BB fixed cup installation

bb fixed cup installation
I can't get the bugger in (as the large blackman said to the.... uht oh) :P
I totally stripped down an old road bike knowing i didnt have the tools to
get it back together, URGH!
I've tried using the homemade tool from sheldons site but this fixed cup
won't be installed. It get it 4/5s of the way in but the last few threads
just wont go, is this usual and i'm being a stingy with the muscle or is
there a knack to it? its currently in the freezer but i dont see it making
much difference as these cups are usually uber hard steel. Should i put a
little chain oil of degreaser on it? this one unfortunately tightens
backwards so i don't want to grease it in any manner it case it comes undone
on the road. incidentally all the threads look fine, no bends, dents,
crosses.

your sagely musings please.

Keiron wrote:
bb fixed cup installation
I can't get the bugger in (as the large blackman said to the.... uht oh) :P
I totally stripped down an old road bike knowing i didnt have the tools to
get it back together, URGH!
I've tried using the homemade tool from sheldons site but this fixed cup
won't be installed. It get it 4/5s of the way in but the last few threads
just wont go, is this usual and i'm being a stingy with the muscle or is
there a knack to it? its currently in the freezer but i dont see it making
much difference as these cups are usually uber hard steel. Should i put a
little chain oil of degreaser on it? this one unfortunately tightens
backwards so i don't want to grease it in any manner it case it comes undone
on the road. incidentally all the threads look fine, no bends, dents,
crosses.

Was the bb fixed cup installed in the frame before you too it out?

Also, did the bb fixed cup come with a lockring? If so, that may be why
it doesn't go all the way in.

BEFORE you start forcing anything in, you may want to take your frame
down to a LBS to have them inspect the threads. Further, you may want
to consider paying them a few dollars to install the bb.

Finally, is the bb, cups, or frame in the freezer? Why? If its the
frame, that must be one big freezer.

Keiron wrote:
bb fixed cup installation
I can't get the bugger in (as the large blackman said to the.... uht oh) :P
I totally stripped down an old road bike knowing i didnt have the tools to
get it back together, URGH!
I've tried using the homemade tool from sheldons site but this fixed cup
won't be installed. It get it 4/5s of the way in but the last few threads
just wont go, is this usual and i'm being a stingy with the muscle or is
there a knack to it? its currently in the freezer but i dont see it making
much difference as these cups are usually uber hard steel. Should i put a
little chain oil of degreaser on it? this one unfortunately tightens
backwards so i don't want to grease it in any manner it case it comes undone
on the road. incidentally all the threads look fine, no bends, dents,
crosses.

your sagely musings please.

As far as the cup not wanting to get reinstalled, you should clean them
thoroughly (solvent and a toothbrush or other brush) and make sure
there's not any kind of random interference problem going on such as
running out of threads or something being in the way.

BB's with left hand threading (counterclockwise to tighten) on the
right cup are that way because it's more resistant to coming loose in
use, not less, so you don't have to worry about that as long as you can
put adequate torque on the fixed cup. You can and should thoroughly
treat the BB shell threads with something to help with installation and
prevent corrosion. The choices are grease, anti-seize, or threadlocker.
If it's a steel/steel interface, which it probably is from your
description, just use grease, and coat the entire inside of the BB
shell with it liberally before installing the BB. Grease is generally
fine for steel/al interfaces too, but some would use anti-seize. (If by
"tightens backwards" you mean it's a BB type that tightens clockwise,
unlike most BB's, then unscrewing in use is indeed an issue, and after
cleaning the threads you should use lots of blue loctite, which will
also provide some lubrication for installation).

If after doing all this the problem persists, take it to a shop for
them to chase the threads.

Keiron wrote:
bb fixed cup installation
I can't get the bugger in (as the large blackman said to the.... uht oh) :P
I totally stripped down an old road bike knowing i didnt have the tools to
get it back together, URGH!
I've tried using the homemade tool from sheldons site but this fixed cup
won't be installed. It get it 4/5s of the way in but the last few threads
just wont go, is this usual and i'm being a stingy with the muscle or is
there a knack to it? its currently in the freezer but i dont see it making
much difference as these cups are usually uber hard steel. Should i put a
little chain oil of degreaser on it? this one unfortunately tightens
backwards so i don't want to grease it in any manner it case it comes undone
on the road. incidentally all the threads look fine, no bends, dents,
crosses.

your sagely musings please.


Do you have the correct cup thread?
Are you on the chain side of the frame?
Is the cup started dead straight?

You should be able to test fit a cup with your fingers before
installation with any tools. Yes grease those threads once you are sure
of the fit. But for now find out why it doesn't screw in easily.

The proper tool for a traditional right side cup has a big hefty pilot
so it will always start straight on the thread. It's a relatively fine
thread and people unaccustomed to threading pieces together all day can
easily start it askew.



--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

"Keiron" wrote in message
...
bb fixed cup installation
I can't get the bugger in (as the large blackman said to the.... uht
oh) :P
I totally stripped down an old road bike knowing i didnt have the
tools to
get it back together, URGH!
I've tried using the homemade tool from sheldons site but this fixed
cup
won't be installed. It get it 4/5s of the way in but the last few
threads
just wont go, is this usual and i'm being a stingy with the muscle or
is
there a knack to it? its currently in the freezer but i dont see it
making
much difference as these cups are usually uber hard steel. Should i
put a
little chain oil of degreaser on it? this one unfortunately tightens
backwards so i don't want to grease it in any manner it case it comes
undone
on the road. incidentally all the threads look fine, no bends, dents,
crosses.

your sagely musings please.



Most bottom bracket shells come prethreaded before the frame is brazed
together. These threads are usually undersize and should be retaped
before painting and assembly. That isn't always the case on cheaper
bikes (or even some expensive ones too).

I just put together an early 80's Colnago. There was a lot of sand
embedded in the paint inside the BB threads. It appears that the BB
wasn't cleaned out very well after sand blasting before it was painted.

I had a LBS chase the threads for me and it went together smoothly.

Chas.

Thanks for all the tips fellas. I took a nylon brush to the shell and cup
threads and used a little white spirit on the threads for some lubrication,
this seemed to work fine with a little additional strength. I was a little
aprehensive to put any sort or lube on the cup threads because it tightens
clockwise but from what you've said its fairly standard to do so? it's a
budget project anyway so doesn't matter too much if is seizes. think i'm
over the yips now, practically a pro.

many thanks

Keiron wrote:
bb fixed cup installation
I can't get the bugger in (as the large blackman said to the.... uht oh) :P
I totally stripped down an old road bike knowing i didnt have the tools to
get it back together, URGH!
I've tried using the homemade tool from sheldons site but this fixed cup
won't be installed. It get it 4/5s of the way in but the last few threads
just wont go, is this usual and i'm being a stingy with the muscle or is
there a knack to it? its currently in the freezer but i dont see it making
much difference as these cups are usually uber hard steel. Should i put a
little chain oil of degreaser on it? this one unfortunately tightens
backwards so i don't want to grease it in any manner it case it comes undone
on the road. incidentally all the threads look fine, no bends, dents,
crosses.

your sagely musings please.

Take it to a decent bike shop and have them chase the threads....