Hi All,

I recently had my 1988 Paramount 50th anniversary edition frame restored by Waterford and started the build. I have a Dura Ace 9 speed group set (triple) that I was planning to use. The crank is a 7703 which takes an Octalink bb 118.5mm. I installed the bb and when I installed the drive side crank, it was very obvious that there is no clearance for the chain on the inner ring. Is this group set just not compatible? I believe the bb is installed correctly and I am a bit baffled.Thanks in advance for any ideas or advice. I would love to have a double rather than a triple but unfortunately my knees won this one.

Lori

Unless I'm missing something, there doesn't need to be clearance for the chain. As long as the chainring won't hit the chainstay, the chain is never down there?

You may be using the wrong Bottom Bracket. This link may explain it better than I can.

Octalink v1 or v2? - BikeRadar Forum

Yup I realized that after I posted. Omg I am an idiot . Thanks! Maybe I should post some pictures of the bike to divert attention away lol.

Are you using the DA Bottom Bracket? If so beware... mine turned to gravel very quickly. The Ultegra one is much more robust.

Yes, you are (now) correct. The crankset looks like it'll work fine on that bike. (Assuming the crank doesn't hit the chainstay.)

Not to worry, this forum is full of idiots, present company included...

For proof, just see the "bonehead moves" thread.

[MENTION=51742]jdpt[/MENTION] , you are correct to have a 118.5mm spindle length for a triple Octalink crankset of that era (7703 Dura Ace, 6503 Ultegra, 5503 105). Octalink V1 is your ticket. V2 BBs are, to my knowledge, only for mountain. Their spline width and depth are different (and thankfully obviously so) and they are labeled differently. V1's will be labeled BB-XXXX, so a 'paired' Dura Ace crankset to Dura Ace BB would have a 7703-labeled crankset to a BB-7703 bottom bracket. BB-6503 and BB5503 would also work just fine, and as others have stated, much more set-it-and-forget-it. I have both the million-bearings 7700 bottom bracket as well as a few lower-ranked ones. All work well for me!

As long as your smallest chainring clears the chain stay, you are good to go! Clearance, whether it be 10mm or 1mm, is clearance, so don't sweat it unless you have the leg power of 50 track cyclists. I've run less than 1mm clearance on a bike and at 6'5" / 215 can't get 175mm triple cranks to contact the frame (I am certainly not the last word in power output here, but am not a slouch...for short distances!).

There is (another) special place in my C&V heart for Dura Ace triples as they are so rare and intriguing. The Dura Ace to please the eyes, the triple to please the knees, and leg muscles, and heart, and lungs.... There is a 7803 crankset for sale at my LBS and it's my length and for a great price. Very tempting, but I already have a 7800 crank on a bike I really like! Tyranny of the immediate opportunity! Looking forward to seeing your Paramount completed. 50th Anniversary, mmmmm...