Finding Swiss Bottom Brackets at Reasonable Cost!
09-23-21, 07:38 AM
#1
Thrifty Bill
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Finding Swiss Bottom Brackets at Reasonable Cost!
Several of you know this already, no doubt. But to those that might think Swiss bottom brackets are unobtainium, or think the excellent but expensive Phil Wood BB is the only option, there are other choices.
My favorite source for Swiss bottom brackets? Old beater Motobecanes. Of all the French brands, Motobecane seemed to LOVE swiss BB threading, and used it for many years. Even better, as a source of parts, Motobecane embraced Japanese made components, so you are going to find good Suntour derailleurs and SR forged stems (in French OD).
I picked up a nothing special, beat up Motobecane Grand Touring. It came with my favorite rear derailleur (Suntour Vx GT), a French sized SR stem, a rebranded Sugino crankset, and a swiss bottom bracket. Even if it did not have the swiss BB, it would have been worth it for the other parts.
Wonder what all the alphabet soup stands for on the fixed cup?
Be sure to break out your 35mm BB. tool!
My favorite source for Swiss bottom brackets? Old beater Motobecanes. Of all the French brands, Motobecane seemed to LOVE swiss BB threading, and used it for many years. Even better, as a source of parts, Motobecane embraced Japanese made components, so you are going to find good Suntour derailleurs and SR forged stems (in French OD).
I picked up a nothing special, beat up Motobecane Grand Touring. It came with my favorite rear derailleur (Suntour Vx GT), a French sized SR stem, a rebranded Sugino crankset, and a swiss bottom bracket. Even if it did not have the swiss BB, it would have been worth it for the other parts.
Wonder what all the alphabet soup stands for on the fixed cup?
Be sure to break out your 35mm BB. tool!
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Please don't confuse ebay "asking" prices with "selling" prices. Many sellers never get their ask price. some are far from it. Value is determined once an item actually SELLS. Its easy enough to check SOLD prices.
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09-23-21, 07:49 AM
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IRD offers Swiss thread mounting rings for their cartridge bottom bracket. IIRC, the mounting rings also fit some other cartridges, perhaps Phil and SunTour.
https://www.interlocracing.com/shop/...bottom+bracket
https://www.interlocracing.com/shop/...bottom+bracket
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09-23-21, 09:16 AM
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SR-SC-L indicates the manufacturer, cup grade and threading direction. Of course SR is Sakae Ringyo. SC is the cup grade, which was SR's 2nd lowest in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The adjustable cup has an SI grade, which was SR's lowest. The "L" indicates left hand threading. SR and some other Japanese companies used "IS" to designate Italian threads but since SR had an SI grade this could be confusing if read upside down. I believe this is why they use the "L" designation on their fixed cup to indcate threading direction.
Last edited by T-Mar; 09-23-21 at 10:34 AM.
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09-23-21, 09:55 AM
#4
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Recently bought a set of “French” Phil Wood cups on eBay for a rather low price, they turned out to be Swiss.
09-23-21, 12:59 PM
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feros ferio
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Several years ago I successfully converted an aluminum ISO-threaded BB fixed cup to Swiss by force-threading it into my Swiss-threaded 1980 Peugeot PKN-10 frame. The setup still serves my elder son today.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
09-23-21, 02:47 PM
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By "solidly", I meant that the cups bottomed out with a fairly crisp feel, assuring that the bb cartridge was indeed in there tight.
It has been in use for about nine years now.
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09-23-21, 04:34 PM
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Thrifty Bill
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35 x P1 is the threading standard (35mm pitch diameter and 1.0mm thread pitch)
SR-SC-L indicates the manufacturer, cup grade and threading direction. Of course SR is Sakae Ringyo. SC is the cup grade, which was SR's 2nd lowest in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The adjustable cup has an SI grade, which was SR's lowest. The "L" indicates left hand threading. SR and some other Japanese companies used "IS" to designate Italian threads but since SR had an SI grade this could be confusing if read upside down. I believe this is why they use the "L" designation on their fixed cup to indcate threading direction.
SR-SC-L indicates the manufacturer, cup grade and threading direction. Of course SR is Sakae Ringyo. SC is the cup grade, which was SR's 2nd lowest in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The adjustable cup has an SI grade, which was SR's lowest. The "L" indicates left hand threading. SR and some other Japanese companies used "IS" to designate Italian threads but since SR had an SI grade this could be confusing if read upside down. I believe this is why they use the "L" designation on their fixed cup to indcate threading direction.
I was hoping T-Mar would wade in. I knew the 35 x P1 was the 35mm diameter, 1mm pitch, but that was the end of my knowledge. And French and Swiss both used 35 x P1. I was hoping to learn a short cut to knowing Swiss threading, as I had to use a lot of force and a three foot long breaker bar to get it off. It was one of those, "this must be Swiss, so I am going for it" moments. Great when it works, bad when it doesn't.
Of course, the only truly "Swiss" threading is on the fixed cup, as it has a left hand thread (with a right hand thread on the adjustable cup), while the French is right hand fixed and adjustable cup.
Didn't realize they also had a cup grading system. The adjustable cup kind of looked like one of the cheaper units, still quite functional.
I've seen Swiss on Motobecanes from 1977, to as late as 1982. But I also found French threading on a 1979 Motobecane.
I've never cared for the IRD bottom brackets, but I am sure they are fine.
Last edited by wrk101; 09-23-21 at 08:27 PM.
09-23-21, 04:45 PM
#8
Junior Member
Had the opposite happen to me, I learned the hard way my PR10 had Swiss threads. Thankfully I didn’t crack the shell or anything crazy and I was already taking it apart to install a Velo Orange threadless BB on account of the non drive side being ovalized.
02-10-24, 02:59 AM
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This exactly what I have been looking for, for months. I got a GxP style bottom bracket that was specially designed for swiss threads on French bikes. I will be trying the IRD next.
02-11-24, 05:00 PM
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02-11-24, 05:24 PM
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Cleaning up the work bench, and found these. If some one is looking for them PM me. First to PM and cost of shipping. RH threads on fixed cup, LH threads on adjustable cup. No lock ring available. Smiles, MH
Both cups but not a matching pair marked 35XP1
Insides are clean and no pitting.
Depending on the needs I may be able to scrounge up a spindle to fit.
Both cups but not a matching pair marked 35XP1
Insides are clean and no pitting.
Depending on the needs I may be able to scrounge up a spindle to fit.
