Asymmetrical Spindle installation
03-02-11 | 06:18 PM
#1
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From: Montereyish
Asymmetrical Spindle installation
I'm in the middle of installing this square taper SR BB and suddenly started doubting myself on which side the longer end of the spindle goes to. The crank side, correct?
03-02-11 | 10:32 PM
#3
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From: New Rochelle, NY
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
It's generally the right side that needs the extra room for chainring/chainstay clearance, so long side to the right. If the left needed more room, or the right didn't it would have been symmetrical.
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Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
03-02-11 | 11:08 PM
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From: Corvallis, OR, USA
Bikes: 2006 Windsor Dover w/105, 2007 GT Avalanche w/XT, 1995 Trek 820 setup for touring, 201? Yeah single-speed folder, 199? Huffy tandem.
03-03-11 | 08:13 AM
#6
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
As all of the above posters said, the vast majority of the time the longer end is installed toward the drive side and you shoud be able to read the engraving properly while seated on the bike and looking through a "transparent" bottom bracket shell.
That said, I did run into an exception years ago. I had a '93 Trek 7000 MTB that came with a Tange cup-and-cone bb and a Deore LX 110/74 triple crank. When I first overhauled it I discovered the bb spindle had been installed with the long end toward the non-drive-side. After muttering some uncomplimentary things about the factory incompetence, I proceeded to install it the "right" way only to have the non-drive side crank arm hit the chainstay! Apparently the fat chainstays on this frame required an extra long spindle and reverse installation to clear everything properly.
That said, I did run into an exception years ago. I had a '93 Trek 7000 MTB that came with a Tange cup-and-cone bb and a Deore LX 110/74 triple crank. When I first overhauled it I discovered the bb spindle had been installed with the long end toward the non-drive-side. After muttering some uncomplimentary things about the factory incompetence, I proceeded to install it the "right" way only to have the non-drive side crank arm hit the chainstay! Apparently the fat chainstays on this frame required an extra long spindle and reverse installation to clear everything properly.
