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Old 08-17-13 | 01:07 AM
  #18  
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dddd
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From: Northern California

Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.

A 110mm Shimano (or other JIS) symmetrical bb will have an effective spindle length of 115mm or so in ISO/Campag terms, since the taper is thicker.

What is called a "2mm offset" (where the drive side end of the spindle protrudes 2mm further than the non-drive end) is really just a 1mm shift to the right of the entire spindle.
The right end gains 1mm, while the left end loses 1mm, so the right end is thus 2mm longer than the left.
But the increase in driveside chainline here is only 1mm versus the symmetrical bb (assuming same-length and same-taper spindle).

So considering all this, the 110mm symmetrical Shimano cratridge bb should give about the same chainline as the original Campag bb.
And since the Cartridge bb needs no lockring, any amount of spacers can be used under the driveside (fixed) cup flange, thus mimicking the offset of the Campag bb while giving any amount of needed chainring clearance at the chainstay.

Many Chinese-made bb's use a smaller, flexier 16mm spindle diameter, in order to allow bearings with thicker section to fit into the cups.
Shimano's cartridge bb's integrate the inner and outer bearing races into the spindle and body, respectively, allowing larger bearings together with a very strong spindle. This might explain some of their heavier weight than some other's advertised weight.

In all of my years seeing ceramic-ball bearing cartridges in use, I've never noticed any improvement in performance or longevity, particularly when compared to Shimano's parts, although the balls themselves are lighter than steel.
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