I'm getting a very nice old Masi Special ready for the Velo Rendezvous this weekend. I just disassembled the bb, and it's clearly not been done in quite awhile.
I expected the thin cups, but the spindle really has me scratching my head.
First, the bb shell is 68mm wide, not 70, and it has not been ground down, the original paint can be seen on the faces of the shell. Second, the spindle appears to be made for two different sizes of bearings! Smaller bearings for the right side, larger bearings for the left side. The right side has a pressed-on race that appears factory installed, but who knows? It takes the smaller bearings. The left side has the race ground into the surface of the spindle itself, as usual, and takes the larger bearings. Also, there is an aluminum ring press-fitted just behind the right-side bearing race, stamped Campagnolo. I've seen that before, I know it's an early thing. Weirdest of all, the stamp on the spindle is: 68 - S -120. Easy enough, BSC size. But then just below that is stamped: *-1.5* on the left, and *- 2* stamped to the right.
Never seen that before.
I'm going to reinstall it since it's been on the bike a long time, and seems to be ok...but what's the deal? Did Campagnolo ever do this? Or was this some hambone shop job to keep the spindle useable?
Thanks!
Charles Andrews SoCal
--the Velo this weekend is shaping up to be a lot of fun with great weather, lots of cool bikes, and, most of all, fun folks!-- and don't forget the Masi Fiesta! Trophies and ribbons and prizes will be awarded at the Masi Fiesta!
And if you hate Masis, there will be lots of british fancy bikes there too!
"What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are."
- Epictitus