I would say they're toasty, BUT you can try and make them somewhat better and quite usable. I'm one of those folks that just hates to throw things away (A.K.A. I'm cheap) so this is what I do. The tools you need are a spare axle, a bunch of bearings, an axle bolt (with the head cut off), a drill, and some course and fine valve grinding compound. Oh, and you'll need some time too. First you repack the BB using the course compound and mount the bolt into the drill. Using the bolt and drill spin the spindle kinda slow for a couple minutes. Now repeat the process a couple more times using fresh bearings and grinding compound each time. The pits in the race runs will either get worse or smooth out a bit. If they smooth out a bit switch to the fine compound and start all over again. This should get you really close to useable cups buy now.
This is where opinions of what to do vary. Some of the old guard say to use toothpaste and repeat, but it doesn't really do much but polish the race surface. Some folks say just pack it with good balls and grease and go with it until. My method is to repack the BB with half grease and half fine grinding compound and ride it for a few hours. After 50-100 miles I'll pull it apart and repack it with just grease and new bearings. I've had great success in the past with only a few BB cups that just weren't salvageable. Oh, another note, when you're grinding use cheap grade 200 or 400 bearings and when done use good grade 25. good luck, Brandon"monkeyman"Ives Covered in post-ride mud in Vancouver, B.C.
On Saturday, Nov 12, 2005, at 10:41 US/Pacific, L Travers wrote:
> Please refer to the following link :
>
> http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/
>
> To my untrained eye, I do not think these cups are usable. Or would
> judicious use of an emery cloth make them usable. Or are they okay as
> they sit? The bike they would be going on will be ridden on a pretty
> regular basis. I have a French BB, so not having these would not be a
> catastrophe.