I had left the bottom bracket at my LBS, and came by this afternoon to pick it up. I was chatting with the fellow who worked on the bottom bracket yesterday, and we confirmed that all the parts were stamped with 3/16" for the bearing spec, the cups were the right kind (one year only produced, so not much going wrong there) and it was Italian threaded. We could find absolutely nothing amiss. He was about to try to install it on another frame when I asked him if he had any 1/4" loose bearings around. He gave me one, and I pulled one of the 3/16" balls from the greased cup of the bottom bracket and cleaned it off. When the 3/16" bearing was placed in the spindle race it just didn't fit. On the other hand, the quarter inch ball was a perfect fit. What someone did at some time was to remove the pressed on 3/16" races and press on 1/4" races on the spindle stamped for 3/16" balls.
NOW I can't put this thing back on eBay unless I come clean about the races. Ignorance can indeed be bliss. I left a message with the seller and I hope he'll do the right thing. If not, I'll out him so others will be warned and give him some negative feedback then call it a day.
Scott Baxter St. Louis, MO
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