Bottom bracket width help with Campy cranks.
 

Hello

Due to some unfortunate events, im in need of a french thread bottom bracket that fits with my weird setup. I have Campagnolo Record Strada cranks that i use in a track setup, i presume the taper is in the same location as the Pista versions? So i would need 109mm ISO french thread bottom bracket, but the velo orange ones have only JIS ones. Any idea what spindle length would be correct?
My current spindle is some weird soviet standard with soviet tapers and the cups take 6mm ball bearings so i would like to get something thats with sealed bearings.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d0f5e59c73.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5fc2876c80.jpg

Soviet quality? Sorry, Can't help. There are Campagnolo Track spindles on the bay. You would need cups to go with them and I don't recall if they are thin or thick.

I would say find a 110 ISO old phil bottom bracket then order some French cups for it.
You could use the VO JIS BB and just use it on the Campy arms. Its been done in the past without issue... You just have to remember to always use the JIS spindle on them going forward and check and watch them for the first year for any looseness.

To be fair on that spindle, it was most likely original to the bike and it probably endured legs way stronger than mine on a regular basis for most of its life from 1979. But considering the grain structure on the cracked part and that it hardly had any wear on the bearing surfaces, it was most likely way too hard and brittle.
Campy stuff on Ebay is a bit out of my budget sadly.

I think the taper being 100% correct is long gone with these cranks being mounted on that soviet spindle. I found something cheaper than velo orange with french thread, but still JIS. As i read from Sheldon Brown on ISO vs JIS tapers, i needed to compensate abit on the taper length difference, so i ordered a 107mm one, lets hope it fits and i get a good chainline, it was abit off before anyway.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Yes, the Soviet taper is a wild card in this. I think maybe you chose wisely, erring a little on the short side for your new spindle. Keep an eye out here as French thread cups come up in the sales thread at reasonable prices from time to time. C-Record road, double spindles came in 109 and 111 mm if you're shopping for replacements for Campy cups at any time. There are also threadless bottom bracket options out there.

While you're here, pics of your 1936 bike would be cool to see.

Thanks for info.

You can find some pictures here: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-duerkopp.html

Small thing: is the crank designed for a symmetrical spindle? If you find the drive side arm is further in, you could happily put some spacers behind the DS bottom bracket flange to mimic an asymetrical spindle. I think campy had a lot of asymetrical bbs.

Phil Wood, Velo-Orange, and IRD all offer French thread cartridge bottom brackets in a range of spindle lengths. I suspect the hardest part will be shipping to Estonia. SKF also has a French thread cartridge bottom bracket, made in Germany, so might be easier to source for you.

I have recently been chasing this problem and ordered a Threadless Bottom Bracket. This one is 119mm for a double crank. You probably need a 110mm. It has not come in yet so it's not proven...


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...26b822b798.png

Velo-Orange UK eBay has French Threaded BB’s 110mm length:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Velo-Orange...-127635-2958-0

Well, it fits quite nicely, 107mm JIS spindle has a pretty decent chainline with Campy cranks. Guess this info should also apply to other french threaded track setups? The brand what i got was Neco, hopefully it lasts.