stanzela

Hey all,

I've been in search mode for some older track cranks for my Jeunet (entry level track frame from the late 70's or early 80's) and have not had much luck. Ottawa's not a great city for finding track parts.

In any case, I've recently been in contact with an individual who is selling an 80's era set of Tevano (Specialties TA) pista cranks with a 48T Stronglight chainring. The set looks to be in really nice shape and the teeth on the ring look relatively unused.



He's asking $100. Should I go for it? Is this a worthwhile deal or should I wait to try and find something a) cheaper, or b) better for the same price. I would like to stick to period-correct (approximate) componentry, so that factors into my decision. Having paid only $200 for the complete track bike (unfortunately with road cranks on it), it's tough spending half of that on a set of cranks alone, but maybe I'm being silly.

Let me know what you think!

striknein

Depends. Is it French threaded?

motobeCarnage 

is what threaded?

stanzela

Well, it's not a bottom bracket - just the cranks. 'French threading' doesn't apply to these items.

Scrodzilla

Hard to tell from the pic but the pedal threads look a little janky to me. I suppose you could always have them heliocoiled but I'd ask for some better pics in the meantime.

stanzela

Always a good idea to check for that - thanks Scrod. Provided the threads are decent (which, although dirty, I am assuming they are) is this looking like a good deal?

As a sidenote, has people's experience with heliocoiling been positive? I'm hoping to get an old set of Campys done this summer.

Scrodzilla

I had a set of vintage Grand Mightys done for a customer by a local machine shop and they're holding up fine.

$100 seems like a pretty fair deal if that's what you're looking for and they're in really good shape. Offer $80.

striknein

Yes, cranks are threaded. There are threads used to remove the cranks, and threads to install the pedals.

Furthermore, the French used different sized threads than the British for their pedals and crank pullers. While the pedal threads can be re-tapped to accept a standard 9/16" pedal, replacements are very hard to find for the crank pullers.

These are things you should know before ****ing with vintage parts. Otherwise, you could end up making an expensive mistake.

Scrodzilla

Look at the big brain on Derek!

striknein

stanzela

Yes, big brain indeed. I did not mean to insult, Derek, so I hope that isn't how it was taken. While cranks are threaded in exactly the fashion you speak of, typically when someone is referring to something being 'French threaded', they are referring to the BB. I don't believe the wanky European threadings were occuring as much by the mid-eighties, but again I could be wrong.

The cranks do require a somewhat unique puller (23mm) which, in hindsight, I am assuming is what you were referring to. I didn't know that this had anything to do with them being French... but perhaps that is the case. As for the pedals, its a standard threading.

Thanks for the useful feedback.

striknein

No offense intended or taken. I'm a little edgy, because UPS still hasn't delivered my friggin' frame and I have to take the cats to the vet in an hour.

If you don't already have the crank puller, I'd try to find one before investing in those cranks. Otherwise, you'll probably have to destroy them if they ever need to be removed. Aside from the threading, they look great and they are a good value if the tapers aren't trashed. I'm with Scrod; ask for some better pictures before plunking down the cash.

stanzela

He did actually provide a few more images. I just posted that one for convenience sake. Here are some others

https://picasaweb.google.com/david.b...48940074982866


Good luck with the cats, and the frame. My fingers are crossed for you that there will be no peeing in the car.

striknein

The NDS arm looks great, but it almost looks like the DS taper is rounded off in the bottom-right corner.

https://picasaweb.google.com/david.b...49086384633570

stanzela

Man, you're good. Big brain AND eyes it seems. Well, as nice as these cranks are, it's looking more and more like a bad idea for $100. Apparently they are quite rare, but again I don't know if that makes it worthwhile. Is anyone still making a decent Campy copy? Any suggestions for cranks that look to be about this old? (or something that wouldn't look too ridiculous on a vintage bike). I don't care about getting original parts, but I do want my shtuff to look pretty

jessesv

IRD makes a nice looking crank and I'm pretty sure they've been discussed somewhere in these forums. Not sure how they perform, but they look the part.