bottom bracket assistance needed

[Chute55uk]

I'm trying to determine whether a shimano bottom bracket will fit my Raleigh. its a 1974 Raleigh europa?/carlton/anything else Raleigh made with crespie lugs
I measured the shell and it comes out at 73mm well not quite but its definitely bigger than a 68. the cups are actually in good condition but i was figuring out whether to go for a square taper axle or complete bb. the original axle was cottered but i plan on fitting a shimano mt60 (deore) mountain bike chainset with a 46t ring fitted to the inside of the spider to run s/s.
I read on sheldon's that some Raleigh's were 26tpi and ive tried to fit the l/h cup from an ultegra 6500bb just to see if it would screw in (it went in a bit but then started to bind so i undid it again) the original cups screw in just fine.
also any ideas on axle length? i'm thinking 110mm but does anyone know better?
thanks in advance

 

[Midlife]

Does it have a yellow head tube, crespera lugs, wrapover stays and the usual raleigh graphics ?

If so then it's an English 24TPI thread, ISO 24TPI also fit as they are basically the same diameter..

Shaun

 

[tiermat]

I would put money on it being Raleigh thread, i.e 1.37" * 36tpi, hence why you can start threading the cups in, but then they bind.

Your options are:
a) scrap it
b) have the threads re-cut
c) replace the BB shell

BTDTGTTS

 

[David B]

I would put money on it being Raleigh thread, i.e 1.37" * 36tpi, hence why you can start threading the cups in, but then they bind.

Your options are:
a) scrap it
b) have the threads re-cut
c) replace the BB shell

BTDTGTTS

Don't forget (d) buy a threadless BB unit (e.g. Acor), probably the second-cheapest option after getting the BB shell re-tapped.

David

 

[Chute55uk]

Well I still have the original cups so I could fit just a square taper axle?

 

[Chute55uk]

Does it have a yellow head tube, crespera lugs, wrapover stays and the usual raleigh graphics ?

If so then it's an English 24TPI thread, ISO 24TPI also fit as they are basically the same diameter..

Shaun

Yes all of that bar the yellow yeas tube as I had it stripped and it was manky red beforehand
Wrapover stays, brass heron badge, shimano something bird rear mech heron chainwheel inch headset