All the discussion about Campi bearings reminded me that what I had actually heard was the same as Tom said below--namely that Campy used grade 25 bearings (I heard SKF) that had been matched to create sets that were of much closer diameter tolerances than would otherwise be found in grade 25 bearings. My experience indicated that the Campi bearing sets built up smoother running parts, so I always cleaned, inspected and reinstalled Campy bearings, considering their replacement with new, but generic balls a downgrade.
Steve Barner, Bolton VT 90 deg., muggy, no surf (Back from San Diego, alas)
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From: Tom Dalton <tom_s_dalton@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [CR]Campy Bearings To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Is this mesage for me? I don't know the composition, some sort of high chromium steel. The sizes were 1/8" for SR pedals and C-pulleys, 5/32" for GS and early C-rec HS (and all track HS?), and all pedals except SR, 3/16" for the NR and SR HS, the GS ft hub and the SR (and early C) BB and ft hub, 7/32" for the Record ft hub and late C-rec BB and Ff hub, and 1/4" for all rear hubs (except new casettes) and all BB's save C and SR. I wasn't the one who said the balls were grade 3. I thought they were grade 25, but closely size-matched. I think grading is a measure of sphericity tolerences, not diameter tolerences, so size matching is a separate parameter. I think. Tom Dalton randallrobertson@juno.com wrote: Tom,
What is the ball size and material composition of the grade three (3.0)Campy bearings of old?
Randall R. Robertson
Ocala, Florida