New frame bottom bracket threads?

murvis1er
murvis1er Posts: 57
edited July 2013 in Workshop
Hello all,

Just bought a new frame (first time ever! always bought second hand in the past). Anyway the build has been halted as the bottom bracket won't go in! One side was pretty stiff but went in ok, the other will barely thread in for any distance by hand. Doesn't seem to be any paint on the threads. Surprised by this from a company like merkx. Has anyone else had problems with bb's failing to thread into a new frame??

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Get your LBS to chase the threads and it likely needs to have the BB shell faced too - it only ever needs doing once. A decent shop will prep a frame before selling it.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Cleat Eastwood
    Cleat Eastwood Posts: 7,508
    Oddly enough I got a BB a few months ago and one cup was english thread and the other italian - a c0ck up on the selling front - check the cups.
    The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
    momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.
  • murvis1er
    murvis1er Posts: 57
    Both cups match so I guess it's a trip down to the lbs at the weekend.

    Thanks for the replies :)
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    According to this:

    http://www.eddymerckx.be/2013_em_fiches.pdf

    - the carbon frames have either BB86 press-fit or Italian threaded bottom-brackets (the cheaper alloy frames are British). You haven't just forced British threaded cups in there have you?
  • clickrumble
    clickrumble Posts: 304
    I had the same problem last month with a new frame. Being my first build I wasn't too certain what to do and don't have much in the way of tools. Took it to a competent LBS who faced up the fame and chased out the threads for me, charged me about £30 for labour, job well done as far as I'm concerned.
  • murvis1er
    murvis1er Posts: 57
    g00se wrote:
    According to this:

    http://www.eddymerckx.be/2013_em_fiches.pdf

    - the carbon frames have either BB86 press-fit or Italian threaded bottom-brackets (the cheaper alloy frames are British). You haven't just forced British threaded cups in there have you?

    Thankfully, I'm not daft. They are Italian cups. Was just a bit surprised that a new frame came without cleanly cut threads and wondered if that was normal.
  • murvis1er
    murvis1er Posts: 57
    Clickrumble wrote:
    I had the same problem last month with a new frame. Being my first build I wasn't too certain what to do and don't have much in the way of tools. Took it to a competent LBS who faced up the fame and chased out the threads for me, charged me about £30 for labour, job well done as far as I'm concerned.

    £30 sounds ok I guess. We have most tools here but nothing for facing (having just asked apparently my housemates dad has the tool I'd need to chase out the threads but for the hassle of getting it posted here and back, not to mention practicing new chasing skills on a new frame, I think I'll stick with the lbs this time!) :wink:
  • onbike 1939
    onbike 1939 Posts: 708
    Murvis1er wrote:
    g00se wrote:
    According to this:

    http://www.eddymerckx.be/2013_em_fiches.pdf



    Thankfully, I'm not daft. They are Italian cups. Was just a bit surprised that a new frame came without cleanly cut threads and wondered if that was normal.

    It happens. Most BB threads can benefit from running a chaser through before applying copper grease.

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