UN-54 B.B no-no.

[just jim]

I've nearly wrenched my shoulder off trying to unsuccesfully screw in a bottom bracket into to a very very reluctant bb shell. If I take it to a bike shop would they fair any better? They're going to need some serious torque!

 

[fixedfixer]

Err, if it is tight going in think what it will be like in a couple of years when you try to get it back out. First, you sure it is not cross threaded? It should go most of the way by hand and then torque up with the tool to get it tight. Make sure the threads are clean and some copper grease or something to stop it sticking. You shouldn't need to wrench your shoulder off.

 

[potsy]

Err, if it is tight going in think what it will be like in a couple of years when you try to get it back out. First, you sure it is not cross threaded? It should go most of the way by hand and then torque up with the tool to get it tight. Make sure the threads are clean and some copper grease or something to stop it sticking. You shouldn't need to wrench your shoulder off.

+1 to the above advice,sounds like it's cross threaded to me.

 

[just jim]

It seemed to go in alright up until about halfway. I reversed the process a few times just to check I wasn't chewing up the thread. It seemed alright, but perhaps not!

 

[Gerry Attrick]

You have got the correct thread type?

 

[just jim]

It's a mid/ late 80s 531 touring frame, one of the original edinburgh bike co-op frames. I'd heard they were made my Holdsworth. I'd assumed it would take a sealed bb, which may now have been my first mistake.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Generally, they will but there is a possibility that the frame thread does not extend far enough to take a deeper cartridge ring, or that the thread is different.

 

[just jim]

I think that sounds likely, the bb cartridge seems to hit a wall!

 

[Gerry Attrick]

One other possibility: Have you got the correct length cartridge for the width of your bb shell?

The word according to Sheldon: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-bottombrackets.html

 

[just jim]

Yes, I think so, it's a 68mm. It didn't seem out of the ordinary.

 

[2Loose]

68mm is diameter, not length... but I had a similiar problem once and found that it was because I had tightened it all the way in on the drive side first. The non drive side refused to go in more than about 2/3rds of the way.
I loosened both sides off completely, then tightened the drive side halfway before tightening the non drive side most of the way. Finished off the drive side, then the other side nipped up no problem.

no idea why this was so, but it worked for me.

 

[jay clock]

go to a shop. Let them screw it up then at least they have to sort it!

 

[just jim]

I'l give this a try since the non-drive side goes in easily. If not then I'll do as Jay suggests. Somebody else can take the rap!

68mm is diameter, not length... but I had a similiar problem once and found that it was because I had tightened it all the way in on the drive side first. The non drive side refused to go in more than about 2/3rds of the way.
I loosened both sides off completely, then tightened the drive side halfway before tightening the non drive side most of the way. Finished off the drive side, then the other side nipped up no problem.

no idea why this was so, but it worked for me.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

It's a mid/ late 80s 531 touring frame, one of the original edinburgh bike co-op frames. I'd heard they were made my Holdsworth. I'd assumed it would take a sealed bb, which may now have been my first mistake.

i've put a cartridge bb in an '80s (poss raleigh) frame, no bother whatsoever.

sounds like cross-thread or, possibly, that the bb shell needs re-tapping (lbs can do that).

 

[bobg]

I@m with "2 Loose" , Try both sides a bit at a time, its worked for me too.
Good luck