[CR]re: Bearings and Quality Control on Factory/Shop Builds---FYI

(Example: Framebuilders:Bernard Carré)

From: <Paulcycles@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2001 05:29:59 EDT
To: rabbitman@mindspring.com
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]re: Bearings and Quality Control on Factory/Shop Builds---FYI

Garth: I believe the human(s) in the factory that "built and boxed" your bike, vs. the current number of human(s) and pieces worked was simply greater... I used to assemble these gems in the early 70's, and did a few in the mid 80's for Pro Shops, and the masters and owners noticed the increased degeneration in quality control.

Paul Dieterle, awake to early, in Wheaton IL

_____________________________________________________________ Message: 12 Return-Path: <owner-classicrendezvous@phred.org> Delivered-To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Message-ID: <000801c10cbd$0b78c160$68b256d1@Marta> From: "garth libre" <rabbitman@mindspring.com> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2001 19:29:18 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain;charset="iso-8859-1" Subject: [CR]Bearing quality still an issue. Sender: classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org Precedence: bulk List-Help: <mailto:classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org?subject=help> List-Post: <mailto:classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> List-Subscribe: <http://www.bikelist.org/mailman/listinfo/classicrendezvous>, <mailto:classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org?subject=subscribe> List-Id: A sharing of vintage lightweight bicycle information and lore < classicrendezvous.bikelist.org> List-Unsubscribe: http://www.bikelist.org/mailman/listinfo/classicrendezvous , <mailto:classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org?subject=unsubscribe> List-Archive: http://www.bikelist.org/mailman/private/classicrendezvous/

Like so many other bike enthusiasts, I do all or most all of regular = bike maintenance myself. I have found, as no doubt have many others, = that modern manufacturing processes have not really perfected the = bearing quality of mid-range bike gruppos. It seems that the low to = mid-range bikes now, have wonderful brakes, good levers, chainwheels, = stems, seatposts, cables, freewheels, chains,and bars. Modern factories = churn out tons of well engineered, durable, and reliable aluminum parts. = I must admit to a bias that this stuff is generally not very attractive, = but should the tides of taste turn, they would churn out lovely, classic = looking, lightweight gruppos instead. It does however seem that bearing = quality still eludes the Japanese and Asian factories for all but their = top of the line stuff. Of the half dozen Japanese-equipped bikes I have = worked on in the last twenty years, the bearing quality has been = uniformly so so and not up to Campy Record or Dura Ace or Suntour = Superbe standards. On most of these Japanese parts, the sweet spot is a = very narrow area, and it may take me several tries to get it right on, = where it feels somewhat smooth and still has miniscule or no play. (I = prefer no play). I have two mountain bikes (for me and wife) and while = everything is so dependable, the bearings are somewhat toy like, and = never feel heavenly, no matter how hard you try. This must be the rule = now, even with tight quality control that Asia is known for. That said, = I must say that the bearings on my Suntour Superbe Pro gruppo are about = as good as one could hope for. My local pro shop had to remove the = Regina freewheel for me, and while he was at it I had him overhaul my = rear hub with my favorite lube, Phil Woods smelly green glop. He was = truly emotionally touched when he finished the hub, and remarked that it = was about as good as he ever has seen. I feel the same way, but I am at = a loss to explain why it should feel so much finer than the rest of the = stuff that comes from Japan nowadays. What is it that makes a fine = Italian bearing feel so silky and easy to adjust? Threads are threads, = and races that have been polished are just races that have been = polished. The metal is much the same, and I know the ball bearings can't = be much different. Fine bearings are distinct in their obvious quality. = Not to be too naive, but where are these differences coming from? Garth = Libre in off and on rainy South Florida.