full Dura-Ace 7400 // Santa Cruz Stigmata CC // Bridgestone MB-3 BoxTwo 1x Conversion // Bridgestone MB-6 // Santa Cruz Highball C // Ibis Spanky
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times
in
13 Posts
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Los Gatos, CA
Posts: 161
Bikes: VeloBuild VB-R-022 // '89 Specialized Allez Full Dura-Ace 7400 // Santa Cruz Stigmata CC // Bridgestone MB-3 BoxTwo 1x Conversion // Bridgestone MB-6 // Santa Cruz Highball C // Ibis Spanky
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times
in
13 Posts
Yeah I tried - I used some brake cleaner, shop rag, WD40, shop rag again, and the PPL-1 Grease on both sides. It threads in a bit and I can turn it with the supplied BB tool but then it gets really tight about 2 or 3 turns in and I feels like if I keep going I'll totally mess up the threads.
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Los Gatos, CA
Posts: 161
Bikes: VeloBuild VB-R-022 // '89 Specialized Allez Full Dura-Ace 7400 // Santa Cruz Stigmata CC // Bridgestone MB-3 BoxTwo 1x Conversion // Bridgestone MB-6 // Santa Cruz Highball C // Ibis Spanky
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times
in
13 Posts
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 8,922
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times
in
998 Posts
Yes, but nothing that can't be fixed.
Likes For noodle soup:
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Los Gatos, CA
Posts: 161
Bikes: VeloBuild VB-R-022 // '89 Specialized Allez Full Dura-Ace 7400 // Santa Cruz Stigmata CC // Bridgestone MB-3 BoxTwo 1x Conversion // Bridgestone MB-6 // Santa Cruz Highball C // Ibis Spanky
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times
in
13 Posts
1. Yeah - I had planned on cleaning it since I was taking it apart anyway but this frustrated me and I gave up on cleaning it today. All the bike shops around here are friggin maxed out because all of a sudden everyone wants to ride so I have a week to give it a nice clean. Matte paint sucks though - at least for cleaning purposes.
2. Cool - hopefully the shop can do it well without any "surprise" fees. They said $45 to chase the threads and I only need one side.
2. Cool - hopefully the shop can do it well without any "surprise" fees. They said $45 to chase the threads and I only need one side.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,827
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
1. Yeah - I had planned on cleaning it since I was taking it apart anyway but this frustrated me and I gave up on cleaning it today. All the bike shops around here are friggin maxed out because all of a sudden everyone wants to ride so I have a week to give it a nice clean. Matte paint sucks though - at least for cleaning purposes.
2. Cool - hopefully the shop can do it well without any "surprise" fees. They said $45 to chase the threads and I only need one side.
2. Cool - hopefully the shop can do it well without any "surprise" fees. They said $45 to chase the threads and I only need one side.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
#10
Heft On Wheels
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,123
Bikes: Specialized,Cannondale,Argon 18
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 560 Times
in
346 Posts
If you can't get it threaded go to your LBS. I had this one time, I messed up the threads and couldn't get it started. My LBS had a tapping thread, ran it though once and it was good as new.
#11
Senior Member
Crazy idea here, but could you cut some slots into the old BB perpendicular to the threads to turn it into a kind of tap, then thread it back into the frame to chase the threads yourself.?
https://www.instructables.com/id/Mak...p-from-a-bolt/
https://www.instructables.com/id/Mak...p-from-a-bolt/
Likes For motorthings:
#12
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,784
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3587 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
Crazy idea here, but could you cut some slots into the old BB perpendicular to the threads to turn it into a kind of tap, then thread it back into the frame to chase the threads yourself.?
https://www.instructables.com/id/Mak...p-from-a-bolt/
https://www.instructables.com/id/Mak...p-from-a-bolt/
Likes For JohnDThompson:
#13
Senior Member
Crazy idea here, but could you cut some slots into the old BB perpendicular to the threads to turn it into a kind of tap, then thread it back into the frame to chase the threads yourself.?
https://www.instructables.com/id/Mak...p-from-a-bolt/
https://www.instructables.com/id/Mak...p-from-a-bolt/
Likes For popeye:
#14
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Los Gatos, CA
Posts: 161
Bikes: VeloBuild VB-R-022 // '89 Specialized Allez Full Dura-Ace 7400 // Santa Cruz Stigmata CC // Bridgestone MB-3 BoxTwo 1x Conversion // Bridgestone MB-6 // Santa Cruz Highball C // Ibis Spanky
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times
in
13 Posts
Thanks for the advice and help everyone - I was able to get it figured out. Unfortunately now I realized that the crankset I bought is not compatible with my frame... soo... yeah.