Old BSA bottom bracket tools and bearings

[BSA]

I have an old BSA steel frame road bike. There is a little bit of play in the bottom brack and I would like to adjust or replace the bearings.

A friend of mine has a bike tool kit but had nothing that would fit my lockring (manage to remove with a screwdriver) or the cone (maybe wrong term).

Where can I get the tools to adjust this or am I wasting my time? and I looked in decathlon yesterday for some bearings but they didnt have any, should I try the lbs?

I have thought about replcaing the bottom bracket with a modern sealed cotterless version. I think this maybe too costly.

Can anyone advise? I really would like to do this myself and learn a bit about maintenance.

Thanks in advance

 

[tyred]

BSA were owned by Raleigh but I don't think Nottingham bikes were ever badged as BSAs so you should have the standard 24TPI. I presume your BB cups have the the small holes for a tabbed spanner? I don't know if anyone still sells these and there are different type. You may have some luck on ebay for second hand items. There is also a C spanner needed for the lockring but again there are different sizes. The lockring can be worked on with an old screw driver and hammer without a problem. You can fit the cone with the a small punch and hammer if you work carefully. My LBS was able to supply me a cottered BB spindle and cups without a problem when I wanted it for my Carlton. If you only need bearings, I would just rebuild with loose balls (11 x 1/4" on each side IIRC). Clean the parts thoroughly in white spirits or petrol and fill the cups with grease. Then push the bearings in one by one and the grease will hold them in place.

 

[tyred]

Have a look at these articles. They will explain it better than I can.

http://sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/index.html

 

[jimboalee]

A good LBS will sell you a Bearing Set and B/B shaft.

Let them remove the old stuff and clean the threads in the B/B Shell.


Note 1: Buy a B/B Bearing set that has 'flats' on the Adjustable cup ( both for that matter ) that can be held with an adjustable spanner.

Note 2: When adjusting the Adjustable cup, remember when you tighten the lockring, it pulls the cup against the thread hysteresis and loosens the setting.

 

[BSA]

I have cottered cranks. Will that be a problem if I replace the shaft?

 

[tyred]

I have cottered cranks. Will that be a problem if I replace the shaft?

Nope. I was able to buy one from my LBS. I just had to wait a week on it. It was only £8 or something which was cheaper than I was expecting. Or have a look at this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TDC-cottered-...14&_trkparms=72:1683|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

That seller always seems to have a few different sizes of cottered shaft listed.