Bottom Bracket type?

[254]

Hi all, something i just cant make my mind up about........cup or sealed bottom bracket.......your thoughts on which and best types makes would be useful............for a 1980's build.........

 

[foz]

I think for the 80s if you want to keep the bike period correct then it has to be cup and cone. They work fine and last for ages if properly adjusted. If you often ride in the wet and/or don't keep your bike very clean, then sealed are less hassle (and nobody can really tell which type you have at first glance anyway!)

 

[tonyf39]

FAG & SKF made sealed BB's in the 1980s, best quality too especially the SKF. If you can find one in the length you require, get one.

 

[1duck]

Personally i'd go for sealed, ok its not period correct unless you get the one mentioned above but its pretty much zero maintenance.

I know you can run cup and cone with little maintenance but still i prefer sealed.

 

[Spokesmann]

i use a sealed Bb on my 64 Carlton Flyer - A rather nice Campag affair - works well. The cup and cone BBs are perfectly fine but sometimnes need just a little more maintenance...

 

[Jonny69]

Sealed are definitely less hassle. I won't replace a cup-and-cone if there's nothing wrong with it, but I have had one wear itself oval and I couldn't tighten the play out of it. If they wear out I would always replace them with sealed units.

 

[petertreglown]

SKF make excellent square taper sealed bottom bracket units, Middleburn were distributing these and probably still are.

 

[bm0p700f]

Sealed unless you want it to be original spec, if you are asking the question then you cannot be that bothered.