jonwvara 

Do any of you folks with boxes of unemployed spindles have a 124 mm series 5 spindle you'd consider parting with? I could switch to a cartridge more cheaply and easily, probably, but the rest of the Stronglight bottom bracket is in such good shape I kind of hate to go that route--it's the coward's way out.
JV

unworthy1

What's the "series 5" mean: is that JIS nomenclature (but this is for a Stronglight BB, so ISO, no?)?
If you can detail all the measurements: ends to shoulders, center section width, etc. I'll take a look (plus it might help other searchers).

ColonelJLloyd 

From Sheldon Brown:

unworthy1

Right, but that paragraph is under the heading (and chart): "Japanese Bottom Bracket Spindles", so if you want the 5N which is normally for a JIS taper crank in an Italian 70mm shell or for thin French cups in a 68mm shell, are you sure of the taper fit (and length) for your Stronglight crank?

ColonelJLloyd 

I'm not sure of much. But, I do think the taper mis-match caveats are over blown. I've done it plenty without issue. And didn't Stronglight (and Sugino Maxy) have a specific taper? I'd choose a spindle length a mm or two shorter if the taper was JIS and it was to be used with a Stronglight or Campagnolo crank.

Glennfordx4

Here a few pages from my manual about what works with what on the subject of BB spindles. I don't know if you can access my whole photobucket page or not from these links but there is some good stuff on BB, spindles and cranksets of old. Trying to blow them up to read is given me problems trying to post them here.



https://s299.photobucket.com/albums/m...pair%20manual/



https://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...irdED019-1.jpg
https://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...ThirdED018.jpg
https://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...ThirdED017.jpg
https://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...ThirdED020.jpg

unworthy1

Thanks glennfordx4 for reminding me to consult my Sutherland's more often...naturally the info is all in there, but of course it's not all black & white, either!
The good news is that Stronglight spindles are very close to a JIS taper (length, more correctly) than ISO, but you still need to consider the original dimensions of the spindle you're replacing (like the center section and what they call the SER end) and cup thickness you'll use. Original length for SL and TA spindles did not include a 124 but shows a 123 for a certain double and 125 for a certain triple.
I'm just being persnickety about this cause I'm sure when I go searching my spindle stash I'll find more original FR spindles than any series 5 JIS spindle and want to look for one that might work.

jonwvara 

Okay, I will measure my spindle and post the dimensions this evening sometime.
JV

gerv 

Pleading the 5th. I am keeping the one spindle I have that says "Stronglight 117" and measures 113mm. Was 117 the brand, not the actual width?

jonwvara 

Unworthy1, you're much more knowledgeable about spindles than I am. Thanks for helping me clarify my thoughts on this. I'm familiar with Sheldon's spindle chart, but had never noticed that it only listed JIS spindles. I've had a good many French bottom brackets apart over the years, but never needed to change spindles--I think all the bikes I've converted from double to triple have been JIS.
Anyway, this is part of my Stronglight 93 "triplization" project--I'm having a guy fabricate some 122 bcd triplizer rings, so I will need a longer spindle. Here's the way I figure it:
The regulation spindle for a Stronglight 93 (as a double) is 118 mm, I believe. I don't have one here to measure, but I suspect that that breaks down to 30 mm left, 55 mm center, and 33 mm right. Adding 6 mm to the right side to make room for a third chainring (the "add 6 mm" rule when going from a double to a triple has always worked for me) suggests that what I'm after is something along the lines of a 30 (L) 55 (center) 39 (R). That would be about 124 overall.
I say "about" because the important dimensions are the 55 in the center (to accomodate the existing cups) and the 39 on the right, which is needed for the inner chainring to clear the chainstay. The (L) dimension is probably less important--could probably be either a 30, 31, or 32, so the overall length could vary between 124 and 126, provided that the 39 and 55 dimensions are there.
Of course, there's always a little guesswork when it comes to spindles. But I believe that either the 123 or 125 you mention would be a good possibility.
Again, thanks for your help. If you have the spindle I need and are prepared to part with it, I'm sure we can figure out some sort of a trade or other arrangement.
Jon

unworthy1

found something, but probably too big. I'll PM you.

balindamood

I'll dig tonight or tomorrow. I suppose the suggesting of a 1mm spacer to solve the problem would be blasphemy.