polymorphself 

Looking to upgrade the BB on my 86 voyageur. I had read that these were being discontinued a year or so back, but it looks like they are still available in some sizes. No idea what size I need yet, but in the event that what I need isn't attainable, has anything popped up as a better replacement?

tricky 

I think BF sensors links from a certain "front page of the internet" but going to try anyways: https://www.******.com/r/BikeMechani..._discontinued/ That link points to a thread about UN55 being discontinued.

If that link gets filtered, here's a good quote:

"It's a bummer. Not the end of the world. There are still heaps of options out there for square taper BBs, from budget (eg, Sunrace), mid-range (eg, FSA) to premium (eg, Phil Wood).Also. Tourney (UN300 ~tricky) isn't THAT bad. If you want premium, buy a White Ind or Phil Wood BB."

There are also IRD, Tange, and Sakea BBs that you can get from Soma https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/cat...uare-taper-724

Edit: yup. Filtered. So dumb. You can replace the asterisks with r e d d i t without the spaces and that should get you to the thread.

Jeff Neese

If you can find a UN55 that's NOS and the right size, grab it. The UN300 is the current replacement but isn't as robust. Then again, they're cheap enough that if you swap it every couple years it's no big deal. The Velo Orange Grand Cruz might be a good choice and the Origin8s get generally good reviews. Or you can go higher end like IRD or even Phil Wood if you want to. There are plenty of choices and others here will have their recommendations.

I put a UN300 on one of my bikes and it seems fine. For a step up I'll probably go with the Velo Orange on my next one.

ThermionicScott 

UN55 bottom brackets were/are pretty nice. I'd say if you find some in 107mm, 113mm (or 115mm), and 118mm (or 122mm), you'd have a collection that would work with a LOT of cranks. Future Polymorphself would be thanking Past Polymorphself.

beicster 

I don't know what got changed on the Voyageur between 85 and 86, but if your 86 has the same bb and as my 85, you need a 127.5.

jamesdak 

I've used at least two of the IRD-95 series BB and they are really nice.

squirtdad

imho un300 big improvement from say un26 .....at least both cups are metal on un300

tricky 

RE: IRD being high end, they have the QB-55 which is only $40. One of the cool things about them is that they also offer conversion cups so that you convert the BB to Swiss, Italian, French, or even English 73mm for only $25. https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/pro...9?category=725

SurferRosa

If a keeper, I've been buying the ones from Token.

etherhuffer 

I like Tange best, they seem smoother and last a long time. If you like wrenching and fixing, there are some Youtube videos on how to overhaul old sealed units. Not all are the same. Basically you have a sealed bearing set on an axle. The only hard part is knocking them off and replacing them. At the cost of a new BB, hardly worth the effort. And, a good SKF, Natchi etc bearing is not cheap. That said, I hate to see waste and rebuild stuff for the challenge as well. Your mileage may vary

nlerner

Several Shimano units on AliExpress:

US $3.99 30％ Off | Shimano BB-UN26 BB-UN300 BB-UN101 Bottom Bracket Square Hole 68/73mm Bicycle Axis BB MTB Road Bike Bottom Bracket UN26 UN101
https://star.aliexpress.com/share/sh...%3DsocialShare

Plus some intriguing Ti spindle units:
US $22.06 30％ Off | Bike Titanium Alloy Bottom Brackets 103/107/110/113/119/122mm BB Ceramic Square Taper For MTB Road Bike Bicycle Shaft Parts
https://star.aliexpress.com/share/sh...%3DsocialShare

bamboobike4

I’ve been happy with OmniRacer on keepers.
The conversion cup idea at IRD seems a good one.

JohnDThompson 

AFAIK, Tange-Seiki bottom bracket cartridges are still available in a variety of sizes, and are comparable in quality to the Shimano cartridges:

https://m.tangeseiki.com/jm/products...m-bracket.html

tgot 

Anyone try the Ti BBs and willing to share experiences?

dddd

My experience with similar, inexpensive bb's from AliExpress showed poorly-dimensioned plastic shielding that admitted and then trapped water against the outer faces of both cartridge bearings.
Very poor design and/or quality control, so I wouldn't trust the quality of the spindle either.

panzerwagon 

I would even go so far as to say Tange exceeds the quality of Shimano's recent offerings. I've had poor experiences with the fit/finish of the recently revamped line from Shimano. However, Tange's mid-range Ln3922 is a quality and long-lasting unit for < $30, and if one wanted a hollow spindle for a much higher price, the Ln-7922.

dedhed

Keepers - 55 if I can fund it or Tange. Flips or repairs on low level casual riders UN 26 or UN 300

hokiefyd 

I recently used a Sunrace bottom bracket (budget price) and have to say -- the thing was really smooth. Both the housing and the NDS cup are steel. Geez -- they even have sealed cartridge BBs for cottered cranks!

https://www.sunrace.com/en/products/bottom-brackets

ThermionicScott 

What a belatedly great idea! I may grab one of these next time I overhaul a 3-speed.

cudak888 

Waiting for the day they finally offer both those and square taper BB's with Raleigh 26 TPI threads.

It's a bit of a shame to think that there's enough demand for a 24tpi cottered BB - which basically means that cheap, bike-boom bikes are getting the love - over demand for a BB that fits a fairly decent Grand Prix or Sports.

-Krut

ThermionicScott 

If it's okay to continue the tangent a bit, how does one use the cups on this variant?


https://www.sunrace.com/en/products/detail/bbt08

Soody

I installed an un300 the other day and the bearings were a bit scronchy out of the box.

really not impressed

scarlson 

Going to contribute to the dogpile with a little shout-out to my fave Chin Haur bottom brackets. Don't let the name fool you, nor the reputation for failure of their ISIS BBs. Their square taper ones are pretty nice! They use hollow, forged shafts, steel cups, and bigger (wider) cartridge bearings than the traditionally used by the usual suspects, including Phil. Not lightweight, because steel cups, but I do not hesitate to use them on tandems.




I think a big problem with some BB designs is that they feel the need to add extra seals, when the bearings' seals are good enough (and often it is worse to have water trapped between seals, as was mentioned previously.

Lightest steel BB I really like is the Origin8 Torqlite. Super well made and very light for a steel BB, only complaint is the splines are a tad shallow so your tool may slip out.

Wildwood 

Great responses to this thread.

any current spindles that match the taper of vintage Euro cranks?

scarlson 

Old TA is pretty much JIS, so either of my contributions work well in my experience. Same for old Sugino, Sakae, and most hi-zoot CNC-era weight weenie cranks (Topline etc).

The Chin Haur only comes in JIS I think, but the Torqlite comes in JIS or ISO. ISO should be a smaller taper which will fit the old Campy cranks or newer TA.