Bottom Bracket problem .. Is my old bike now beyond repair ?

[wbmkk]

I have a Raleigh Equipe road bike, so it's obviously quite a few years old.

Yesterday, while using it the pedal seemed loose, so I got off and thought maybe the ring holding the bottom bracket was loose. (Sorry, but I don't know all the right names for the bike parts.)

To my surprise, not only was the ring loose, but the whole 'screwed assembly' was loose. More worringly, this just seemed to fall out, not having unscrewed itself.

I assume therefore the inner metal has lost any thread there

So does this mean my bike is now destined for the scrap heap ?

I know the bike is old and has served me very well indeed .. but it would be a shame to part with it ... especially having bought two new red / black tyres a few weeks ago.

thanks !

 

[Alien8]

If the threads have indeed been stripped in the bottom bracket shell of the frame you can get threadless bottom brackets.

These have slightly bevelled cups which hold the bottom bracket in place when you tighten it down.

I got an Acor one a few years back which seemed okay - probably cost between £10/£20.

Just Google for threadless bottom brackets.

 

[tyred]

I have recently fitted one of these to my Carlton after the threads stripped. That is a narrow one as I am running a single chain wheel but other sizes are available. SJS cycles have a bigger range of these but charge more for it. This is different from the YST and others as it doesn't need any tapers cut on the BB shell. It works a treat and is easy to fit but I haven't used it enough to comment on it's long term durability but it's only a tenner after all. I understand the secret is to really tighten it up and use thread locking compound.

 

[mickle]

Your frame is far from dead. There are several traditional options which include:

* New BB shell - which would require a lorra lorra money and a paint job.
* Having a frame builder run a few lines of braze into the shell into which fresh threads may be cut - less money but would still require a paint job.
* Sleeving the BB - most frame builders will include this service on their price list - it involves machining out a section of the shell including the old threads and bonding in a steel sleeve, threaded to accept a BB. Epoxy resin not heat so no new paint required.

All of the above require a total strip-down and rebuild and only worth doing if we are talking about a family heirloom, a collectible or a bike of which you are particularly fond.

The cheapest (and by no means functionally inferior) option is just as Alien8 and Tyred mentioned - the 'threadless' BB.

 

[albal]

kind of similar story; i have a 89 raliegh mirage , replaced old BB after fitting new bearing cages etc, seemed fine til i tightened up the non drive side, when the drive side kind of come away from the thread on the bb shell. Now it is knocking and the threaded thingy on drive side is 4 or 5 mm away from frame? I should of left it i know but i wanted to clean the shell. Any ideas?? nothing in the way inside shell.

 

[mickle]

kind of similar story... Any ideas??

I refer the right honourable member to the three answers provided above.

 

[wbmkk]

Brilliant !!

Thank you for all the answers ... I really thought it was the 'end of the line for the bike'

I don't have the tools to carry out the repairs myself and anyway there's a brilliant bike repair shop in Tynemouth, so I'll bring the bike in there

Regards to all !