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Bottom bracket shell, head-tube tube, angles?

Started by Simon Brooke · · Last activity · 14 posts · 397 views

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UK and Europe
Published
1 June 2005
Last activity
3 June 2005
Original author
Simon Brooke
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14
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  1. Well, the material for the monocoque of my new bike has arrived here
    today, so it's time to get off my [censored], stop drawing and start
    building. But there are still things I'm short of, or, to be more
    precise, could do better.

    I have some scrapheap bikes to cut up for parts, and, specifically, for
    the bottom bracket shell and head tube. But I'd really rather not have
    old scrap bits in it. And in any case they have 73mm shells and I'd
    rather have a 68mm to keep the Q down. So, does anyone know where I can
    get a piece of aluminium tube of the right internal diameter for a
    bottom bracket shell? What _is_ the right internal diameter - 1.37
    inch?? Is getting hold of this so hopelessly difficult that I'd be
    better off just cutting up my scrap?

    And similarly, the head tube. When you talk about a 1 1/8" headset, is
    the measurement the outside diameter of the steerer tube or the inside
    diameter of the head tube - or something else altogether? What,
    exactly, should the inside diameter of the head tube be?

    Finally, those of you who have built your own frames: Obviously the
    bottom bracket axle wants to be /exactly/ parallel to the rear axle,
    and /exactly/ at 90 degrees to he head tube axis. But in practice how
    carefully do I have to jig this? How far off is too far off?

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

    Age equals angst multiplied by the speed of fright squared.
    ;; the Worlock

  2. Simon Brooke said:

    Well, the material for the monocoque of my new bike has arrived here
    today, so it's time to get off my [censored], stop drawing and start
    building. But there are still things I'm short of, or, to be more
    precise, could do better.

    I missed what kind of bike this will be. Or are you keeping it as a
    surprise? :-)

    Quoted message said:

    I have some scrapheap bikes to cut up for parts, and, specifically,
    for the bottom bracket shell and head tube. But I'd really rather not
    have old scrap bits in it. And in any case they have 73mm shells and
    I'd rather have a 68mm to keep the Q down. So, does anyone know where
    I can get a piece of aluminium tube of the right internal diameter
    for a bottom bracket shell? What _is_ the right internal diameter -
    1.37 inch??

    Yes, see http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html

    Quoted message said:

    Is getting hold of this so hopelessly difficult that I'd
    be better off just cutting up my scrap?

    And similarly, the head tube. When you talk about a 1 1/8" headset, is
    the measurement the outside diameter of the steerer tube or the inside
    diameter of the head tube - or something else altogether?

    Outside diameter of steerer.

    Quoted message said:

    What,
    exactly, should the inside diameter of the head tube be?

    According to Sheldon Brown, for 1 1/8", "frame cup outside diameter" is
    34.0 mm. I'm not sure if that's the head cup itself or the tube inside
    diameter--which I would expect to be a touch smaller to make an
    interference fit.

    Info: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ha-i.html - scroll down.

    ~PB

  3. in message <[email hidden]>, Pete Biggs

    ('p@honeydewbiggs{remove_melon}.tc') said:
    Simon Brooke said:

    Well, the material for the monocoque of my new bike has arrived here
    today, so it's time to get off my [censored], stop drawing and start
    building. But there are still things I'm short of, or, to be more
    precise, could do better.

    I missed what kind of bike this will be. Or are you keeping it as a
    surprise? :-)

    One with two wheels and pedals.

    Gearing isn't finalised (and won't be until we've done some testing) but
    current plans are for a lowest gear of 49.7 inches and a highest of
    155.3 inches. Oh, and did I say it was a monocoque?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I have some scrapheap bikes to cut up for parts, and, specifically,
    for the bottom bracket shell and head tube. But I'd really rather not
    have old scrap bits in it. And in any case they have 73mm shells and
    I'd rather have a 68mm to keep the Q down. So, does anyone know where
    I can get a piece of aluminium tube of the right internal diameter
    for a bottom bracket shell? What _is_ the right internal diameter -
    1.37 inch??

    Yes, see http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html

    That's what I was looking at, but the Great Sheldon also quotes 1.375
    (mind you, 5 thou bigger is not a lot, but then the threads on a BB
    shell are not very deep).

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    And similarly, the head tube. When you talk about a 1 1/8" headset,
    is the measurement the outside diameter of the steerer tube or the
    inside diameter of the head tube - or something else altogether?

    Outside diameter of steerer.

    Quoted message said:

    What,
    exactly, should the inside diameter of the head tube be?

    According to Sheldon Brown, for 1 1/8", "frame cup outside diameter"
    is
    34.0 mm. I'm not sure if that's the head cup itself or the tube
    inside diameter--which I would expect to be a touch smaller to make an
    interference fit.

