Bicycle Mechanics - Bottom Bracket Axle

How possible is it to interchange bottom bracket axles? I have a 70's Stronglite french BB which I need to change the axle length (moved to single chainrig Campy). I have given up hope finding a reasnonably priced replacement BB, but I can get a variety of axles for under $20. How interchangable are the axles?? It seeps easier than cutting off 1/4" and re-profiling the existing one.

Just the dumb thought of the day.


Thanks!

Nearly all modern standalone bottom brackets are sealed-cartidge units, and you can't change out the axle - you just buy a new BB.

With an old cup-and-cone, rebuildable bottom bracket, you should be able to buy new axles. Just make sure you get the right kind. A Stronglight BB for campy cranks will have an ISO taper - much less common than the Shimano-standard JIS square taper. Also, the bearing races on the spindle should match those on your current spindle.

Harris Cyclery is one place that might be helpful in finding what you're looking for:
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/french-cranks.html#bottom

BB spindles are interchangeable (sans Campy).
You will have to match the spindle cone distance to your old one or it wont fit your frame properly.
I have replaced more spindles than I care to think about.
It is an easy job if you have the right size replacement.
The local bike co-op has drawers full of decent spindles for interchanging.
For beater bikes I prefer the serviceability and adjustability of cup-cone BBs.
Or you can just buy a sealed bb and install if you have the tools.

Enjoy

It is an easy job if you have the right size replacement.
Again, just note that the local bike co-op probably doesn't have any ISO-tapered spindles that will work with your Campy crank.

And I doubt that you can get modern sealed-cartridge BB's with French threading.

Its a multi-faceted problem. I have a converted fixed-gear and would prefer to run the chainring on the outer side of the crank, but I cannot get the cog far enough out with the lock ring to align the chain line perfectly. I recently realized that though a 111.5 mm axle will pull the crank in, the arm will whack the chainstay, so that bad idea is out. I am going to have to run the inner side of the crank arm until I can find a single ring crank arm which doesn't break the bank and a shorter axle.

Phil Wood makes a sealed cartridge with french thread ring for only a modest premium, but I'm not ready to put that much $$ in it...yet.

Thanks for the help.