@Madhonk

I should have added more details. My fault. I do have some spare bolts. The BB is 70mm. Cups are 36/24mm. I do have other old 68mm spindles that these cranks fit on with no issues.

The internal threads of the Ofmega spindle are stripped as well as the ones on the bolt. Here is a shot of the inside of the spindle. Hopefully you can see the threads. Hard to photo inside with a phone. I should also have said that there is a burr inside the spindle and halfway down. Perhaps they could be re-threaded.



I have never seen this issue before with the taper. I last installed a set of Campy Record cranks from the 80's and they fit a standard Italian threaded cartridge with zero issues.

The old spindle fits perfectly into the Bianchi stamped (Ofmega cranks). Again, it's hard to get a quality photo with a cell but the cranks fit tight as. drum.



I then entered the Ofmega spindle into a Shimano Sport crank. The Shimano crank rides about a 1/2 inch high above the spindle, meaning it isn't flush.




I then took the spindle from a Shimano made Italian threaded BB. I inserted it in the Bianchi (Ofmega) cranks. The Shimano spindle only sticks out a 1/4 of an inch. This crank is normally held in place by a nut and not a bolt. The nut does not even engage the threads on the spindle.



Lastly, I took the same Shimano cranks and attached them to the Shimano spindle. It sticks well proud and the nut will easily thread on.



I don't want to buy a complete ISO loose bearings BB for $60+ shipping as I have a really nice set of Gipiemme cups and I'd like to use those. Similarly, I'm leery of buying a cartridge BB when several sellers are stating their cartridges are ISO but photos look to be JIS.

I guess for now I'll just install the Shimano BB set with a 70mm Shimano spindle and see how it rides.

Mad Honk

I believe I have an answer from Sheldon Brown and it's worse than I feared!

Per Sheldon - "Ofmega cranks, including those branded "Avocet" use a non-standard spindle, thinner than either J.I.S. or ISO spindles. As far as I know, nothing else works." Presumably he meant that Ofmega cranks BITD used a thinner spindle because, I like you, have fit Ofmega cranks on JIS spiundles with zero issues.

WHAT A NIGHTMARE! I believe I'll just quit the chase and install a standard Italian threaded BB and use JIS cranks........

Wesley,
No luck at the co-op. Only one 70 mm spindle in the bin and it was 128 so maybe for a triple. I still am wondering if you arms the newer design which would fit any Campy spindle or even the Suntour or Sugino spindles. The age of the bike suggest to me that it is a newer design set of arms. Can you get a Campy spindle to check for fit? Smiles, MH

Might have been stretched from using JIS and torqued down?

You could attempt to repair the ofmega spindle threads with a threaded insert;

https://www.amazon.com/ViaGasaFamido-Stainless-Rethreading-Threaded-Repairing/

Try any BB you have. It should be obvious if the JIS or ISO spindle is too large. If they aren't, then it is likely ISO.

Mad Honk

Thank you. I believe you found the solution. I only have a Gipemme spindle but it fit. I will seek an Italian spindle in 70mm. I will also see if I can get the old spindle retaped...

Thank you 😊

Had to install the "Schwinn Approved" seat from my 1967 Varsity.
Very fast riding bike.
Not in love with the bars which are bare because I was unsure if I wanted to install good bar tape if I wasn't keeping them. The Tektro levers that the PO had installed would need hoods so might as well install other levers as well since I'm unsure what model hoods to buy for the Tektros.
I rode it with the 23mm tires it came with and I felt every bump. If it stays it gets tubulars. Will have to try with tubulars before making that call.....

Should have said, where there 105 levers that had concealed cables?

SurferRosa
Bingo!
That's exactly what I need.Thank you.

(yes I know this thread is a few months old)

I hope you wound up with a different crank:

Yikes.

I traded the frame out. Hopefully I can reach teh new owner.

oneclick Thank you!