BB Frustration! I need Ideas!

I am having some serious BB woes. I went to replace my BB at BLB and they discovered that my BB shell has no threads? Not stripped out, Just threadless? So they couldn't put a new BB in :( Is this normal? I have never heard of a threadless shell on a track bike. The guys at BLB made it sound really ominous that I would have a really hard time finding a threadless BB to replace the one in it.

I decided to take a look at it myself today to see if there really were actually no threads or if they had been painted over or stripped out. I tried for hours to get the lock ring off the BB with no luck. I tried a C spanner, screwdriver and hammer, and a channel lock wrench. All it did was chew up my lock ring massively. Now I have unintentionally tightened it down so much I cant really even ride the bike! IVE MADE A PIGS EAR OUT OF IT! I wish I had never touched it.

Does anyone have info on replacement Threadless BB's? If I can get this one out is it worth just rebuilding it? It's not in that bad a shape. And can is it possible to rebuild a BB and replace the spindle with a different sized one?

would it be really expensive to get my BB shell threaded? Where would I get this done?

Thanks.

That stuck lock ring:

Are you turning it the right way ?

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/userimages/procart7.htm
Bottom of page YST threadless BB.
never used or even seen one in the flesh but just an idea.

what frame is this, we're talking about?

Try this thread, it kind of covers similar ground: http://www.londonfgss.com/thread5523.html

what frame is this, we're talking about?

70's Zeus track frame.

That stuck lock ring:

Are you turning it the right way ?

Yeah, Anti-clockwise is what I thought was right? It aint budging? So I tried the other way for the hell of it......Nuttin? I feel like my legs are broken, No Bike!

Try this thread, it kind of covers similar ground: http://www.londonfgss.com/thread5523.html

Thanks, definitely think I am going to go for the re-threading option, I want to put a quality BB in. I get a weird feeling about the threadless BB's I'm seeing on the interweb. I'm going to try and contact Bikefix and see what they can do.

I finally god the F'n BB out! This what I got out of it. Nothing special TDC "made in england"

I cant get it apart to try and rebuild it? I dont know anything about TDC or (TDG?) I also put some pictures of my threadless BB shell. It's a mystery to me?

4 Attachments

Try this thread, it kind of covers similar ground: http://www.londonfgss.com/thread5523.html

Yeah post No. 6 by eyebrows - the SJS link...

depending on the inner diameter of the shell as it is, you may have enough material to cut threads straight in... though may not be the best idea.

take it into bikefix and speak to Matt Weeks.. He is the hot work guy if it needs it. Looking at about £40 to £50 to shrink the b/b shell and cut some new threads in.
Most hot work is done on Thursdays, so just bring the frame in a few days before that.

otherwise most unthreaded b/bs require the shell to be faced at 45deg, i cant tell from the photo if that has been done.

Thanks a lot for the further info. Once again a bike ends up costing me a fortune! I could have bought an incredible dream bike for the amount of money i've spent on builds and repairs this year. Oh well Shrugs

Thanks a lot for the further info. Once again a bike ends up costing me a fortune! I could have bought an incredible dream bike for the amount of money i've spent on builds and repairs this year. Oh well Shrugs

great hobby, eh?

great hobby, eh?

I know?! Seems I'm a glutton for financial punishment.

Up date (not that anyone really cares): I called BikeFix and they told me I was basically screwed and they couldn't cut new threads into my shell or shrink it down (however they do that?) I sort of didn't believe the guy when he told me this. He hadn't even seen it or anything? Whatever. So I managed to get my BB out and I rebuilt it new bearings etc greased it up, put it back in and it works like new! It would still be nice to put a nice Threaded BB in it though. Oh well. I think this will be my beater once I have the money to buy a more user friendly bike. Don't know if I will get much interest trying to Sell the frame with the BB the way it is? I've never seen a Threadless BB on a track bike? I'm baffled.

elguapo, bikefix might not be able to do it, but other places will.
see richard cheeses link and use one of the companies mentioned by him there.
they'll be able to recut the BB threads

I've been using a threadless BB on my Peugeot conversion for the last couple of months with no major problems. It needs and occasional tighening to keep it quiet but I don't think this would happen if I bothered to use some thread locking compound.

I've been using a threadless BB on my Peugeot conversion for the last couple of months with no major problems. It needs and occasional tighening to keep it quiet but I don't think this would happen if I bothered to use some thread locking compound.

What Kind of Threadless BB are you using? The ones I keep seeing online seem a bit low end?