Bottom bracket length for C Record chainset

[GordonB]

oh sorry - i was thinking it was the cup and axle set of yore!

how embarrassing!

No need for embarrassment, this is, after all, Retrobike . Bottom brackets are the one area where, in my own opinion, the modern kit is an obligatory install. I well remember the hassle of adjusting, and adjusting, and adjusting yet again, the old cup and race systems. Never ever seemed to get it quite right and the sealed systems were to me a complete revelation.

In fact the first one I ever bought was from Chas Roberts who had removed one from a customer's bike as they wanted a new one but Chas pointed out that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the old one. He sold it to me for a couple of quid as it was the right length to fit my then new build using a Holdsworth Mistral frame I had just bought from him. He was dead right, there was nowt wrong with it and I ran it for 15 years before it was replaced. The only reason I replaced it was that the bike had sat unused for about 3 years and I think it must have developed a touch of corrosion as it was a tiny bit gritty to turn.

Gordon

 

[rusty bodie]

oh sorry - i was thinking it was the cup and axle set of yore!

how embarrassing!

No need for embarrassment, this is, after all, Retrobike . Bottom brackets are the one area where, in my own opinion, the modern kit is an obligatory install. I well remember the hassle of adjusting, and adjusting, and adjusting yet again, the old cup and race systems. Never ever seemed to get it quite right and the sealed systems were to me a complete revelation.

In fact the first one I ever bought was from Chas Roberts who had removed one from a customer's bike as they wanted a new one but Chas pointed out that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the old one. He sold it to me for a couple of quid as it was the right length to fit my then new build using a Holdsworth Mistral frame I had just bought from him. He was dead right, there was nowt wrong with it and I ran it for 15 years before it was replaced. The only reason I replaced it was that the bike had sat unused for about 3 years and I think it must have developed a touch of corrosion as it was a tiny bit gritty to turn.

Gordon

and here's me STILL adjusting and REadjusting my old c record bb!!!

well, i've got to justify the campag spanners' existence!!!

 

[letape]

Sorry to open up this old thread!

I am looking for a bottom bracket to use with a campagnolo c record chainset. Does anyone know if more modern 111mm symetrical BBs are compatible with one. My concerm is that newer campag chainsets use ISO tapers and I'm not sure if that is the case with C Record chainsets/botom brackets? Thanks

 

[Hillwalker]

I've taken a slightly offbeat approach to this issue, due to a combination of personal thriftiness and individualistic thinking.

I have both CDA and C Record cranksets, but the 'vintage' Campagnolo 111mm BBs are not that easy to find (especially in good nick as eBay is a bit of a minefield) and are mucho £££ in NOS condition. I concur with the comments about a sealed system being preferable maintenance wise. How to solve? Well ...

I use modern Chorus 102mm BBs. :shock: Easy to source in good condition (I bought a NOS example earlier this year for £12 on eBay).

THEN add 3.5mm worth of spacers between the driveside BB collar and the frame to push the BB outwards to achieve the desired chainline. I bought a pack of assorted spacers from Velo Solo (here http://www.velosolo.co.uk/bbspacers.html but other spacers are available ). And no, this doesn't cause problems with the non-drive side crank on my frame. Crank to chainstay clearance is about 5mm (not measured precisely but there's plenty of clearance). Unconventional, but effective.

HW

 

[letape]

Re:

Thanks for that Hillwalker - I appreciate your advice.

Initially I was concerned that the taper on the newer campagnolo bottom brackets might not be compatible but I believe now that they are, as the older chainsets (CDA / C Record) were also ISO.

 

[Hillwalker]

I should also add that, being a cautious sort of bloke, I've carefully placed a small, neat bead of transparent bathroom sealant around the exposed BB threads on the non-drive side that are now exposed as a consequence of this kerfuffle. Should ensure that the BB can be removed in the future without drama, yet not show to anyone (except the BB police with a magnifying glass )

HW

 

[BigFoz]

Re:

The similar Record chainset has a lower profile spider and uses a 102mm axle. Is it possible you have the other chainset? A record c/s on a C-Record BB axle (or centaur-mirage models) would give a bad chainline

 

[clubby]

Re:

Word of warning if you are trying Hillwalkers approach with an Italian thread bb. I tried this last year and found it didn't leave enough threads in the frame to keep the drive cup tight. Due to the Italian threading the pedalling action unscrewed the cup and jammed up 12 miles from the car.

 

[Hillwalker]

Re: Re:

Word of warning if you are trying Hillwalkers approach with an Italian thread bb. I tried this last year and found it didn't leave enough threads in the frame to keep the drive cup tight. Due to the Italian threading the pedalling action unscrewed the cup and jammed up 12 miles from the car.

I entirely understand your concern here - happily my BB is English threaded .

I imagine too that differing frames might have differing BB thread 'depth' (i.e. how far back inside the BB shell the threads run?). The frame I used this approach on is a Trevor Jarvis.

HW