Mix and match bottom bracket
08-26-08, 01:51 PM
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Mix and match bottom bracket
Not sure if this would be better off here or in Bicycle Mechanics, but since French threads are part of my issue I figured I'd start here… if this question would be better off elsewhere, let me know… I imagine its the first of many. 
I'm getting ready to build up an old French frame (its in the mail) and have started collecting parts. I'd rather leave the shell threads as they are if I can help it, which means finding a BB with the right spindle length. I was wondering if its a good idea to mix and match bottom bracket cups and spindles… for instance can I use Campagnolo or Stronglight french threaded cups with a TA spindle of the appropriate length?
I recently saw a set of Campy cups go by that were described as 'thin'. Does that describe a difference in sizing? Do I have a match if both sides of the mix take the same ball bearings or are there other issues I need to pay attention to?
Thanks.
I'm getting ready to build up an old French frame (its in the mail) and have started collecting parts. I'd rather leave the shell threads as they are if I can help it, which means finding a BB with the right spindle length. I was wondering if its a good idea to mix and match bottom bracket cups and spindles… for instance can I use Campagnolo or Stronglight french threaded cups with a TA spindle of the appropriate length?
I recently saw a set of Campy cups go by that were described as 'thin'. Does that describe a difference in sizing? Do I have a match if both sides of the mix take the same ball bearings or are there other issues I need to pay attention to?
Thanks.
08-26-08, 02:04 PM
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1. Is it a good idea to mix and match bottom bracket cups and spindles… for instance can I use Campagnolo or Stronglight french threaded cups with a TA spindle of the appropriate length?
2. Does 'thin' describe a difference in sizing?
3. Do I have a match if both sides of the mix take the same ball bearings?
4. Are there other issues I need to pay attention to?
Thanks.
1. Is it a good idea to mix and match bottom bracket cups and spindles… for instance can I use Campagnolo or Stronglight french threaded cups with a TA spindle of the appropriate length?
2. Does 'thin' describe a difference in sizing?
3. Do I have a match if both sides of the mix take the same ball bearings?
4. Are there other issues I need to pay attention to?
Thanks.
08-26-08, 02:09 PM
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You can mix and match. Sometimes you have to when dealing with French stuff. Most all of them are designed to take 11 1/4" balls per side.
The races on a spindle made for thin cups will be farther apart than on one made for thick cups. Did you find thin French Campy cups? I was desperate for those a while back because they only made triple Campy spindles for thin cups. I gave up and went with an Edco.
The races on a spindle made for thin cups will be farther apart than on one made for thick cups. Did you find thin French Campy cups? I was desperate for those a while back because they only made triple Campy spindles for thin cups. I gave up and went with an Edco.
08-26-08, 03:08 PM
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Thanks. Good to know.
I saw a pair go by on Ebay a week or so back. I hadn't settled on a crank yet and didn't know what they were… just made a note of them because I hadn't seen that description before. I think they died on the vine… no takers.
Is that bit with the thin cups a Campy issue only? When I was looking at Sheldon's Bottom Bracket Database for TA Bottom Brackets the center length seems to stay the same from one spindle to the next with all the difference in length coming from the two ends. The way I'm reading it the races on the spindle are always in the same place but I'm not sure I'm reading it right. (I've got a TA spindle for a triple).
Is that bit with the thin cups a Campy issue only? When I was looking at Sheldon's Bottom Bracket Database for TA Bottom Brackets the center length seems to stay the same from one spindle to the next with all the difference in length coming from the two ends. The way I'm reading it the races on the spindle are always in the same place but I'm not sure I'm reading it right. (I've got a TA spindle for a triple).
08-26-08, 03:31 PM
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Yes, that's a Campy issue. The cups got thicker when they got rifled. Thick cups mean the races on the spindles have to be closer together or the cups will stick out too far.
08-26-08, 03:43 PM
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I believe that Branford Bike's website has explicatory info on the thin and thick cups, and what spindles go with them.
I now have the dreaded and probably terminal French variant of the bike disease. A couple months ago, I bought a set of Shimano 600 french-threaded BB cups, just because I'd never seen such a thing, and thought I might never again! And just a few days ago did a BIN for a 50-year-old J.B. Janisson French threaded headset for the same reason.
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN:IT&ih=011
I now have the dreaded and probably terminal French variant of the bike disease. A couple months ago, I bought a set of Shimano 600 french-threaded BB cups, just because I'd never seen such a thing, and thought I might never again! And just a few days ago did a BIN for a 50-year-old J.B. Janisson French threaded headset for the same reason.
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN:IT&ih=011
Last edited by Charles Wahl; 08-26-08 at 03:50 PM.
08-26-08, 03:59 PM
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I didn't find anything on Branford Bikes website that concerned the thick or thin issue (not to say its not there, just that I haven't found it yet).
I did find this bit, which doesn't concern me directly but might be useful to others…
If I'm understanding that right, a Campy crank belongs on a Campy spindle but Campy cups and a TA spindle are fine for TA cranks.
I did find this bit, which doesn't concern me directly but might be useful to others…
All cranks must be matched with a specific length bottom bracket spindle. Triple cranks or frames with oversize seat tubes require slightly longer bottom bracket spindles. Shimano and almost every major bottom bracket maker have traditionally used the same spindle end cross section of 12.9 mm and two degree taper. Campagnolo uses the same two degree taper but has a smaller starting cross section of 12.7 mm. A Shimano crank arm will bottom out on Campagnolo spindle. A Campagnolo crank arm will not draw far enough onto a Shimano spindle.
