View Poll Results: Bottom Bracket Fixed Cup Removal Schedule
Never
2
3.28%
Only if damaged
27
44.26%
Only if it comes out on the first try
6
9.84%
On a regular basis
26
42.62%
Voters: 61. You may not vote on this poll
Bottom Bracket Fixed Cup Maint/Removal
#1
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Bottom Bracket Fixed Cup Maint/Removal
It seems merziac and I are in the minority when it comes to bottom bracket fixed cups ( see https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ight-pull.html ). So, here's a poll to see if we have any allies.
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#3
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#4
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My approach:
- if just for maintenance, I'll check for damage and if none is apparent, I'll check if it is still tight and most often just clean and grease it in situ
- if it is to be replaced with a shorter/longer/whatever different type, I'll remove it. If that turns out to be a risk and it is in good shape, I will reconsider the replacement and look for other options
- if it needs to come out because it is damaged or I really want that particular Gipiemme triple, it comes out, no matter what
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#6
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Before I got the proper tools, I would leave the fixed cup in place and clean it the best I could from the opposite side. Now, I don't think twice about removing the fixed cup to do a proper overhaul.
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#7
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#9
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#11
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Of course, this leaves the original question. Suppose you have a cartridge bottom bracket that last for an improbably long time. For instance, maybe you invested in a Phil Wood and after 20,000 miles it's still spinning smoothly. Would you ever remove it just to regrease the threads? Me personally? No.
So I voted, only when damaged.
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#12
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Of course, this leaves the original question. Suppose you have a cartridge bottom bracket that last for an improbably long time. For instance, maybe you invested in a Phil Wood and after 20,000 miles it's still spinning smoothly. Would you ever remove it just to regrease the threads? Me personally? No.
.
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I like to maintain fixed cups in situ if possible. However, there are lots of reasons to remove one.
I will remove a fixed cup based on a couple criteria considered at the same time.
I consider, in the following order:
I will remove a fixed cup based on a couple criteria considered at the same time.
I consider, in the following order:
- Is it damaged? If it is, sure, take out by whatever means necessary, unless I believe the bike is not really going to be ridden much at all.
- Can I get it out? If I can easily, sure, take it out.
- Is it RH or LH threaded? I am more likely to leave in an RH threaded fixed cup because it might be stuck (and that's a good thing in this case) and it might be hard to find another one!
- What's the future use going to look like? If it's going to be commuted on in salt and weather, or ridden in muddy sandy areas, I will remove it and change it for a sealed BB regardless of the condition, to save the future strife.
- What's the BB? If it's worth saving/preserving/reselling, and not on this bike, then I'll take it out and replace it with something appropriate for the quality level of the bike and its expected duty. I might even consider polishing the pitting out of an old damaged cup from a respectable marque, depending on the extent of the damage. There is absolutely no sense in leaving a nice Campy or Stronglight or TA BB on a bike which is going to be used for all weather touring or commuting!
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I'm between choices 3 and 4, leaning toward 4, esp. since reading the recent admonitions of some of the "do it every time" purists. So far I haven't had one thwart me yet, but I suppose if I encounter one that really puts up a fight, and it's for a low-buck build / rehab, I may opt to leave it in.
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Moved to “Politics and Religion”.
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#17
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Weld or glue in place; purchase grease gun extender tube. Procure and use a high suction vacuum. Scoff at the crunchy sound after you put it all back together.
I just sell the frame.
All joking aside, I take it out every several overhauls, not each one.
I just sell the frame.
All joking aside, I take it out every several overhauls, not each one.
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#19
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#20
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Shop mechanic: "The DS BB cup is stuck, can I just leave it?"
Shop manager: "Sure, I'll have somebody that can do it get it out, don't bother coming back tomorrow."
Shop manager: "Sure, I'll have somebody that can do it get it out, don't bother coming back tomorrow."
#21
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It seems merziac and I are in the minority when it comes to bottom bracket fixed cups ( see https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ight-pull.html ). So, here's a poll to see if we have any allies.
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#22
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#23
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#24
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When I took the 1959 Capo to CyclArt for a repaint, I needed help removing the fixed cup. Jim Cunningham had a bench vise mounted atop a long pole in the middle of a large room, and that was the only way we could garner enough leverage to break it loose.
For an ISO, British, or Swiss-threaded BB, I can justify removing the fixed cup, but how about Italian or French? I find I need to use Loctite to keep those fixed cups "fixed." Is it really advantageous to take these in and out and grease the threads when they inherently have trouble staying tight because of a major (self-loosening) design blunder?
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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
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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
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I fully strip all bikes when they come in (including removing the fixed cup). Otherwise when I'm doing routine maintenance I will remove the fixed cup every other time.
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