My mate has an old Mercian Road bike (1980’s I think) in which the BB is totally worn. I have looked up and using a pipe wrench & spanner (I haven’t got a BB hook spanner) I reckon I should be able to remove the lock ring and cups – depending on what it looks like inside do you think I am best measuring the BB shell and axle length and replacing the whole lot?

Anyone?

if the bearing surfaces are at all worn then yes, you could clean it all up, replace the bearings and regrease but it won’t take long for it to get bad again.

it’s the sort of job that an ‘old fashioned’ LBS will be able to do in half the time, have the right tools to do and probably have the necessary parts in stock too, though…

He wants to pay me for doing it so wouldn’t be charity – I just thought I could poss replace the BB with a campag cartridge of the same size I would have thought?

“replace the BB with a campag cartridge “

is it a Campagnolo chainset?
is it a square taper type?
If it is a square taper Campagnolo chainset then replace with a Campagnolo square taper BB ?
The taper on Campagnolo Square taper (although 4 degrees, same as Shimano etc) is narrower than other makes based on the JIS standard.
So a Campagnolo chainset would not slide far enough onto a Shimano (JIS) BB axle.

But old cranks are not famous for reliability
http://pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-001/FAIL-039.html

I think its might be campag compatible but he replaced it with another crank in the 80’s – not sure which make yet. I have an old campag BB so I can compare. It is square taper 3 part BB like this:

Looks adjustable – Maybe it is JIS std like you say – I need to take it apart to make sure as I have only had a quick look so far 🙁

Found this on Sheldons site:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/bbcups.html

thanks Mac 🙂

how do you know it is worn if you have not taken it apart? could just be our of adjustment.. i.e. the adjustable cup has come loose

might get away with a clean, a new set of balls, grease and proper ajustment

how do you know it is worn if you have not taken it apart? could just be our of adjustment.. i.e. the adjustable cup has come loose

I did have that very same thought as I wrote the above 🙂

Tiz boody old BB though 🙂

Cheers for the comments 🙂 Got it a bit more sorted plan wise 🙂

If it’s in good nick then re-grease, otherwise UN54 – while campag/shim cranks sit a bit in/out (can’t remember which way) it can still work.

Oh and not all old cranks break!

Be careful removing the lockring as they are easily damaged.

If it’s in good nick then re-grease, otherwise UN54 – while campag/shim cranks sit a bit in/out (can’t remember which way) it can still work.

Oh and not all old cranks break!

Be careful removing the lockring as they are easily damaged.

Cheers cynic-al – yeh I’ll try not to mash his ring 😡 The cranks look in very good nick really 🙂 ATM he is using it on his turbo but with the aim I think to resurrect it as and when he can replace bits 🙂

They do not always break
http://pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-001/FAIL-001.html
and Shimano BB axles (JIS standard) are fatter to try to avoid breakages.