gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane » 85 Gitane Defi BB Help    View previous topic :: View next topic  85 Gitane Defi BB Help   Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:17 am Bonejaw Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Posts: 4 Hello all, I have been working on a 85 Gitane Ddefi for a while now had it repainted and got some Vintage Gitane decal for it and now its looking nice. I started riding it for a while and i noticed a little wabble in the crank. I looked around and figured out that it was the BB cup and berings that were worn allowing the wabble. So now im looking at getting new cups and berings but im not sre what size to get. I would prefer just to change the whole BB but im not sure what spec i need to know to get on that will fit. If anyone out there can help me with some specs or info... many thanks... Daniel   Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 11:58 am sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California That should be a tapered spindle, right? As for the size, it should be standard/english threaded, so it shouldn't be a problem as far as that is concerned. Are you wondering about the spindle size? If so...I am sure someone here knows the numbers off the top of their head. I don't...but have never had any problems buying a period-correct BB, as long as the threading is right! _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com Sealed bearing BB cartridge   Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:16 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area Since it's standard British/ISO threading, you can get one of the sealed bearing bottom bracket cartridges. They're inexpensive and you'll probably never have to mess with it again. Measure the overall length of your current BB spindle and get one that's close to it in length. Chas.   Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:41 am Bonejaw Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Posts: 4 yea you are correct it is a tapered spindle, and thanks for your replies. imm go take a good look at the spindle and see i fi can get some numbers off of it.   Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:55 am sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California You shouldn't have any problems replacing that BB. Eezy-peezy. _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:13 pm Wisey Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 631 Location: Brisbane, Australia If you want period correct quality, get a cheap Taiwanese BB. If you want it to last more than a month, get a cartridge as Chas & Sandman suggested. Inexpensive, durable. Yes the 85 Defi is definitely Std English thread. Be gentle with it. Mine is cracking. _________________ Kind Regards, Wisey Delta Dreamin'   Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:53 pm sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California Speaking of cracking frames...I was going to sell my 2000 FDJeux frameset, until I noticed that the head tube is cracking. The crack is going up from the bottom of the head tube, right where the headset cups are pressed in. What a bummer. I guess that is the problem with aluminum: It will eventually fail, and much quicker than steel. _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:19 pm Wisey Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 631 Location: Brisbane, Australia Lots of Alu frames from the 90s & early 2000s cracked around the head tube. it's because they never faced the tube after the frame was welded together. Cheapest way to build a frame........ So the tube deforms a bit from the heat of welding and the HS cup puts pressure on a now slightly undersized or out of round hole, and bingo, hairline fracture. We got to the point where we disassembled all bikes and faced the HTs. PITA!!! But it was easier than stripping frames to send back for warranty. _________________ Kind Regards, Wisey Delta Dreamin'   Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:06 pm sandranian Site Admin Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 2701 Location: Southern California I see. It is a bummer. Should have done that when I purchased it, I guess. _________________ Stephan Andranian Costa Mesa, CA www.gitaneusa.com   Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:36 pm Bonejaw Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Posts: 4 Once again thanks alot do you know the shell width for the BB by any chance? British and ISO road BB shell width   Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:35 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area The BB shell width for British threads is 68mm wide. The fast fading Italian formato bastardo used 70mm wide BBs and many MTBs used 73mm wide BBs. A decent LBS should be able to install one of these cartridge BBs pretty easily. Otherwise, you need to get the proper tool to tighten it into the BB. Chas. Which One?   Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:32 pm Bonejaw Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Posts: 4 Hey guys out of these what one would yall recommend? IRD QB-75 ------ ~$40 ---- http://store.interlocracing.com/qbqubobr.html IRD QB-55 ------ ~$20 ---- http://store.interlocracing.com/qbqubobr1.html Shimano UN54 -- ~$20 ---- http://www.rei.com/product/753545 I ride about 100 miles a meek on a paved track. im not super hard core or anything just never bought a BB so i was just looking for some input. Is that QB-75 worth the extra money over the others? And i was wondering about the plastic cups in the Shimano BB...???   Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:51 pm scozim Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 629 Location: Ellensburg, WA I just bought a UN54 for one of my non-Gitane vintage bikes but haven't installed it yet. A friend of mine has installed a couple of them and has had no problems at all. If you're going to buy online it may be worth checking into buying from your local bike shop as the price they charge will be close to the $20 plus shipping....... _________________ 1984 Gitane Sprint 1984 Gitane Tour de France mid-1970's Gitane Olympic Plus many more http://eburgcycling.blogspot.com   Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:57 pm Wisey Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 631 Location: Brisbane, Australia Any of the Shitmano units are solid. The plastic cups are fine. _________________ Kind Regards, Wisey Delta Dreamin' Sealed bearing BB cartridges   Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:57 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area I installed a cheap IRD a year or so ago and thought it was a great deal. Before that I've always been able to get the best quality Shimano BBs at a very good price so I went for the better ones. Since I HATE doing BBs, I'd rather spend a few bucks more and never have to worry again. Chas. 85 Gitane Defi BB Help     gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours   Page 1 of 1   All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First  Select a forum Gitane USA----------------Vintage GitaneGitane RacingModern GitanePro Racing - Classics/Giro/Tour....Owner Gallery   Powered by phpBB © 2001-2004 phpBB Group Designed for Trushkin.net | Themes Database.