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Bottom bearing bafflement

by DaveE128
Sun, Nov 11, 2018 21:23
14

I have a Bottecchia Mille frame (c.2011 or 2012 vintage, white and metallic red, looks like this: http://ysroad-maniac.com/old/2011/08/-bottchia-mille.html ) that a friend has passed on to me (in need of repair) and I have a BB30 crankset that I was hoping to use on it. Given the labelling around the BB I was expecting it to be compatible. However, upon stripping the bike down to get the frame repaired I found that the existing BB is threaded. Strangely though, it is English threaded not Italian.

Image here: https://imgur.com/a/k8L5OsV

Is it an adapter like the following?

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/fsa-bb30-threaded-adapter-b3119-/rp-...

It looks like the white frame paint also overlaps the threaded shell, which makes me think it's part of the frame, but wouldn't it be Italian rather than English, and the link at the start of the post shows an identical frame without a threaded shell!

Not sure how to go about trying to remove the adapter if it is, and if there's any doubt that it isn't an adapter, I don't want to be trying to knock the BB shell out of a carbon frame!

Any  suggestions?

 

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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14 comments

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DaveE128 | 5 years ago
0 likes

Thames for all the help guys. The bike was bought new from Chain Reaction. The stock cranks are FSA Omega so nothing fancy. I've removed the paint over the adapter from one side as it was cracked anyway. I'm 99% sure it's a black anodized bb30 to BSA adapter, and I think it'll be staying in. I'll have to ebay the cranks.

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vonhelmet | 5 years ago
0 likes

The Bottecchia 2011 catalogue is online: https://issuu.com/gusellaadv/docs/bottecchia

The Mille is in there, looks like yours. The catalogue says it’s BB30. There’s no indication in the catalogue that they’d have fitted the adapter, though it’s possible that the Ultegra model would have needed one, as I don’t think an Ultegra chainset can be fitted to anything but a threaded BB, be it Italian or British.

Can your friend not tell you? Did the frame come to him new or second hand?

Avatar
bosskardo | 5 years ago
0 likes

If it really is English v then are you sure it isn't a Chinese copy frame?
Bottecchia is pretty traditional. I might be wrong on this but I would've guesses they only did Italian.
But I wouldn't try removing it. you probably won't get the BB30 to fit well. and that is even if you don't damage it.

Avatar
vonhelmet | 5 years ago
1 like

It may have an Italian name of the side, but that doesn’t mean it’ll have an Italian bottom bracket. Dedacciai, Pinarello, Cinelli, etc etc all make bikes with all manner of BBs.

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DaSy | 5 years ago
1 like

I agree with huntswheelers, if that came into my workshop I would not attempt to remove the sleeve. Assuming it is in good condition and installed correctly, then an external BB would be my preference, as I like the reassurance of a screw thread.

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huntswheelers | 5 years ago
2 likes

Looks like a BB30 to BSA adapter to me.... often bonded in with loctite...

If you came into me with that set up, I'd say leave it be and fit the much better external BB's that are around now. Now just to add to the debate, the main BB replacements in 2018 are BB30 in my workshop...as well as the PF30 variant.

As for Italian bike and BSA thread.... my Bianchi is the same... and external BB for me..

Hope the bike repair and build goes well

Avatar
huntswheelers | 5 years ago
1 like

Looks like a BB30 to BSA adapter to me.... often bonded in with loctite...

If you came into me with that set up, I'd say leave it be and fit the much better external BB's that are around now. Now just to add to the debate, the main BB replacements in 2018 are BB30 in my workshop...as well as the PF30 variant.

As for Italian bike and BSA thread.... my Bianchi is the same... and external BB for me..

Hope the bike repair and build goes well

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AfterPeak | 5 years ago
1 like

This sounds like LBS time. They will have all the tools and knowhow plus if they mess it up its not on you 

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CXR94Di2 | 5 years ago
0 likes

You could get a steel tube, longer than BB, slot it into hole then apply heat to tube, this will transfer energy into BB in a controlled manner, than directly heating the frame(potential damage if overheat)

I would cut slots in the tube so that there is a little flex so it doesnt become fast when hot.  

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DaveE128 | 5 years ago
0 likes

Thanks all for the info. The loctite 609 document says "Apply localized heat to the assembly to approximately 250 °C. Disassemble while hot."

Doesn't sound very carbon friendly!

Maybe it's worth a little hammer tapping to see whether it budges readily.

Suspect I'll have to ebay the fancy cranks (FSA SL-K Light Carbon) 2

Avatar
andsaw | 5 years ago
1 like

I would remove the cable guide underneath and if its looks like ally then its probably the adapter mentioned, the FSA one has loctite 609 to bond it and here is the technical sheet on dissasembly, http://www.kraftindustrialsupply.com/MSDSTDS/609TDS.PDF

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CXR94Di2 | 5 years ago
0 likes

If possible fit external bearings threaded, much better than any pressfit design

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bechdan | 5 years ago
1 like

it is also entirely possible that the thread has been cut in to the alloy insert in order to accept a threaded BB. 

My suggestion would be to make do with what there is rather than risk damaging the frame in removing it.

Avatar
mc | 5 years ago
2 likes

Certainly looks like an adapter.

The big problem will be how it's been fitted. I'd guess it's been bonded in somehow, in which case removal is going to be a problem. Without knowing what's been used to secure it, it's going to be pure guess work.

If it was something like loctite, boiling water might be enough to loosen the grip, but I'd doubt anybody would use loctite on a carbon frame.
Epoxy would require heat, but that heat will also damage the carbon.
Getting it machined out would be the safest option to protect the bottom bracket shell, however clamping a carbon frame for machining runs a risk of damaging the frame wherever it's clamped.

I think if it was mine, and I really wanted to remove the adapter, first I'd screw an old cup into it, support the opposite side suitably, and give it a couple hits with a hammer to see if it would move.

If that didn't work, I'd repeat after pouring some boiling water over it.

Failing that, I'd be looking at machining it out. I'd create an expanding mandrel to mount it on a milling machine with, machine out one side, then using a bigger expanding mandrel, machine out the remaining side.

Off course, after doing all that, you might find the adapter has been fitted for a reason, and the BB30 seats are worn.

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