cashmonee

I just got this frame for free from a friend:



My best guess is that it's a '75 or '76 UO-8. I want to make a single speed with it, but I am at a loss as to how to handle the French-threaded BB. I am very new to this, so please excuse my ignorance. It appears that there is a bottom bracket, but no spindle. Is that correct?



I assume it will be easiest to buy a new bottom bracket such as the ones from Velo Orange? I am just a little lost on the whole BB and crank setup. Just looking for any direction I can get on what would be a good solution. Am I crazy for trying to convert this?

striknein

If the right hand cup turns clockwise to loosen, it's French. If it turns counterclockwise, it's Swiss. Act accordingly.

stryper

It's like this but you are missing the spindle part. If the races don't have pitting and the balls look smooth still you might just try going to to a lbs that has old parts and seeking a spindle that fits and is the correct length for the cranks. Could be a $5 purchase instead of a $30 new bb:

websterrr

My '74 UO-8 was French threaded, I picked up a new bb from velo orange with the spindle length determined by the cranks that I was planning on using

Sixty Fiver

If you are replacing the spindle you need a 5 series which fits thin walled French cups and Italian bottom brackets, the taper is JIS.

A French threaded bb is right hand threads on both sides, Swiss is conventional with a reverse thread on the drive side but is metric threading.

I kept the original crank on my AO8 since there was nothing wrong with it and when I find a #5 spindle will upgrade that to an alloy crank... they make for a really decent ride.

cashmonee

Thanks! This gives me a great place to start!

hockeyteeth

Hmmm... we have probably close to 100 older bottom bracket spindles saved at the shop I work at. I will look for a #5 in good condition for you. About what length do you think you could use?

Sixty Fiver

I have buckets of spindles here at my shop and more at the co-op... just need to sift through them and am sure I have some 5 series spindles among everything else.

If not, I will take you up on that.