i recently had an untraceable creak in a track bike. a 1954 gillott track/road i ride almost daily i had narrowed it down to the chainset/bottom bracket/pedals area, but the exact location kept alluding me. tapers were degreased and tightened, (bike has non period parts) adjustable cup was adjusted. pedal threads greased and tightened. still no joy i discovered the fixed cup was a little loose, after it was tightened the problem disappeared for a while. when it reapeared i disassembled the whole bottom bracket checked the threads, greased, reassembled. as i was tightening the adjustable cup i noticed the fixed cup started to move!!!! impossible. the fixed cup was turning anti-clockwise and it had already been tightened.
at some point in the bike's history a repair had been made to the bottom bracket, the shell had been reamed out and a threaded sleeve had been fitted as an interference fit but obviously not brazed into place, a bit of rust and a few years later and the whole thing has come loose. i had thought it was odd that i couldnt see the sockets for the stays down or seat tubes but had asumed it was an odd 50's BB shell.
argos can do the repair for me properly but i will then need a respray which brings the frames waiting for paint to 3. i could use the mavic bb as discussed elsewhere but the one i have is for a double and i doubt i could get a good chainline.
if you find the source of the creak is just something in need of greasing or tightening, give thanks.
simon bird london uk
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