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Old 05-01-22, 02:36 PM
  #172  
rustystrings61 
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: Greenwood SC USA
Posts: 2,340

Bikes: 2002 Mercian Vincitore, 1982 Mercian Colorado, 1976 Puch Royal X, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1971 Gitane Tour de France and others

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What arcane devilry is this?

I have been slow on this LeTour, but the other day I managed to pull the headset and BB bearings and promptly chucked them in a bowl of citrus degreaser. At the time, I thought it odd that the drive side bearings required pulling the cover off from the inside.

Now I understand why. Someone in the years before cartridge bearings became the standard, decided that if the balls were locked in place between metal guards and pre-lubed, it would make for faster installation. I can think of no other reason to do this - behold the Hatta pre-lube BB cup!





I guess I was supposed to remove the fixed cup en bloc like the adjustable side - but I’m pretty sure it is rust-welded in place at this point ….

Last edited by rustystrings61; 05-09-22 at 07:32 AM.
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