Ultegra BB help

tony-<< I am trying to install an Ultegra 68x118.5 triple BB into a frame with a 68mm BB shell that
has been faced and chased. Both sides thread in smoothly till they contact the frame, if installed
one at a time separately.

But after snugging up the drive side hand tight, then putting the left side in, it stops turning
freely 2mm from the frame. Is this normal and just requires the full torque to seat properly?

Either the threads on the left side haven't been chased all the way in or the BB shell threads are
not cut parallel to each other. I'm guessing number 1. Have the bike shop chase the threads farther
into the cup.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Quoted message said:

I am trying to install an Ultegra 68x118.5 triple BB into a frame with a 68mm BB shell that has
been faced and chased. Both sides thread in smoothly till they contact the frame, if installed one
at a time separately.

But after snugging up the drive side hand tight, then putting the left side in, it stops turning
freely 2mm from the frame. Is this normal and just requires the full torque to seat properly?

If I push the two pieces together and measure the distance between, it is 70mm, so apparently the
left adapter is pressing against the body of the right side.

Quoted message said:

Either the threads on the left side haven't been chased all the way in

or the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

BB shell threads are not cut parallel to each other. I'm guessing number

1.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Have the bike shop chase the threads farther into the cup.

Are you sure?, it seems to me the threads are ok because he can put both parts in all the way. When
assembling the seperate BB the distance is also 70 mm which is 2mm more than the 68mm BB shell. So
it seems the 68mm BB is in fact a 70mm BB or there is some rubber thing in the BB which compresses
when torque is applied?

"Qui si parla Campagnolo " <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040225090525.01855.00000399@mb-
m22.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

tony-<< I am trying to install an Ultegra 68x118.5 triple BB into a frame

with

Quoted message said:

a 68mm BB shell that has been faced and chased. Both sides thread in smoothly till they contact
the frame, if installed one at a time separately.

But after snugging up the drive side hand tight, then putting the left side in, it stops turning
freely 2mm from the frame. Is this normal and just requires the full torque to seat properly?

Either the threads on the left side haven't been chased all the way in or

the

Quoted message said:

BB shell threads are not cut parallel to each other. I'm guessing number

2.

Quoted message said:

Have the bike shop chase the threads farther into the cup.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

In article <[email hidden]>, Ronald

Quoted message said:

Are you sure?, it seems to me the threads are ok because he can put both parts in all the way.
When assembling the seperate BB the distance is also 70 mm which is 2mm more than the 68mm BB
shell. So it seems the 68mm BB is in fact a 70mm BB or there is some rubber thing in the BB which
compresses when torque is applied?

Thanks for the replies guys. The BB is cleary marked 68 BC 1.37x24
118.5 on the right piece and BC 137 68 on the left. Howevever the right has a stamped in BH and the
left a BG. This part was purchased new and the box is marked 68 too.

The threads seem fine. Each part goes in fine alone. If the right is in alone it is centered nicely.
If both are in and I back the right out the left will thread to the shell smoothly.

The left is definately contacting the body on the right 2 mm before hitting the shell, confirmed by
measurement of 70mm with parts pressed together.

This is my only experience with a cartridge BB, I thought it was a no sweat deal. Is this
a bad part?

Tony A.

"Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere."

A. Antonovitz said:

The threads seem fine. Each part goes in fine alone. If the right is in alone it is centered
nicely. If both are in and I back the right out the left will thread to the shell smoothly.

The left is definately contacting the body on the right 2 mm before hitting the shell, confirmed by
measurement of 70mm with parts pressed together.

This is my only experience with a cartridge BB, I thought it was a no sweat deal. Is this a
bad part?

The crankbearing cartridge is held in place by the close-fitting left cup. It sounds to me that the
resistance you feel is simply the normal and ordinary friction of the cup engaging the cartridge.
Tighten it up and proceed with your assembly.
-------------------------------
John Dacey Business Cycles, Miami, Florida Now in our twenty-first year. Our catalogue of track
equipment: eighth year online. businesscycles.combusinesscycles.comOpen ↗

"A. Antonovitz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I am trying to install an Ultegra 68x118.5 triple BB into a frame with a 68mm BB shell that has
been faced and chased. Both sides thread in smoothly till they contact the frame, if installed one
at a time separately.

But after snugging up the drive side hand tight, then putting the left side in, it stops turning
freely 2mm from the frame. Is this normal and just requires the full torque to seat properly?

If I push the two pieces together and measure the distance between, it is 70mm, so apparently the
left adapter is pressing against the body of the right side.

Any help would be appreciated.

This is normal. It is a characteristic of cartridge BB's.

