Steve Demchak wrote:
> I'm pretty new to this vintage bicycling world and
> have a question about bottom bracket thread standards.
> I put a bottom bracket on Ebay:
>
> http://ebay.com/
>
> The bottom bracket came as a unit from a bike that
> appeared to have a checkered past. It was rattle-can
> repainted and had a mix of campy and suntour parts.
>
> I got a Ebay message informing me that the 70-SS-120
> spindle should not be with the 35x1 cups, since a
> french bottom bracket shell should be 68-mm.
>
> My first question is: How rigidly was the shell width
> standard followed?
Who knows? I've seen ostensible 68mm English shells as wide as 71mm, and
Italian ones as narrow as 67mm. In the first case, I suspect the shell
was not machined to spec before being put into the frame, but rather
than trash the frame, the owner decided perhaps using a 70mm spindle
would be fine. And it was. In the second case, I suspect that
overzealous facing may have reduced the width either intentionally (to
use a 68mm spindle instead of buying a 70mm) or otherwise.
> My second question is: Should I pull my auction?
Why? You've described the item fully. If the buyer doesn't want French thread cups with a 70mm spindle, then the buyer should refrain from bidding.
--
-John Thompson (john@os2.dhs.org)
Appleton WI USA