Bottom bracket question
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Bottom bracket question
I dont know how this happened but when i was changing my seatpost i saw some corrosion in the seat tube all the way down to the bottom bracket area. I did some research and found a good solution that almost worked perfect. I cleaned the rust with steel wool but at the bottom bracket area the two sides of the down tube made it impossible to clean. I put some before and after picture. It looks much cleaner but i couldnt clean it all because of the shape of the bottom bracket area. I dont know whats exactly called that part. Is there a practical solution for it? Does it still look bad and may cause a problem in the future?
Also when i was cleaning i removed the bottom bracket and realized that one part of the bottom bracket which is the middle cylinder is missing. Probably bicycle mechanic didnt put it and i just realized it. Should i be worried and order a new bottom bracket or that specific part or can i still use the bicycle as it is. I never had a problem with the bicycle using like this but i just wanted to make sure.
After
After 2
Before
Before 1
Also when i was cleaning i removed the bottom bracket and realized that one part of the bottom bracket which is the middle cylinder is missing. Probably bicycle mechanic didnt put it and i just realized it. Should i be worried and order a new bottom bracket or that specific part or can i still use the bicycle as it is. I never had a problem with the bicycle using like this but i just wanted to make sure.
After
After 2
Before
Before 1
#2
aged to perfection
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: PacNW
Posts: 1,801
Bikes: Dinucci Allez 2.0, Richard Sachs, Alex Singer, Serotta, Masi GC, Raleigh Pro Mk.1, Hetchins, etc
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 829 Post(s)
Liked 1,241 Times
in
655 Posts
so you're scrubbing all that "rust" and letting the residue cascade down into the bottom bracket ?
isn't Cannondale aluminum ? does aluminum rust ?
what am I missing here ?
/markp
isn't Cannondale aluminum ? does aluminum rust ?
what am I missing here ?
/markp
Likes For mpetry912:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: GMT-5
Posts: 900
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 508 Post(s)
Liked 400 Times
in
266 Posts
I don't think the OP realizes that there are dozens of types of bottom brackets, and the one in diagram is a popular sealed unit, which may not apply to the OP.
"middle cylinder is missing" means it isn't a sealed unit, and just a crown race bearing type found on most big box store bikes.
Seat tube "corrosion" isn't an issue and safe to leave as-is. A well lubed seatpost is all it takes.
The OP did all this for nothing, and sure caused more damage by inadvertently honing out the seat tube to a possibly larger diameter.
This is why exists Local Bike Shops.
They are there to help.
"middle cylinder is missing" means it isn't a sealed unit, and just a crown race bearing type found on most big box store bikes.
Seat tube "corrosion" isn't an issue and safe to leave as-is. A well lubed seatpost is all it takes.
The OP did all this for nothing, and sure caused more damage by inadvertently honing out the seat tube to a possibly larger diameter.
This is why exists Local Bike Shops.
They are there to help.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 2,975
Bikes: !982 Trek 930R Custom, Diamondback ascent with SERIOUS updates, Fuji Team Pro CF and a '09 Comencal Meta 5.5
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Liked 739 Times
in
534 Posts
Look at the thickness of the seat tube.. that's not an aluminum frame.
Likes For maddog34:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 2,975
Bikes: !982 Trek 930R Custom, Diamondback ascent with SERIOUS updates, Fuji Team Pro CF and a '09 Comencal Meta 5.5
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Liked 739 Times
in
534 Posts
I don't think the OP realizes that there are dozens of types of bottom brackets, and the one in diagram is a popular sealed unit, which may not apply to the OP.
"middle cylinder is missing" means it isn't a sealed unit, and just a crown race bearing type found on most big box store bikes.
Seat tube "corrosion" isn't an issue and safe to leave as-is. A well lubed seatpost is all it takes.
The OP did all this for nothing, and sure caused more damage by inadvertently honing out the seat tube to a possibly larger diameter.
This is why exists Local Bike Shops.
They are there to help.
"middle cylinder is missing" means it isn't a sealed unit, and just a crown race bearing type found on most big box store bikes.
Seat tube "corrosion" isn't an issue and safe to leave as-is. A well lubed seatpost is all it takes.
The OP did all this for nothing, and sure caused more damage by inadvertently honing out the seat tube to a possibly larger diameter.
This is why exists Local Bike Shops.
They are there to help.
and many cup and cone BB assemblies come with a removable plastic tube to help prevent garbage and water from easily entering the BB bearings... whether it's "missing" or not has yet to be determined.
To Cemark... nice job cleaning up the bike's tubes ! there are products meant to coat the insides of frame tubes to limit further rusting... here's an article on the process.. there are others, i'm certain. https://surlybikes.com/info_hole/spe...ur_steel_frame
If the Rust has popped through the tubes in ANY AREA, the frame is not even close to "safe" and don't waste another minute on it, ok? just find another frame or project with less rust..
so far, it appears the frame is worth saving.. wha brand and model?