I have one (Ultegra English triple) in my lap at the moment, temporarily displacing my cat. The
Ultegra is slightly different from lower grade Shimano cartridge BB's in that the left-side adapter
includes a ridge to the left of the threads that appears to include notches for a hook spanner.
This ridge seems to be extraneous- lesser BB's work fine without it. (Does anybody know why Shimano
put it there?

Install the right side of the cartridge until it bottoms on the frame, then install the left side
until it stops. Tighten. You're done: parktool.comFAQcartdg.shtmlOpen ↗

Jeff

Tony:

The way I see it, the Shimano Cartridge BBs are press fits. Put the drive side on first. Make sure
you use a torque wrench and tighten it to the required torque - I think it's 350-450 in-lbs. After
that then put on the non-drive side and torque the same way. If it's still 2mm off such is life. It
is assembled correctly.

MOO, Matt

A. Antonovitz said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Ronald

Quoted message said:

Are you sure?, it seems to me the threads are ok because he can put both parts in all the way.
When assembling the seperate BB the distance is also 70 mm which is 2mm more than the 68mm BB
shell. So it seems the 68mm BB is in fact a 70mm BB or there is some rubber thing in the BB which
compresses when torque is applied?

Thanks for the replies guys. The BB is cleary marked 68 BC 1.37x24
118.5 on the right piece and BC 137 68 on the left. Howevever the right has a stamped in BH and
the left a BG. This part was purchased new and the box is marked 68 too.

The threads seem fine. Each part goes in fine alone. If the right is in alone it is centered
nicely. If both are in and I back the right out the left will thread to the shell smoothly.

The left is definately contacting the body on the right 2 mm before hitting the shell, confirmed
by measurement of 70mm with parts pressed together.

This is my only experience with a cartridge BB, I thought it was a no sweat deal. Is this a
bad part?

Tony A.

In article <[email hidden]>, Qui si parla

Campagnolo said:

ronald-<< Are you sure?, it seems to me the threads are ok because he can put both parts in all
the way >><BR><BR>

It's my guess as I haven't seen it. But if the threads are not cut parallel to each other, side to
side, you will be able to put in the right and left indpendently, but not when the BB is inserted
into the left cup. If not straight, it will bind.

Peter Chisholm

Hi Pete, I don't think there is a major misalignment of the threads, but it goes together the
smoothest if I thread both sides in simultaneously till each side has a 1mm gap to the shell, then
snug the drive side tight and torque the left fully.

Is it correct that only the left is torqued to spec and the drive side will tighten with it?

My LBS said that it does take more than hand force to push the rubber seal on the adapter onto the
main body.

Thanks to all for the help

--
Tony Antonovitz

Quoted message said:

ronald-<< Are you sure?, it seems to me the threads are ok because he can put both parts in all
the way >><BR><BR>

It's my guess as I haven't seen it. But if the threads are not cut parallel to each other, side to
side, you will be able to put in the right and left indpendently, but not when the BB is inserted
into the left cup. If not straight, it will bind.

Peter Chisholm

Hi Pete, I don't think there is a major misalignment of the threads, but it goes together the
smoothest if I thread both sides in simultaneously till each side has a 1mm gap to the shell, then
snug the drive side tight and torque the left fully.

Is it correct that only the left is torqued to spec and the drive side will tighten with it?

My LBS said that it does take more than hand force to push the rubber seal on the adapter onto the
main body.

Thanks to all for the help. Tony Antonovitz

MattLockerLoves2SKi said:

The way I see it, the Shimano Cartridge BBs are press fits. Put the drive side on first. Make sure
you use a torque wrench and tighten it to the required torque - I think it's 350-450 in-lbs.

What are you torquing? The right side goes flush to the frame. It is stopped. You need only tighten
it until it is in firm contact with the frame. The torque on the unit comes on the left cup, which
can go into the frame.

Paul:

So, what you are saying is that you don't need to torque anything that sits flush - things like
bolts & nuts? Hmmmmm.

When you purchase a Shimano BB it gives torque specs. It doesn't say hand tighten the drive side,
then torque the other side. I torque them both in. Especially important if you ride Italian
threaded bikes.

MOO, Matt

Paul Kopit said:

MattLockerLoves2SKi said:

The way I see it, the Shimano Cartridge BBs are press fits. Put the drive side on first. Make sure
you use a torque wrench and tighten it to the required torque - I think it's 350-450 in-lbs.

What are you torquing? The right side goes flush to the frame. It is stopped. You need only
tighten it until it is in firm contact with the frame. The torque on the unit comes on the left
cup, which can go into the frame.