1981 Linden Green Aerospace 600ex

Best bet is to find a bike shop with the right equipment to chase out the threads. A DIY method (apart from buying the proper (right and left) taps and a wrench to hold them) is to take a pair of old bb cups and to cut slots at right angles to the thread all around them (hack saw), to make improvised cutters. But the hard bit is to keep them square as you screw them in; and it seems from what you say that might be particularly difficult on this bike.

I wouldn't reject the idea of using a threadless bb. The old Mavic ones are reputed to be good but require an internal chamfer on the ends of the bb shell and, if you go to that length, why not just get the threads fixed? The Prestine ones (eBay search) are relatively cheap to buy new (< £20 IIRC) but quite good quality and are all metal. I don't like plastic to form any part of a bb. One of those would get the bike rolling while you think about a permanent solution. They don't need any special fitting. I have one on my gold Lambert, which otherwise has pretty much the correct Lambert parts. The Prestine bb went in as a temporary measure to get the bike going for DFR1, but it works so well I am reluctant to change it. The correct Lambert bb spindle and cranks, which I now have, have a couple of disadvantages as well ...

A threadless bottom bracket would be the easiest fix; Velo Orange has a good one store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/bottom-brackets/grand-cru-threadless-bottom-brackets.html . With that said, you could chase the threads and see what you have. It might be good; if a bit sloppy, you can use Loctite when you install the cups. Italian bottom brackets are about a mm larger in diameter; some bike shops can convert threading from BSA/English/ISO to Italian.  A small chart is attached.



Cheers
Jim

Thanks for the advice gents, its much appreciated.

I've had a look online at my 3 local bike shops that claim (at least) to be up to any any repair. We shall see if any of them have the right tools!
Thanks Sprockit for your offer, that is very kind. I will let you know if it I run out of options.

In the mean time i Will go down the thread-less route to get things moving, I still need to source the right crank though so if anyone has a spare Shimano 600 crank then please let me know! MKS AR-1/2 pedals as well are needed. Also some 600 hubs and Mavic rims. I'm trawling eBay for anything that's not wildly priced and cursing my inability to get to Eroica this year! there's always a bargain to be had at the jumble!

More pics to follow soon!

Cheers

Hi Cusqueno, by no means set on the MKS, my other 600ex has MKS AR-2's so I just thought it would have had those on to begin with. I looked up Olympics and they look perfect too. I didn't know they were used on Viscounts. Thank you for the offer, how much do you want for them?


Here are few more pics. Over the hump now I think!

You're a gentleman and I am most grateful! I'd be more than happy to pay postage. Sorry to hear about your EX, sadly I don't have any EX levers other than the ones currently installed. I will keep my eyes open while surfing ebay though. If I can pick one up and send it your way I will!

There seem to be quite a few 600ex crank sets on eBay UK at the moment.  There are two types, with the same cranks but different rings attached.  See Velobase for details.  One version has Dura Ace rings (or DA-type rings), the other looks nicer - lighter and more modern IMHO - and this is what my 600ex came with.  If you are searching, it might be worth checking VeloSaloon They're based in Austria, but ship to the rest of the EU for €12, provided you spend €40 or more, which seems very reasonable.  I have used them and the stuff was very good value.  But they don't seem to have any Arabesque cranks in at present.

I understand your decision.  Sadly, maintaining purity and originality has a price.

Cheers
Jim

Cusqueno, I've just noticed that Spa Cycles are showing something very similar as a stock item @ £18 for band-on pair. Worth buying while they have them?

Oh yes. I must try harder at my reading lessons.

I came home to find all the parts to my crank had arrived. Here is my Shimano 600 crank now complete with chain rings. I also stripped and rebuild the original crank the bike came with which is next to it.
This one is a Campagnolo Gran Sport. 

Looking very good Chris. I'd be interested in a second set of decals to keep in reserve for my 600ex. I've suffered a series of mishaps with it recently, although non affecting the paint or decals. After the crash that bent one brake lever and rear wheel (both now straightened) one pedal dropped a lot of balls and needs to be rebuilt. I replaced it with a 105 pedal, but that fell off while i was pedalling, 'cos I hadn't tightened it enough, causing a bit of damage to the thread and my ankle. Also that pedal's bearings are shot so I replaced this morning with a pair of SunTour Superbe pedals only to get ominous creaking noises from the cranks / bb, despite tightening. Must check before I ride home.