Mystery bottom bracket
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Mystery bottom bracket
Can anyone help identify this sealed cartridge bottom bracket? It came out of my ‘84 centurion pro tour 15 (likely not original).
English thread, JIS square taper, adjustable cups and lock ring on both sides (presumably to allow fine chainline adjustment), no markings visible except for thread dimensions, thin groove in center of body, rubber seals on both ends.
English thread, JIS square taper, adjustable cups and lock ring on both sides (presumably to allow fine chainline adjustment), no markings visible except for thread dimensions, thin groove in center of body, rubber seals on both ends.
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Per catalog, the original crank was a Sugino, BB was not identified by brand. I'd guess it's a Tange, just because most (all?) Japanese cartridge BBs were made by Tange.
If the crank has been replaced, knowing what crank you've got might help to nail it down.
Does it need replaced, or do you just want to know what you've got?
--Shannon
If the crank has been replaced, knowing what crank you've got might help to nail it down.
Does it need replaced, or do you just want to know what you've got?
--Shannon
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Per catalog, the original crank was a Sugino, BB was not identified by brand. I'd guess it's a Tange, just because most Japanese cartridge BBs are.
If the crank has been replaced, knowing what crank you've got might help to nail it down.
Does it need replaced, or do you just want to know what you've got?
--Shannon
If the crank has been replaced, knowing what crank you've got might help to nail it down.
Does it need replaced, or do you just want to know what you've got?
--Shannon
As for condition, it doesn't appear worn, but it's not exactly as stiff as I'd like. The old grease seems to have a liquified element to it as well-- and it's definitely not the original grease. This makes me suspect that due to it being original (>36 yrs old), and that the bike is well used (rebuilt wheelset, etc), previous owners might have maintained it with some kind of liquid lubrication which has mixed-in with the grease.
It seems very well built and I'd like to try and continue with it-- honestly never liked the concept of disposable cartridge BBs, although I understand and appreciate why folks use them. Do you see any issues if I pop off the seals, wash it out with some cleaner (spirits?), and then re-pack with bearing grease? I've read elsewhere that some folks do that with Phil Wood BBs to avoid rebuilding, especially when the bearings are still smooth.
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Update: this post confirms it is original: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...l#post17604349
Luckily, mine hasn't turned into shrapnel yet. I was lucky that extraction was pretty straightforward-- another sign that maintenance was likely not neglected over the years.
Luckily, mine hasn't turned into shrapnel yet. I was lucky that extraction was pretty straightforward-- another sign that maintenance was likely not neglected over the years.
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Thanks for your reply. I looked at the catalog page again, and it does indeed refer to an unnamed cartridge BB. This is likely the original, as almost everything else on the bike is intact, including the Sugino AT triple.
As for condition, it doesn't appear worn, but it's not exactly as stiff as I'd like. The old grease seems to have a liquified element to it as well-- and it's definitely not the original grease. This makes me suspect that due to it being original (>36 yrs old), and that the bike is well used (rebuilt wheelset, etc), previous owners might have maintained it with some kind of liquid lubrication which has mixed-in with the grease.
It seems very well built and I'd like to try and continue with it-- honestly never liked the concept of disposable cartridge BBs, although I understand and appreciate why folks use them. Do you see any issues if I pop off the seals, wash it out with some cleaner (spirits?), and then re-pack with bearing grease? I've read elsewhere that some folks do that with Phil Wood BBs to avoid rebuilding, especially when the bearings are still smooth.
As for condition, it doesn't appear worn, but it's not exactly as stiff as I'd like. The old grease seems to have a liquified element to it as well-- and it's definitely not the original grease. This makes me suspect that due to it being original (>36 yrs old), and that the bike is well used (rebuilt wheelset, etc), previous owners might have maintained it with some kind of liquid lubrication which has mixed-in with the grease.
It seems very well built and I'd like to try and continue with it-- honestly never liked the concept of disposable cartridge BBs, although I understand and appreciate why folks use them. Do you see any issues if I pop off the seals, wash it out with some cleaner (spirits?), and then re-pack with bearing grease? I've read elsewhere that some folks do that with Phil Wood BBs to avoid rebuilding, especially when the bearings are still smooth.
--Shannon
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As I understand it, grease consists of oil suspended in a soap-like matrix. The oil can and usually will migrate out of the soap over time, as seen, for instance, in the ring of dirty oil visible on old bicycle hubs at the axle.
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Would different types of grease produce different signs of age/breakdown? Or is the liquidy appearance just an intermediate form along the way to caking up?
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Interesting info. All the vintage BB/hubs I’ve encountered over the years usually exhibit one of two conditions: thin dark oily residue seeping out, or thick whiteish-brown caked residue in the cups/retainers. The latter has always appeared to be original, and I assumed the thin stuff had been ‘topped off‘ by PO with some unknown lubricant.
Would different types of grease produce different signs of age/breakdown? Or is the liquidy appearance just an intermediate form along the way to caking up?
Would different types of grease produce different signs of age/breakdown? Or is the liquidy appearance just an intermediate form along the way to caking up?
--Shannon
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A bit late to the party, but I thought I might as well chip in. The bottom bracket looks awfully similar to the Kajita Runners bottom bracket. I believe these bottom brackets were manufactured under the Suntour brand as well.
For reference:
https://www.velosaloon.com/products/...m-from-the-90s
For reference:
https://www.velosaloon.com/products/...m-from-the-90s