BigPoser

Frame slipped out of my hands last night and the floor dented the BB shell. See pic. I was thinking I could try to massage it out, and then re-tap the thread. It's Italian thread however and I don't have those.

Any other ideas on how to repair without damaging the threads?

Thanks in advance.

Brandon

wsteve464

If there is no particular reason to keep it Italian hammer it round and buy the thread adapter to BSA. The adapter is available from Ceeway bottom right https://www.framebuilding.com/Sundry-Components.htm

BigPoser

Oh that is cool! How does it go in?

wsteve464

Not sure, sorry. Email them and ask for instructions I think the guys name is Peter, very nice guy.

Another option, file the face flat and grind away the damaged threads. There should be more than enough thread to hold the BB.

unterhausen

I have reshaped a bb after I mis-shaped it. Not from dropping, in my case. I got it reasonably round and then tapped it. Tapping it wasn't particularly easy, but it came out okay

Doug Fattic 

Me too. If that was my frame, I would put on old BB cup in the opposite side. I would use a long steel bar and stick one end through the old cup. With the leverage of the long bar resting against the damage, I'd pull until it partly (or fully) came closer to being round again. Then I would tap the treads again.

dsaul

It threads into the bottom bracket, which doesn't really help in this case, since you don't have the tap to repair the Italian threads.

wsteve464

Another option if your BB is the hardened steel cup type is to get the shell as close to round as possible, take one of the cups and grind slots 90 deg to the threads, kind of like a tap and chase the threads. Heard it works but never tried it. Good luck.

JohnDThompson 

A steel cone could be used to push out the dent. You'd likely need to chase the threads and re-face afterward, but I suspect it could be done with minimal damage to the paint.

Cyclist753

Is there a trusted shop or frame builder nearby to chase the threads after you re-round the shell?

BigPoser

There's only one shop that might have the taps and I haven't called them just yet. If they do, then I'll be okay to try to pound it out but if they don't then I'm hosed. Taps are $165 each and you need two. No sense in buying one side.

Doug Fattic 

Not yet. Do you have a set of English taps and if so what brand are they? I've got Var Italian taps. Just the taps alone are not expensive to ship to you but adding the weight of the handles would obviously increase the size of a flat rate Priority Mail box. Of course you have to ship them back.

wsteve464

Could you get away using one tap and a cone as both sides of an Italian BB are the same right handed thread?

Andrew R Stewart 

This! It's what I do. I have Alex Meade turn a cone that slips over the Campy BB cutter's pilot shaft and nestles into the Itl. BB thread. The single Itl. shell tap cuts either side. Andy

BigPoser

Hi Doug,
My English taps are actually a lessor known brand but I'm able to use Park taps with the handles. I'm not sure if VAR would work. Really thank you for your offer! That's awesome!