Phil Wood BB Install problems

This is the question my original post asked. I thought that it must be the case that these cups went onto the shoulder of the bearings. Thank you!

However, with everything greased, it takes alot of force to turn the cups to a point where I'm hesitant to continue forcing it. But at this point the spindle feels tight and not as free as it should?

Not sure if this is relevant as I've never used or fitted a PW BB but
according to sheldon, PWs cartridge BBs are sized to fit the shell, unless I've misunderstood it.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/cartridge.html
so a PW cartridge outer size for a 68mm shell is 60mm on the outer faces.

This article also talks about installing the cups without the BB in place to ensure the cups screw in far enough without binding.
You may have seen all this already in which case ignore me simply pointing you at sheldon.
good luck

yeh I've had a look through that already. I've put the cups in and they are fine without the BB itself in place. Thanks for giving your input though mate, appreciate it.

Bottom line?

Buy a shimano bb.

The thought of selling this has crossed my mind. Repeatedly in the last 3 hours hahaha.

You could buy a lifetime supply of un55s for what you'd get for the Phil...

Mainly because 2 would probably be a lifetime supply but you see where I'm going...

Maybe try sanding it

I did like Phil, now I don't like Phil. I'm hoping I can get this sorted so I like Phil again.

oooooh the idea of sanding it makes me wince.

yeah that's really a last resort, especially given how expensive they are. Maybe let your LBS have a go at it with a torque wrench so you can eliminate a lack of torque as the problem. PW are said to have pretty good customer service so if the LBS can't fix it you probably have a good chance of getting a replacement.

Have you phoned pw yet ?

Have you tried putting the cups on the Bb, up tight with the PW cartridge shell, not in the frame and then measuring the outside size of the cups.
Then plop it all back in the shell and tighten it up and measure again?
Sorry I hope this isnt telling you how to suck eggs.

^I asked this 20 posts ago.

The cups seem to be an interference fit on the bearing and you're meant to use the threads in the frame to press it all together.

This is what I think also. Spoke to the guy that sold me it today and he said the cups went all the way in to his 68mm shell, so it must be the case. Thanks for your help guys

This sounds similar to the trouble I had installing a Royce BB the first time I tried - the centre sleeve (which on the Royce goes into the cups - they're a lot deeper and more than cover the bearings) was a wee bit misaligned so the second cup wouldn't screw in fully, while here it sounds as though the second cup is binding on the outer race.

In my case a bit of jibbling around to ensure that the sleeve had properly entered the first cup was enough to get the alignment right and allow the second one to tighten fully.

Bottom line?

Buy a n SKF bb.

FTFY if you're willing to spend money on Phil, might as well spend it on something that last for a very very very long time.

let your LBS have a go at it with a torque wrench so you can eliminate a lack of torque as the problem

This

okay thanks for the advice man, I'll give it a wiggle and see if anything frees up.

Yeh I'm going to take it to the bike shop this weekend and get them to have a go

Had never heard of them before. Every day's a school day!

as @M_V haha. But after looking them up they seem pretty legit.

Had never heard of them before.

They're extremely expensive when compared to the Shimano one, but it make the Shimano one look like a piece of shit, which is saying something.

http://www.velovitality.co.uk/products/skf-bottom-bracket

10 years warranty including bearing is almost unheard of with bottom bracket.

Just done some reading about it. Looks like something to do with using significantly larger ball bearings so they are less likely to wear and fail? or take longer to do so.

This in spade, the smaller the bearing, the quicker it wear out.

Also have better sealing which is another contributing factor.

An old thread, I reckon... and you may have already found what the problem was. Notwithstanding that, your problem is that your BB has the 51.3mm centre sleeve designed for 68/73mm BB shells, which means that in a 73mm shell, the retaining rings (cups) go flush with the edges of the BB shell, but in a 68mm shell, a portion of the cups protrude, by design.

If you want your cups go flush with the edges of the (68mm) shell, you need to replace the centre sleeve with a narrow, 46.3mm one, you can in email-order it from Phil , for about 15 quid.

Phil BB-s with 105mm spindles or shorter come with the narrow centre sleeve, by default.