    Info: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ha-i.html - scroll down.

    Ah, thanks, hadn't seen that.

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
    Windows 95:
    You, you, you! You make a grown man cry...
    M. Jagger/K. Richards

  4. Simon Brooke said:

    Well, the material for the monocoque of my new bike has arrived here
    today, so it's time to get off my [censored], stop drawing and start
    building. But there are still things I'm short of, or, to be more
    precise, could do better.

    Cool. Carbon the way of the future is mmmmm! ;-)

    Quoted message said:

    I have some scrapheap bikes to cut up for parts, and, specifically, for
    the bottom bracket shell and head tube. But I'd really rather not have
    old scrap bits in it. And in any case they have 73mm shells and I'd
    rather have a 68mm to keep the Q down. So, does anyone know where I can
    get a piece of aluminium tube of the right internal diameter for a
    bottom bracket shell? What _is_ the right internal diameter - 1.37
    inch?? Is getting hold of this so hopelessly difficult that I'd be
    better off just cutting up my scrap?

    www.framebuilding.com if you can bear to buy new. Peter is very helpful
    and has no minimum order (Although I recommend buying everything you
    think might be useful at once to balance out the carriage costs!).

    Do you have access to the appropriate thread cutters for a BB? It's
    worth mentioning that the ones commonly used to clean existing threads
    are apparently not much cop at cutting new ones.

    Quoted message said:

    And similarly, the head tube. When you talk about a 1 1/8" headset, is
    the measurement the outside diameter of the steerer tube or the inside
    diameter of the head tube - or something else altogether? What,
    exactly, should the inside diameter of the head tube be?

    The OD of the steerer. Are you thinking of going 1 1/8th? I only ask
    because I have both a head tube reamer and facer and crown race cutter
    for 1" which you'd be welcome to borrow.

    Quoted message said:

    Finally, those of you who have built your own frames: Obviously the
    bottom bracket axle wants to be /exactly/ parallel to the rear axle,
    and /exactly/ at 90 degrees to he head tube axis. But in practice how
    carefully do I have to jig this? How far off is too far off?

    It depends on how comfortable you want the bike to be to ride. Hooves 1
    was fine for shortish distances, but for rides of 40+ miles, the wonky
    BB (Around 2 degrees out left to right I think) had a habit of
    exacerbating groin strain. This was probably not helped in any way by
    the excessively high gearing.

    I still dream of getting my hands on some cones for centering tubes, but
    I've yet to find a source, and our otherwise pretty good machine shop at
    work does not include a lathe!

    Jon

  5. Simon Brooke said:

    Gearing isn't finalised (and won't be until we've done some testing)
    but current plans are for a lowest gear of 49.7 inches and a highest
    of 155.3 inches. Oh, and did I say it was a monocoque?

    I won't ask what you'll be slipstreaming with that monster gear ;-)

    /snip

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Yes, see http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html

    That's what I was looking at, but the Great Sheldon also quotes 1.375
    (mind you, 5 thou bigger is not a lot, but then the threads on a BB
    shell are not very deep).

    Looking at the table carefully, it's 1.370 for British and 1.375 for ISO.
    SB says "British and I.S.O. are interchangeable".

    ~PB

  6. in message <[email hidden]>, Pete Biggs

    ('p@honeydewbiggs{remove_melon}.tc') said:
    Simon Brooke said:

    Gearing isn't finalised (and won't be until we've done some testing)
    but current plans are for a lowest gear of 49.7 inches and a highest
    of 155.3 inches. Oh, and did I say it was a monocoque?

    I won't ask what you'll be slipstreaming with that monster gear ;-)

    Dead easy cycling if my[1] acronyms[2] can help[3].

    [1] or 'mysterious'.
    [2] or 'aerodynamics'.
    [3] but probably not with prototype #1.

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
    Wannabe a Web designer?
    <URL:http://userfriendly.org/cartoons/archives/97dec/19971206.html>

  7. in message <[email hidden]>, Jon Senior

    jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOT_co_DOT_uk ('') said:

    Do you have access to the appropriate thread cutters for a BB? It's
    worth mentioning that the ones commonly used to clean existing threads
    are apparently not much cop at cutting new ones.

    I don't, but I think Marcus has. I'll check in the morning.

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

    ;; It's dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
    ;; Voltaire RIP Dr David Kelly 1945-2004

  8. "Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    get a piece of aluminium tube of the right internal diameter for a
    bottom bracket shell? What _is_ the right internal diameter - 1.37
    inch??

    If you're cutting threads in it, no.

