SWB0 Fashionably Late?

68z27 · Jan 10, 2025

I came across this Maserati that I forgot I had. The steel has a nice "ring" to it but it may be just another Italian sweatshop frame. I also had a pair of Ritchey tires that have a cool cyclocross vibe to them. I would like to build a 3sp Urban Assault bike since I haven't had a skinny wheeled bike in years. One thing I am really concerned about is the bottom bracket threading. I looked at Sheldon Brown's web site and didn't find anything regarding thread specs. Does anyone have any ideas about the BB?

(Sorry about the foot pic @MattiThundrrr , it hit 60F today....)

Pondo · Jan 10, 2025

68z27 said:
One thing I am really concerned about is the bottom bracket threading. I looked at Sheldon Brown's web site and didn't find anything regarding thread specs. Does anyone have any ideas about the BB?

I was just on the Park Tool page earlier looking at the specs on my French bottom bracket. The Italian specs are there too:

"The Italian Standard uses a threading of 36 mm x 24 threads per inch. Both sides of the bottom bracket are right hand threaded. Parts in the Italian standard are usually marked as such. Not all Italian-made bikes use Italian Standard threading. Frames in this standard can be distinguished by a 35 mm inside diameter."
https://www.parktool.com/en-us/blog/repair-help/bottom-bracket-standards-and-terminology

Just saw a new sealed Italian BB at Velo Orange, $30. Don't know if this will help, but it's out there anyways:
https://velo-orange.com/collections/bottom-brackets/products/italian-thread-bb

Or you could use one of these repair BBs. These are supposed to fit most BB shells and don't use the threads.

https://www.yst-corp.com.tw/products-view-bb-993.php

MattiThundrrr · Jan 11, 2025

68z27 said:
(Sorry about the foot pic @MattiThundrrr , it hit 60F today....)

Fortunately there's no "sick" reaction button

68z27 · Jan 11, 2025

Pondo said:
I was just on the Park Tool page earlier looking at the specs on my French bottom bracket. The Italian specs are there too:

"The Italian Standard uses a threading of 36 mm x 24 threads per inch. Both sides of the bottom bracket are right hand threaded. Parts in the Italian standard are usually marked as such. Not all Italian-made bikes use Italian Standard threading. Frames in this standard can be distinguished by a 35 mm inside diameter."
https://www.parktool.com/en-us/blog/repair-help/bottom-bracket-standards-and-terminology

Just saw a new sealed Italian BB at Velo Orange, $30. Don't know if this will help, but it's out there anyways:
https://velo-orange.com/collections/bottom-brackets/products/italian-thread-bb

Or you could use one of these repair BBs. These are supposed to fit most BB shells and don't use the threads.
View attachment 286439
https://www.yst-corp.com.tw/products-view-bb-993.php

Wow, thanx, Pondo! I would not have thought to look at the Park tool catalog! I have been calling around to several LBS for either of theses BBs and the responses have been laughter or dead silence... :crazy2:

So, the above info gives me some options depending on the lead time I'll need to receive parts. If this doesn't work, I have a few of the standard BBs and I should be able to come up with a different frame......

Bike from the Dead · Jan 12, 2025

Mom, can I get a Maserati?

Mom: You have a Maserati at home!

The Maserati at home:

Bike from the Dead · Jan 12, 2025

Jokes aside, hope you're able to get the bottom bracket sorted out and get that bike going again. Looking forward to seeing it come together.

68z27 · Jan 20, 2025

I called all of the LBS and the responses were either total silence or snickering (Gainesville no longer has a pro road bike shop in town).
Continued to look around and found this beauty on FB marketplace for $15. Its an interesting bike - cdi decals. OLD Campy F&R derailleurs, shifters & bits and bobs. Its all pretty beat but I needed the BB cups.

BartRidesEternal · Jan 21, 2025

68z27 said:
I called all of the LBS and the responses were either total silence or snickering (Gainesville no longer has a pro road bike shop in town).
Continued to look around and found this beauty on FB marketplace for $15. Its an interesting bike - cdi decals. OLD Campy F&R derailleurs, shifters & bits and bobs. Its all pretty beat but I needed the BB cups.

View attachment 287168

Those lugs look great! Is it also a 'Maserati'?

The fork is only partially dipped into the chrome bath :grin:

Looking forward to your work on this!

OddJob · Jan 23, 2025

Nice grab on the parts bike, brother! And it looks like you have a decent fork / headset / seatpost / cable hangers, etc if you need to use them. Love the idea of an Italian cross bike build.

"Veni, vedi, Ho sbattuto"

I came, I saw, I ratted.

68z27 · Feb 7, 2025

OddJob said:
"Veni, vedi, Ho sbattuto"

Great. I love it!

sooooo...........I decided to "rattle" on the frame a little bit. Before preparing it for paint, I wanted to remove the fine coat of rust that was on the surface. I've never done an oxalic acid bath before so a quick search here at RRB provided plenty of info. I tried to make a small tub using 2x4s and 4x4s but it wasn't holding well enough. (forgot pics to show how not to do it). After using a kiddie pool and some Savogran;s Wood Bleach, it cleaned up nicely.

One thing I was extremely concerned about was the head badge. It is the only/main item that makes this frame a Maserati. Using blue painters tape I covered the HB, but when removing the tape, a significant amount of the paint went with it.

Now I'm not sure if I'll be able to reproduce it .
"Live and Learn" :headbang:

Pondo · Feb 8, 2025

Polish that badge. That could be pretty cool too.

OddJob · Feb 8, 2025

68z27 said:
Great. I love it!

sooooo...........I decided to "rattle" on the frame a little bit. Before preparing it for paint, I wanted to remove the fine coat of rust that was on the surface. I've never done an oxalic acid bath before so a quick search here at RRB provided plenty of info. I tried to make a small tub using 2x4s and 4x4s but it wasn't holding well enough. (forgot pics to show how not to do it). After using a kiddie pool and some Savogran;s Wood Bleach, it cleaned up nicely.

One thing I was extremely concerned about was the head badge. It is the only/main item that makes this frame a Maserati. Using blue painters tape I covered the HB, but when removing the tape, a significant amount of the paint went with it. Now I'm not sure if I'll be able to reproduce it .
"Live and Learn"

View attachment 288254

That badge looks fairly detailed. A real steady handed sign painter might be able to fill in the voids.

68z27 · Feb 8, 2025

Pondo said:
Polish that badge. That could be pretty cool too.

OddJob said:
That badge looks fairly detailed. A real steady handed sign painter might be able to fill in the voids.

Thanx for the suggestions! What I may do is see if there is a company that can create a vinyl or water release decal to put back on it

.....right now I need to get busy.....I want to see some progress......... :bigboss:

SWB0 Fashionably Late?

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