Cup-and-cone bottom bearing - where to buy?
Discussion
Chaps,
I have an old bicycle (at least 18 years old), which has been standing for a long time but I have started cycling into work recently.
It doesn't ride quite as well as I'd like, and (for the first time ever), I dismantled the bottom bearing this evening. There was quite a lot of play in it, and I was keen to explore ...
I discovered that it has (what I now discover to be) a cup and cone bottom bearing. And the axle (/spindle) is worn in some areas. One of the bearing faces on it is rough around about 90degrees of the circumference. The cups are in better nick - they aren't damaged, although one of the ball bearing race cages was also cracked.
Not having any spare parts there wasn't much I could do but clean it up and re-assemble it, with some new grease (it was totally dry when it came apart.) However, having had a quick google, I can't find anywhere that sells the parts I need; an axle and bearings for a cup and cone bottom axle. (I assume it comes with the cups as well.)
Does anyone know how hard these parts are to find? Will a local bike shop have them? I work in Canary Wharf, where there is an Evans Cycles, and their website shows nothing of the sort that I am looking for ...
The alternative would be to try and use a (modern) pre-sealed bearing. Would one of these fit? For what it's worth the bicycle is a Peugeot Premiere, circa 1991(ish), road bike.
Thanks for any help!
Oli.
I have an old bicycle (at least 18 years old), which has been standing for a long time but I have started cycling into work recently.
It doesn't ride quite as well as I'd like, and (for the first time ever), I dismantled the bottom bearing this evening. There was quite a lot of play in it, and I was keen to explore ...
I discovered that it has (what I now discover to be) a cup and cone bottom bearing. And the axle (/spindle) is worn in some areas. One of the bearing faces on it is rough around about 90degrees of the circumference. The cups are in better nick - they aren't damaged, although one of the ball bearing race cages was also cracked.
Not having any spare parts there wasn't much I could do but clean it up and re-assemble it, with some new grease (it was totally dry when it came apart.) However, having had a quick google, I can't find anywhere that sells the parts I need; an axle and bearings for a cup and cone bottom axle. (I assume it comes with the cups as well.)
Does anyone know how hard these parts are to find? Will a local bike shop have them? I work in Canary Wharf, where there is an Evans Cycles, and their website shows nothing of the sort that I am looking for ...
The alternative would be to try and use a (modern) pre-sealed bearing. Would one of these fit? For what it's worth the bicycle is a Peugeot Premiere, circa 1991(ish), road bike.
Thanks for any help!
Oli.
Hi,
Something like this maybe ?
http://www.theoldbicycleshowroom.co.uk/bicycle-cra...
There are places you can buy old bike parts but I'd doubt a modern bike shop would stock them any more. If it is a square taper axle I'd be tempted to fit a modern cartridge unit which you could probably pick up from Halfords. (although square taper axles are also a thing of the past these days ! )
The threads for the cups are classed as either British or Italian and usually a road bike has the British 68mm thread. The next thing is the length of the axle which sets the chain line and that depends on the chainset and frame geometry, so you'd need to measure the length of the current axle. They are usually available in 3mm increments, this page will give you some idea of what's around
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
Personally I think I'd look around for a complete unit, chainset/cranks/BB, and just fit a complete package. The problem might be in finding an axle with the same square taper to match your cranks because, as you might expect, they aren't all the same dimensions. The first link might be able to help with advice on getting a match to your current set-up though.
Something like this maybe ?
http://www.theoldbicycleshowroom.co.uk/bicycle-cra...
There are places you can buy old bike parts but I'd doubt a modern bike shop would stock them any more. If it is a square taper axle I'd be tempted to fit a modern cartridge unit which you could probably pick up from Halfords. (although square taper axles are also a thing of the past these days ! )
The threads for the cups are classed as either British or Italian and usually a road bike has the British 68mm thread. The next thing is the length of the axle which sets the chain line and that depends on the chainset and frame geometry, so you'd need to measure the length of the current axle. They are usually available in 3mm increments, this page will give you some idea of what's around
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
Personally I think I'd look around for a complete unit, chainset/cranks/BB, and just fit a complete package. The problem might be in finding an axle with the same square taper to match your cranks because, as you might expect, they aren't all the same dimensions. The first link might be able to help with advice on getting a match to your current set-up though.
You should be able to pick up a replacement very cheap from an independent bike shop (Evans tend to be rather expensive), a sealed "bottom bracket" would be better and will last longer, what you do need is the exact measurements of the old one ,Bottom bracket shell width (part of the frame that the bottom bracket screws into) and the axle width (wrong size will mess up the chainline and throw the front gears out).
Chaps,
Thanks for your comments. It looks like a new sealed unit is the way forwards, and I have been recommended the Shimano UN54 - they seem to get good reviews and are reasonably priced.
So I took mine apart again this morning and measured it, then looked up the price online for a sealed unit, printed it out and took it to my local Evans. (Yes, they are expensive but they do a price match. I have done this several times with my local store and they always match a printed-of internet price, but hate me for it ... ) They had one in stock, which I bought home (priced at £25, price-matched at £12.75p) and then realised that while the box had the correct dimensions, the part inside was a different size! The axle was significantly much too short.
In slight exasperation I have now ordered another one on-line (along with a new rear tyre - the old one is toast), and will return the wrongly-supplied one to Evans sometime next week.
I think the cranks on mine are pretty standard - I replaced one very recently, and the replacement one fits straight on. Therefore I expect they will fit a new BB bearing just as easily.
Thanks for your help. I'll keep this thread updated with progress.
Oli.
Thanks for your comments. It looks like a new sealed unit is the way forwards, and I have been recommended the Shimano UN54 - they seem to get good reviews and are reasonably priced.
So I took mine apart again this morning and measured it, then looked up the price online for a sealed unit, printed it out and took it to my local Evans. (Yes, they are expensive but they do a price match. I have done this several times with my local store and they always match a printed-of internet price, but hate me for it ... ) They had one in stock, which I bought home (priced at £25, price-matched at £12.75p) and then realised that while the box had the correct dimensions, the part inside was a different size! The axle was significantly much too short.
In slight exasperation I have now ordered another one on-line (along with a new rear tyre - the old one is toast), and will return the wrongly-supplied one to Evans sometime next week.
I think the cranks on mine are pretty standard - I replaced one very recently, and the replacement one fits straight on. Therefore I expect they will fit a new BB bearing just as easily.
Thanks for your help. I'll keep this thread updated with progress.
Oli.
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