Originally Posted by urge2kill
Thanks again, Alfeng.
By the way, will a 68mm English BB-shell accept a HollowTech II BB or conventional threaded BB without an adapter?
The Dura Ace, Ultegra & 105
Hollowtech II BB cups are designed to be used with a standard, 68mm wide English threaded BB shell ...
Unless, of course, it is spec'd for an Italian threaded BB.
AFAIK, there really isn't a difference between the 105 & Dura Ace BBs other than the color of the anodized finish.
- oldbobcat may be able to validate or refute THAT observation
- I don't know if the OTHER brands of Hollowtech II compatible BBs are worth the money some people have complained that the bearings in the "standard" FSA MegaExo cups are not as good as those used by Shimano ... I don't know if that is actually true, or not ... if true, then I think that the conditions which the rider/bike encounter could-or-might impact premature wear with FSA BBs because the inner seal of the cartridge bearing on the FSA MegaExo BBs is vulnerable compared to the inner seal of the cartridge bearing in Shimano's Hollowtech II BB cups ... AND SO, slathering grease on the inner side of the cup of an FSA BB (a la Campagnolo whose bearing is actually exposed!) may be beneficial.
- Heck, it might be a good idea to slather grease on the inner side of Hollowtech II BB cups, too!
BTW. I have received SOME 105 cups whose threads were machined in such a way that they were very, VERY TIGHT in the BB shell ... it may seem barbaric, but knocking the tips of the threads down (
that is, running a file LIGHTLY across the threads) is part of the way to get them to thread in more easily IF you encounter resistance (
REMEMBER -- the drive side cup has a LEFT HAND thread).
THAT's a long way of saying that you can possible let the cosmetics of the BB cups be the deciding factor ...
The worst thing that can happen is that you have to replace the BB ...
Of course, the cartridge bearings, alone, can be replaced ...
vs. buying a new BB
