[CR]greased bb tapers: old bb "thread" no pun intended...

(Example: History:Ted Ernst)

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From: "Grant McLean" <Grant.McLean@SportingLife.ca>
To: "Classic Rendezvous Mail List (E-mail)" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]greased bb tapers: old bb "thread" no pun intended...
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 09:48:35 -0400

Sorry List,

I feel compelled to pop back in on this topic hotly debated a few weeks back....as I just received a NR crank in it's box (from Carsten, thank you!) and the instructions inside for "fitting the bottom bracket" that I haven't read in 20 years. These instructions include the following step:

"step 4. Before fitting the crank on, clean the two squares, of the male and female, on order to assure a stable coupling."

Seems clear that Campagnolo does not suggest greasing the tapers. Furthermore, the current instruction book for Campagnolo Record goes further:

"note: before you assemble the cranks on the bottom bracket axle, degrease the axle and crankset square heads thoroughly and never lubricate the bolts before tightening them" (their underlining)

Aside from the fact that people have been greasing tapers for decades, without apparent problems, looks to me like it's not the recommended procedure...end of story.

Grant McLean
Toronto, reading is good, Canada