replace/overhaul old BB/new cartridges compatible?

"vincent chiao" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi, I have an older road bike (Fuji probably from
the 1980's)

I have one of those too.

Quoted message said:

that I'm in the process of converting to a fixed gear.

I converted mine a couple of years ago.

Quoted message said:

After I took off the chain I realized that the cranks are
not turning as smoothly as I think it probably should be.
I don't have any of the tools to take off the BB to see
what's going on, but I suspect it will either have to be
overhauled with new parts/bearings or completely replaced.
My questions are:
1) If I have to replace, can I (should I) use a newer
cartridge type BB? I have some beat up Sugino cranks on
there that I don't want to toss (this was *supposed* to
be a cheapie project...)
2) What are rough cost estimates on whatever tools I would
need vs. having the LBS take care of this, keeping in
mind that I don't yet know if it's an overhaul or a
replace?

You can have a cartridge BB put in, the threads are
standard. I'd guess for about $50 ($25 part/$25 labor).

It's quite possible that it just needs new grease & balls.
If a LBS is doing the job, I'd probably just go for a
cartridge, they're better sealed, and the price wouldn't be
much more. Since you're doing a FG conversion you might want
to use a different axle length to get a better chain line.

Good luck on keeping the project on the cheap, mine kind of
got out of hand...

Peter Cole said:

"vincent chiao" wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi, I have an older road bike (Fuji probably from the
1980's) in the process of converting to a fixed gear.After
I took off the chain I realized that the cranks are not
turning as smoothly as I think it probably should be. I
don't have any of the tools to take off the BB to see
what's going on, but I suspect it will either have to be
overhauled with new parts/bearings or completely replaced.
My questions are:
1) If I have to replace, can I (should I) use a newer
cartridge type BB? I have some beat up Sugino cranks on
there that I don't want to toss (this was *supposed* to
be a cheapie project...)
2) What are rough cost estimates on whatever tools I would
need vs. having the LBS take care of this, keeping in
mind that I don't yet know if it's an overhaul or a
replace?

Peter Cole said:

You can have a cartridge BB put in, the threads are
standard. I'd guess for about $50 ($25 part/$25 labor).

Or for about the same money you can buy the parts _and_
the needed tools to do it yourself, then you get to keep
the tools!

Quoted message said:

It's quite possible that it just needs new grease &
balls. If a LBS is doing the job, I'd probably just go
for a cartridge, they're better sealed, and the price
wouldn't be much more. Since you're doing a FG conversion
you might want to use a different axle length to get a
better chain line.

Good luck on keeping the project on the cheap, mine kind
of got out of hand...

Might be just adjustment, too. The cheapest thing would be
to drip some oil down the seatpost, that might revive the
old dried-up grease. However, upgrading to a cartridge
bottom bracket would be the best thing to do.

See: sheldonbrown.combottom bracketsOpen ↗

and: sheldonbrown.comtoolsOpen ↗

and: sheldonbrown.comtooltipsOpen ↗

Sheldon "DIY" Brown +----------------------------------------------------
---------+
| Give a man a fire, and he will stay warm for a day. | Set
| a man on fire, he stays warm for the rest of his life. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------
--+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244-
9772 FAX 617-244-1041 harriscyclery.comharriscyclery.comOpen ↗ Hard-to-find
parts shipped Worldwide captainbike.comcaptainbike.comOpen ↗
sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.comOpen ↗

[email hidden] (vincent chiao) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]-

Quoted message said:

... <snip>

1) If I have to replace, can I (should I) use a newer
cartridge type

Quoted message said:

BB? I have some beat up Sugino cranks on there that I
don't want to toss (this was *supposed* to be a cheapie
project...)

Yes, you can use a cartridge BB in place of a loose
bearing BB.

Quoted message said:

2) What are rough cost estimates on whatever tools I would
need vs. having the LBS take care of this, keeping in
mind that I don't yet know if it's an overhaul or a
replace? Thanks-- Vincent.

Personally, I'd get the tools for overhauling your current
BB and see how it goes from there. At worst, you'll have
some tools that you'll never use again- but I've used the
same set of Sugino bottom bracket wrenches for 20 years.

Jeff

[email hidden] (vincent chiao) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

.. 1) If I have to replace, can I (should I) use a newer
cartridge

type

Quoted message said:

BB? I have some beat up Sugino cranks on there that I
don't want to toss (this was *supposed* to be a cheapie
project...)
2) What are rough cost estimates on whatever tools I would
need vs. having the LBS take care of this, keeping in
mind that I don't yet know if it's an overhaul or a
replace?

1. Yes, based on what I guess as your experience level,
install the sealed cartridge BB if possible. Not sure
what generation Sugino you have but I assume it is Campy
"tapered". You should use a track crank BB (single ring
set up) to get the correct chain line. Please note Fuji
BB's are ENG threaded.

2. >$20 - $25? If you don't have the tools, don't buy them
because modern BBs require brand specific "splined" type
removers (and torque wrench, TFE tape, ..). Useless for
oldie BBs. Find some "friend" who has been cycling for

Quoted message said:

10 years to do the job for free.

.. 1) If I have to replace, can I (should I) use a
newer cartridge

Quoted message said:

type

Quoted message said:

BB? I have some beat up Sugino cranks on there that I
don't want to toss (this was *supposed* to be a cheapie
project...)
2) What are rough cost estimates on whatever tools I would
need vs. having the LBS take care of this, keeping in
mind that I don't yet know if it's an overhaul or a
replace?

A well-meaning poster suggested:

Quoted message said:

1. Yes, based on what I guess as your experience level,
install the sealed cartridge BB if possible. Not sure
what generation Sugino you have but I assume it is
Campy "tapered". You should use a track crank BB
(single ring set up) to get the correct chain line.

That will depend on the model of the crank. Typical "road"
double cranks give pretty good chainline on the inner
position, with the stock BB length.

He would be well advised to start by measuring the chainline
of the crankset as installed, then removing the cranks and
measuring the spindle.

See: sheldonbrown.combbsizeOpen ↗

and: sheldonbrown.comchainlineOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Please note Fuji BB's are ENG threaded.

That's correct. All Asian made bikes with threaded BBs are
English/ISO threding.

Quoted message said:

2. >$20 - $25? If you don't have the tools, don't buy them
because modern BBs require brand specific "splined"
type removers (and torque wrench, TFE tape, ..).

That's false. The only current BB that requires a non-
standard splined tool is the venerable Phil Wood.

Nobody needs a torque wrench to fix a bicycle, and the tape,
if needed at all, would be for use with non-steel frames.

Sheldon "Easier Than Some People Think" Brown +------------------------------------------------------
---------+
| There are 10 kinds of people in this world: | Those who
| understand the binary system, and those who don't |
+-----------------------------------------------------------
----+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244-
9772 FAX 617-244-1041 harriscyclery.comharriscyclery.comOpen ↗ Hard-to-find
parts shipped Worldwide captainbike.comcaptainbike.comOpen ↗
sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.comOpen ↗