Re: [CR]Italian BB in English BB shell, can it be done?

(Example: Framebuilding)

Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:54:04 -0500
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Italian BB in English BB shell, can it be done?
In-Reply-To: <85282de40802221200v6b03cbffkbb70cb531bb2ee37@mail.gmail.com>


At 08:00 PM 22/02/2008 +0000, Richard Robinson wrote:
>Can you use an Italian threaded
>Campagnolo BB cups with an English threaded BB shell?

Italian threads are 36 mm x 24 tpi, RH both sides. English are 1.370" x 24 tpi, LH on the drive side and RH on the left. 1.370" is 34.798 mm, so the left side can be easily tapped out to Italian. Tapping out the right side to a RH thread would be messier. In theory it's possible and you may have to Loctite the Italian cup in place and leave a surprise for the next owner. It would be interesting to hear if someone has successfully done this.

Also, Italian BBs are 70 mm wide and English are 68 mm, so if you're using the Italian spindle, the LH cup will stick out 2 mm beyone the lockring.

This would be an iffy way to cheap out just because you already have an Italian BB and don't want to buy an English one and would cost more in the long run if you don't have the tools and skills to do it yourself. A much neater and easier solution would be to find an English BB.

John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada