Square Taper Campy, doing an inspection. Two questions.
This is on an older steel bike (10+ years old) and the shell is a bit rusty. Not too much trouble getting it out. Any advice on what to use on the threads. I don’t want it to corrode to the point where I cannot remove it, but I also want the BB to stay in place.
Bearings looks clean, grease is still white. Do I need to grease (if so, with what), or just re-install.
Your best bet is to have a shop chase the threads out.
they basically use a large tap to recut/clean the threads. Probably not worth your buying the tool.
grease before reassembly. I like Phil wood waterproof grease (green).
If you are in there might as well clean and regrease. it certainly won’t hurt.
Spray the shell/bb threads down with WD-40 and wipe it off with a rag. If the rust comes off, cool. If not, you can either try a wire brush or just have the threads re chased as suggested above.
You’ve already pulled the BB so you might as well repack the bearings. I second the Phil Wood grease recommendation. There might be better greases to use, but it’s a real headache trying to find the optimal grease for each situation. Phil’s is great. Make sure you grease the threads when you re-install it, too…
Phil grease is what I have on hand as general purpose grease. Kind of seemed like a no-no to put green grease on white, but I guess it all comes out in the wash.
As far as rechasing the threads, do I really need to bother? The threads have been rusty for a while and I usually do not ride in the rain (probably not getting any worse). I figure if I just pull it every other year to check it won’t get seized.
You don’t “need” to worry about the rust, but I wouldn’t want rust on my steel bike! Having the BB chased might cost you $10 and a day or two max, if the shop is really busy. To me, it’s worth it. You make the call.
What BB is it, and of what vintage? Some have a grease port where you can just flush & fill with fresh new grease in one easy step. Others you have to disassemble and clean, then re-grease. Others still you can’t really take apart and just try to keep them clean before replacing them.
I would make sure the small drain holes are open so water can drain out
Good luck
Thom
.
“Kind of seemed like a no-no…”
Yeah, it usually is.
White colored grease is usually - but not always - lithium grease, and if it is, it is incompatible with synthetic greases. The carrier in the synthetic grease will break down the lithium grease.
Best bet is to either leave it alone if it seems OK, or to remove all the original grease and re-pack. Don’t mix the two.
If the threads on the BB are OK (which is what it sounds like,) don’t bother to re-tap the shell. Clean the BB thoroughly with a degreaser/solvent (wire brush it with a dash of kerosene if it’s just a little bit rusty,) grease the threads, and re install the BB.
.