    1.375" is the (nominal) dimension of the "screw" - the part with the threads
    on the outside. To determine the correct size for a matching internal
    thread you need that number, the thread pitch, the thread form, and a figure
    for the percentage of a full thread.

    For a 1.375" 24 tpi 60 degree thread with a flat crest and root (standard
    form) and 80% thread the correct figure would be 1.3316986666666665, more or
    less a few Ångströms.

  9. Simon Brooke said:

    Well, the material for the monocoque of my new bike has arrived here
    today, so it's time to get off my [censored], stop drawing and start
    building. But there are still things I'm short of, or, to be more
    precise, could do better.

    I'm sure you have considered everything, but it would be remiss of me
    not to relate a coutionary tale. A friend of mine had an extremely
    nasty accident on his first serious ride on the carbon monocoque he
    made. Judging from the state of the frame (he has no memory of the
    incident) the head tube tore somewhat through the carbon composite and
    he fell off.
    Remember to make that bit really strong!!!

    LGF

  10. in message <[email hidden]>,

    (') said:
    Simon Brooke said:

    Well, the material for the monocoque of my new bike has arrived here
    today, so it's time to get off my [censored], stop drawing and start
    building. But there are still things I'm short of, or, to be more
    precise, could do better.

    I'm sure you have considered everything, but it would be remiss of me
    not to relate a coutionary tale. A friend of mine had an extremely
    nasty accident on his first serious ride on the carbon monocoque he
    made. Judging from the state of the frame (he has no memory of the
    incident) the head tube tore somewhat through the carbon composite and
    he fell off.
    Remember to make that bit really strong!!!

    Thanks, I will. But this isn't actually a bike you can fall /off/,
    precisely...

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

    ;; Women are from Venus. Men are from Mars. Lusers are from Uranus.

  11. In article <[email hidden]>, Simon

    Brooke said:

    What _is_ the right internal diameter - 1.37 inch?? Is getting hold
    of this so hopelessly difficult that I'd be better off just cutting
    up my scrap?

    Metal Supermarkets will sell you a bit of alloy of whatever size you
    need and a local model engineer will be able to turn it to size.

    --
    A T (Sandy) Morton
    on the Bicycle Island
    In the Global Village
    http://www.millport.net

  12. In article <[email hidden]>, Jon Senior

    jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOT_co_DOT_uk said:

    I still dream of getting my hands on some cones for centering
    tubes, but I've yet to find a source, and our otherwise pretty good
    machine shop at work does not include a lathe!

    Send me a drawing with sizes and the material you want them made of
    and I'll see what I can compe up with - my machine shop has 4 lathes.

    --
    A T (Sandy) Morton
    on the Bicycle Island
    In the Global Village
    http://www.millport.net

  13. Simon Brooke said:

    in message <[email hidden]>,

    (') said:
    Simon Brooke said:

    Well, the material for the monocoque of my new bike has arrived here
    today, so it's time to get off my [censored], stop drawing and start
    building. But there are still things I'm short of, or, to be more
    precise, could do better.

    I'm sure you have considered everything, but it would be remiss of me
    not to relate a coutionary tale. A friend of mine had an extremely
    nasty accident on his first serious ride on the carbon monocoque he
    made. Judging from the state of the frame (he has no memory of the
    incident) the head tube tore somewhat through the carbon composite and
    he fell off.
    Remember to make that bit really strong!!!

    Thanks, I will. But this isn't actually a bike you can fall /off/,
    precisely...

    That's monocoque in the sense of aerodynamic tub you sit _in_ then, is it?

  14. in message <[email hidden]>, Alan Braggins

    (') said:
    Simon Brooke said:

    in message <[email hidden]>,

    (') said:

    Simon Brooke wrote:
    > Well, the material for the monocoque of my new bike has arrived
    > here today, so it's time to get off my [censored], stop drawing and start
    > building. But there are still things I'm short of, or, to be more
    > precise, could do better.

    I'm sure you have considered everything, but it would be remiss of
    me not to relate a coutionary tale. A friend of mine had an
    extremely nasty accident on his first serious ride on the carbon
    monocoque he made. Judging from the state of the frame (he has no
    memory of the incident) the head tube tore somewhat through the
    carbon composite and he fell off.
    Remember to make that bit really strong!!!

    Thanks, I will. But this isn't actually a bike you can fall /off/,
    precisely...

    That's monocoque in the sense of aerodynamic tub you sit _in_ then, is
    it?

    That's the one.

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
    ,/| _.--''^``-...___.._.,;
    /, \'. _-' ,--,,,--'''
    { \ `_-'' ' /
    `;;' ; ; ;
    ._..--'' ._,,, _..' .;.'
    (,_....----''' (,..--''

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