Klein press-fit bottom brackets,

Quoted message said:

Old Kleins (and a few other mountain bikes) have strange bottom brackets.
I have
no experience with these and wanted any opinions from the pro wrenches
here.

Are replacements going to be available when one wears out?

No problems there. The bearings are relatively standard, and Phil
manufactures axles for them.

Quoted message said:

Are guys with the tools and savvy to handle them around?

A few... that will be the tougher part, finding somebody with the right
tools & expertise. Such shops are still around, but harder to find.

Quoted message said:

In the meanwhile:

User friendly for bearings and repacks?

Finding the bearings is no problem, replacing them is the tough part. But
you can still probably pry off the outside seals to get to them for greasing
if need be. Fortunately they're pretty durable.

Quoted message said:

1/4" bearings like everything else?

Cartridge bearings only.

Quoted message said:

What should a prospective owner know about their care and feeding?

Not much, just ride and enjoy! There really isn't any maintenance at all,
until you notice that the cranks don't turn smoothly anymore (check with the
chain off).

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

With regard to a BB, the question was:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What should a prospective owner know about their care and feeding?

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote

Quoted message said:

Not much, just ride and enjoy! There really isn't any maintenance at all,
until you notice that the cranks don't turn smoothly anymore (check with

the

Quoted message said:

chain off).

I keep thinking I should repack my BB and hubs. They have about 13,500 miles
on them, almost all on dry roads. Every time I start to pull them apart,
they are so smooth that I desist. Is Mike's advice correct? (Who am I to
question Mike? On the other hand, his rain bike, I think, is currently dead
due to crunchy BB bearings.)

On Sun, 10 Apr 2005 17:36:03 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Old Kleins (and a few other mountain bikes) have strange bottom brackets.
I have
no experience with these and wanted any opinions from the pro wrenches
here.

Are replacements going to be available when one wears out?

No problems there. The bearings are relatively standard, and Phil
manufactures axles for them.

Quoted message said:

Are guys with the tools and savvy to handle them around?

A few... that will be the tougher part, finding somebody with the right
tools & expertise. Such shops are still around, but harder to find.

Quoted message said:

In the meanwhile:

User friendly for bearings and repacks?

Finding the bearings is no problem, replacing them is the tough part. But
you can still probably pry off the outside seals to get to them for greasing
if need be. Fortunately they're pretty durable.

Quoted message said:

1/4" bearings like everything else?

Cartridge bearings only.

Quoted message said:

What should a prospective owner know about their care and feeding?

Not much, just ride and enjoy! There really isn't any maintenance at all,
until you notice that the cranks don't turn smoothly anymore (check with the
chain off).

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Sounds good and very reassuring since I just scored an old Klein on ebay before
considering the consequences of its unique BB.

Apparently, from your post and other sources, the things run very well and long.
Gee, this is cool, a bike part I don't have to feel obliged to know and work on.

Thanks
Ron