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BB facing

weaponsweapons Posts: 367
edited January 2011 in Workshop
A quick question if I may:

I have a brand new frame - can i assume that the BB shell has already been faced, or is this something I will need to do? Is there anyway of telling if I need this done or not?

Appreciate any helpful responses.

Posts

  • WooliferkinsWooliferkins Posts: 2,060
    Some arrive faced some not it depends on manufacturer
    Neil
    Help I'm Being Oppressed
  • I find that the surly frames are usually faced but not sure if all new frames are. You can use a "straight-edge" to check and this will give some indication. Make sure that the surfaces are free from any paint also to ensure trouble-free fitting of outboard bearings.
    If yo have a decent bike shop near you, take the frame in and ask what they think. Sorry, I can't think what we charged for this job.
    What about the Head-tube also? Has this been faced ?
  • Some arrive faced some not it depends on manufacturer

    I can't imagine any framebuilding company not facing frames before they leave. But if you know which manufacturers do and do not face their frames, perhaps you could tell us.
  • WooliferkinsWooliferkins Posts: 2,060
    Some arrive faced some not it depends on manufacturer

    I can't imagine any framebuilding company not facing frames before they leave. But if you know which manufacturers do and do not face their frames, perhaps you could tell us.

    Faced:
    Look, Time, and all full carbon frames I have dealt with.
    Unfaced:
    Tifosi, Cinelli, Kinesis, On One (my Pompino did)
    Neil
    Help I'm Being Oppressed
  • Some arrive faced some not it depends on manufacturer

    I can't imagine any framebuilding company not facing frames before they leave. But if you know which manufacturers do and do not face their frames, perhaps you could tell us.

    Faced:
    Look, Time, and all full carbon frames I have dealt with.
    Unfaced:
    Tifosi, Cinelli, Kinesis, On One (my Pompino did)

    How do you know which frames are faced or unfaced? I am thinking the only exact way of establishing faced or unfaced is to screw in a facing tool.
  • supersonicsupersonic Posts: 82,708 Lives Here
    It is very hard to tell. Even if one face is perfectly flat, does not mean it is parallel to the other.

    If however it has been painted, but both cups have a shiny ring around all through the circumferance at all points, it probably has been done.
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    weapons wrote:
    Is there anyway of telling if I need this done or not?
    yep put the cutters to it and see.

    I do every frame i build.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • supersonicsupersonic Posts: 82,708 Lives Here
  • nicklouse wrote:
    weapons wrote:
    Is there anyway of telling if I need this done or not?
    yep put the cutters to it and see.

    I do every frame i build.

    +1
    The only sure way to tell.
  • sfichelesfichele Posts: 605
    I just don't get this! Why do manufacturers sell frames that aren't faced? It seems crazy, surely that should be their responsibility or am I missing something
  • No sign of facing on the aluminium shell of my carbon frame. I am presuming your average carbon frame is made in such a way that facing becomes unnecessary on 99% of them.
  • nigglenoonigglenoo Posts: 177
    sfichele wrote:
    I just don't get this! Why do manufacturers sell frames that aren't faced? It seems crazy, surely that should be their responsibility or am I missing something
    Not all BB's actually require this, only external I believe? Also for a steel frame the loss of paint on the surface thats faced could lead to surface corrosion, so should be avoided when not needed IMO.

    Interesting that Tifosi and Kinesis don't face, as I am considering moving my road bike components to a CK7 or Racelight T2 in the near future to build a poor man's Audax bike, but that includes a Sora triple chainset with external BB, so I am curious about the cost of having it done.
  • This is the thread for anyone looking for an excuse to buy a fangled facing tool.
  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    nigglenoo wrote:
    sfichele wrote:
    I just don't get this! Why do manufacturers sell frames that aren't faced? It seems crazy, surely that should be their responsibility or am I missing something
    Not all BB's actually require this, only external I believe? Also for a steel frame the loss of paint on the surface thats faced could lead to surface corrosion, so should be avoided when not needed IMO.

    Interesting that Tifosi and Kinesis don't face, as I am considering moving my road bike components to a CK7 or Racelight T2 in the near future to build a poor man's Audax bike, but that includes a Sora triple chainset with external BB, so I am curious about the cost of having it done.

    but if the internal BB has a flange on one side (often drive side) then that side should be faced.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • nigglenoonigglenoo Posts: 177
    nicklouse wrote:
    nigglenoo wrote:
    sfichele wrote:
    I just don't get this! Why do manufacturers sell frames that aren't faced? It seems crazy, surely that should be their responsibility or am I missing something
    Not all BB's actually require this, only external I believe? Also for a steel frame the loss of paint on the surface thats faced could lead to surface corrosion, so should be avoided when not needed IMO.

    Interesting that Tifosi and Kinesis don't face, as I am considering moving my road bike components to a CK7 or Racelight T2 in the near future to build a poor man's Audax bike, but that includes a Sora triple chainset with external BB, so I am curious about the cost of having it done.

    but if the internal BB has a flange on one side (often drive side) then that side should be faced.
    Why should that be necessary? If its a Shimano internal cartridge type BB then everything should be kept in line anyway. Also I have an old cup and cone BB on my 1980s touring bike, there does not appear to have been any facing there either.
  • nigglenoonigglenoo Posts: 177
    This is the thread for anyone looking for an excuse to buy a fangled facing tool.
    I have a couple of friends who work in a bike shop, they may be able to borrow the tools one weekend :)
  • My Tifosi CK7 was faced. I've got two identical painted Pro-lite frames, one of whcih was well faced, the other wasn't. It varies so much.. I gave up on an order for a cheap Ribble alu, frame last year because they insisted on putting it in a slow queue for facing off before dispatch. Some generic manufacturers probably expect the retail outlets to do it instead.

    Campag Ultra-torque cranksets really depend on good facing to allow the bearings to align properly. On the other hand, it seems to be not so critical for Power-torque.
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