Cartridge bottom brackets, the truth ?

[Neil G]

I tok an XT BB out of a 93 frame recently and it was butter smooth...just goes to show they don't make them like they used to!

 

[silverclaws]

Now I understand all the gobbledy gook written on cartrideg BB's, and know how to select them. There is on fleabay a few UN54's, which will be an upgrade to what I had, will fit and are affordable, but there are also a few semi sealed bb's on there that will fit and are affordable, maybe semi sealed might be a good compromise between sealed and open.

 

[Xesh]

Semi sealed are usually just modified cup and cone BBs. The cups are usually made to look like a Shimano cartridge and are normally only found on the cheaper bikes. I'd rather go for another LP30 than one of those.

Pay a bit more and get a UN54. It's worth the extra money.

 

[perry]

the higher the number the betterer it is

the gruntmaster 6000 is just a striped down gruntmaster 9000

when i have my own company my bike will be called the infinity . until of course there is a component upgrade where it will then be called the infinity plus one . mmm doesnt infinty plus one sound much betterer than the boggo infinity

the infinity plus one R will be the daddy , people will pay shit loads for the R even more if the font for the R is slightly slanted

 

[WD Pro]

Perhaps by old ideas, a hole can be drilled in the lowest point of the BB to allow water to drain out, water that gets past the very same type of rubber seals.

From my build thread :

I have also shortened and drilled (1.5mm) a SS M5 button head to use as the bottom bracket cable guide securing bolt - hopefully to provide some ventilation / drainage for condensation / water :

Do you think this is a good (or crap ) idea ?

I didnt do it to save the bottom bracket though, more to save the frame / bottom bracket shell

WD

 

[WD Pro]

Edit : Stupid computer doing double posts

 

[silverclaws]

Perhaps by old ideas, a hole can be drilled in the lowest point of the BB to allow water to drain out, water that gets past the very same type of rubber seals.

From my build thread :

I have also shortened and drilled (1.5mm) a SS M5 button head to use as the bottom bracket cable guide securing bolt - hopefully to provide some ventilation / drainage for condensation / water :

Do you think this is a good (or crap ) idea ?

I didnt do it to save the bottom bracket though, more to save the frame / bottom bracket shell


WD

I do think it is a good idea, if only to protect the BB shell, as my BB cartridge is out, I am considering it myself now, as there was a fair amount of surface rust in there, I expect more from condensation than water ingress. I was thinking something more along the lines of a wading plug sort of thing, like on a Land Rover, but it being more in than out, just unscrew it now and again to let any crud out, and squirt rust inhibitor in. This bike, provided I don't trash it, I intend to keep for the next twenty or thirty years, I am kind of conservative that way. My last Saracen did the rough stuff, including hitting a dry stone wall at a fair rate of knots after a lock up on wet grass going down hill, I did'nt break it, so I suppose this one will get less action given I am older(and wiser) now.

 

[Xesh]

Don't forget that most water that sits inside the BB shell has actually come in through the seattube.

It's always a good idea after an especially wet ride, or after you've washed the bike, to remove the seatpost and turn the bike upside down to drain the water.

 

[silverclaws]

Ok, I have just gone the Shimano cartridge route, and fitted a UN54, which was a bit of a hair raising exercise, being careful not to cross the threads, something I found which was useful was to drive in the plastic cup first and use that as a guide for the cartridge to screw in square. It was at this point I realised my old u/s BB, the LP30, it was fitted back to front, not that it matters much I suppose, but I like things to be orientated correctly.

Just would like to say thanks for all the advice on this issue

 

[Xesh]

......I realised my old u/s BB, the LP30, it was fitted back to front......

That's how it's supposed to fit. Some Shimano BBs had the plastic cup on the right for some unknown reason. :? After a couple of years they were all changed to the left side.