Last edited by maddog34; 05-30-23 at 06:50 PM.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: GMT-5
Posts: 900
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 508 Post(s)
Liked 400 Times
in
266 Posts
Crown encased bearings were popular since the 90s and still used today in many new big box store bikes. We call them that because it looks like a royalty's crown.
Likewise, I have never see big box store bikes with any removable tube. That surely adds manufacturing costs.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,768
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3498 Post(s)
Liked 2,911 Times
in
1,766 Posts
Those are “caged” bearings. And they definitely aren’t “races.” The “crown race” is part of a headset.
Likes For smd4:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 2,975
Bikes: !982 Trek 930R Custom, Diamondback ascent with SERIOUS updates, Fuji Team Pro CF and a '09 Comencal Meta 5.5
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Liked 739 Times
in
534 Posts
Nope.
Crown encased bearings were popular since the 90s and still used today in many new big box store bikes. We call them that because it looks like a royalty's crown.
Likewise, I have never see big box store bikes with any removable tube. That surely adds manufacturing costs.
Crown encased bearings were popular since the 90s and still used today in many new big box store bikes. We call them that because it looks like a royalty's crown.
Likewise, I have never see big box store bikes with any removable tube. That surely adds manufacturing costs.
just curious, where are you getting the idea that the bike is a "box store" bike?
Last edited by maddog34; 05-30-23 at 07:20 PM.
#9
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,501
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2742 Post(s)
Liked 3,389 Times
in
2,052 Posts
And we call them "caged" as well as most of the industry.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cage...hrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.google.com/search?q=cage...hrome&ie=UTF-8
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,056
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4195 Post(s)
Liked 3,837 Times
in
2,295 Posts
Retainer ring of balls is another reference for the caged balls. Crown race as in fork crown. Never heard of a retainer/cage being called a crown but I do see the resemblance. "sealed" can mean the bearing unit only or the entire BB assembly. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
#11
Newbie
Thread Starter
bicycle frame is steel by the way
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: South Shore of Long Island
Posts: 2,785
Bikes: 2010 Carrera Volans, 2015 C-Dale Trail 2sl, 2017 Raleigh Rush Hour, 2017 Blue Proseccio, 1992 Giant Perigee, 80s Gitane Rallye Tandem
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1079 Post(s)
Liked 1,019 Times
in
719 Posts
'
Likes For Russ Roth:
#13
Really Old Senior Member
#14
Newbie
Thread Starter
I keep learning new stuff about cycling everyday when i have problems like this. I thought i did have a well lubed seatpost but i may have mistaken or somehow a little water penetrated into the seat tube.
This is a Salsa Vaya frameset. I bought all the parts individually and gave them all to my local bike shop. They provided the bottom bracket. So i didnt even know which bottom bracket they used.
I wanted to sell this bicycle and i wanted to have peace of mind after i sell it. I didnt want to give a damaged bicycle frameset to someone. Probably no one would ever check whats happening in the seattube with a flashlight.
I dont think i made the seat tube any larger. maybe 0.001cm wider. I just used a steel wool and polished those rusted area for 30 second. Still, hopefully didnt damage the frameset.
This is a Salsa Vaya frameset. I bought all the parts individually and gave them all to my local bike shop. They provided the bottom bracket. So i didnt even know which bottom bracket they used.
I wanted to sell this bicycle and i wanted to have peace of mind after i sell it. I didnt want to give a damaged bicycle frameset to someone. Probably no one would ever check whats happening in the seattube with a flashlight.
I dont think i made the seat tube any larger. maybe 0.001cm wider. I just used a steel wool and polished those rusted area for 30 second. Still, hopefully didnt damage the frameset.
#15
Newbie
Thread Starter
Its Salsa Vaya and I have it only for 2 years. To me its worth saving as i have built it the covid times which was a pain in the a.. I had to wait months for parts that i had to order from all around the world.
I checked all the frameset and it looks completely new from outside, no rust whatsoever. I kept it inside all the time and covered possible contact points of the frame with thicker protective stickers.
Thanks for the link. I will definitely coat the insides of the tubes. I will either sell the it or keep it for a long time but either case i would like to keep it in a good condition.
I checked all the frameset and it looks completely new from outside, no rust whatsoever. I kept it inside all the time and covered possible contact points of the frame with thicker protective stickers.
Thanks for the link. I will definitely coat the insides of the tubes. I will either sell the it or keep it for a long time but either case i would like to keep it in a good condition.
Likes For cemark:
#16
Newbie
Thread Starter
Thanks for the advise, i will look try to find a PB blaster or the frame saver. I live in Israel and it wont be so easy to find the JP Weigle's frame saver and they wont ship it here probably.
I did put the bottom bracket back to its place. Should i revome the cranckset and bottom bracket again before coating the seat tube?
Right now i am using aluminium seatpost buy i will buy a carbon seatpost. I will use carbon paste indeed.
I did put the bottom bracket back to its place. Should i revome the cranckset and bottom bracket again before coating the seat tube?
Right now i am using aluminium seatpost buy i will buy a carbon seatpost. I will use carbon paste indeed.