Stronglight 49d triple --help finding a B.B.
 

Hello,

I recently purchased a vintage 70's road bike (which I will describe in the next thread), the problem is this :It has a [B]stronglight 49d TRIPLE.crankset.The bottom bracket is a TA spindle type, which needs replacing. The bike shop which helped me remove the crank,( which took a very long time), Said that there is no way to replace the B.B. as it is a specific triple -- the right side is longer than the left.
I have spend the last month reading up on stronglight triple cranks and TA B.Brackets. Please could you advise me which B.B. I need . Or will I have to replace the whole crankset.?
P,S were the old T.A Bottom brackets and 49d cranksets considered top of the line? Is it worth trying to clean and regrease the spindle and let it go for another 2 years?

I would welcome any feedback, Yours sincerely, Elad

Certainly, cleaning and repacking the BB are the first things you should try or is the spindle pitted on the bearing surfaces? Also, what markings are on the spindle in terms of length? I've seen 120mm Stronglight spindles, which I assume are for triples. Alternatively, you can go with a new BB. V-O sells a cartridge BB in 122mm length that I think should work:

http://www.velo-orange.com/grcrubobr.html

The taper is JIS, and from what I've been trying to figure out, that should be okay (I'll be fitting a TA triple to a new frame once it arrives, and that's the BB I bought for it).

Neal

The Stronglight spindle that you want is a 125.
They show up occasionally on ebay.

I have the same crank as a double on a mid 70's Motobecane Grand Jubilee frame. I have yet to remove it (one of many future projects...). However, before I get to that stage, there are some issues. This vintage needs a special crank remover due to Stronglight unique thread (The French...) for that time period. I purchased the crank remover in anticipation for that step (maybe why it took so long for you/hope the threads were not damaged). Another problem: I have read that the 49d crank of that era were made for ISO (Campy) taper. Sheldon Brown wrote about interchanging ISO/JIS without much damage, but the lengths have to be adjusted due to difference in fitting. Assuming it is ISO, I have found a few but expensive options. If sticking with ISO, I think Phil Wood makes a 120's length BB/spindle ISO taper. I am not sure there is an ISO catridge that length. I have the problem of the BB probably being Swisss threaded, so if I want to put the crank on the Moto with a cartridge, it is PW with the Swiss retaining ring=$$$$. The axle without cartridge is also $$$. I am still not sure if I will go with the triple or double ring route. Again, replacement rings (which I need since the present ones are worn) are not cheap along with the right screw, etc. I do hope when VO comes out with their TA knockoff that the chainrings will be more affordable then the TA ones. A beautiful crank, but not without challenges. I think of the costs involved to get this crank usable, and I see 2 or three XD-2 Sugino type cranks I could get for the price with a lot less headaches....

fwiw I've been running my Stronglight 93 on a JIS spindle for a while now with no issues.

you can buy a 120mm ISO spindle from rivendell for like $8 or something, i'm running one with my Sugino Super Maxy compact double.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/...5ce308.jpg?v=0
http://www.rivbike.com/products/list...product=12-005

Are you sure the BB needs replacement? Unless it's pretty obvious, that's kind of hard to tell without pulling the crankset and removing the adjustable cup. Personally, I'd do that pronto, before putting more mileage on. If the one you have is salvageable, you'll want to do that for all the reasons you've listed. Fresh balls and grease might buy you some more time; perhaps lots of it. If the races look OK, I wouldn't touch the fixed cup, by the way.

The issue of Swiss/French threading on Motos comes up fairly often. Don't assume your mid-70s bike is Swiss. My '79 is French, but ymmv.

Neal,

Yes you are absolutely right. We did remove th spindle ,and I cleaned it and regreased it. The crankset removal was very complicated. I worked with a friend who has a bike shop, he is very knowledgeable about vintage etc.
As for the bike, could you identify it? It has an unmarked 531 lavender frame, from the 70's. campy dropouts and chrome lugs. mafac racer brakes ,stronglight 49d triple crank,cinnelli A1 stem and bars and normandy hubs.
Everything on the bike is French however I do not think that a French frame maker would use Italian dropouts.
Do you have any clue what make the bike could be?
Simon

jbonamici,

Thanks for the reply. I bought the bike 2 months ago in an antique shop. As for the components, it is always risky trying to deal with vintage French stuff, however the 49d crankset, from what I have heard was really a top quality component, it is as light as the campy record stuff from that era, so I guess it is worth the trouble of looking for a new B.B. The problem I have now is whether to start replacing the parts, headset, wheels etc, or just sticking with the bike till the end.

Thanks S.B

Lavender mid-70s French frame makes me think Motobecane Le Champion. Really nice bike, if that's what it is. Do you have pictures?

Lots of French builders used Campy dropouts. Pics are needed!

Neal

Why was the removal so complicated? I've removed cranks hundreds of time, but I don't ever remember it being complicated: you screw in the removal tool, you tighten the screw, and voila! off it comes. Two minutes at most.

In fact I just recently did this with MY 49D from my Motobecane.

Most cranks do take under 2 minute, but the 49d was a problem. The bike shop couldn't find the correct tool.

Thanks for that link! I'm ordering both sizes. I think I'll be able to convert a couple of my bikes back from catridge BB's.

FWIW: My Stronglight double taken off a donor Peugeot U08 had a 120 spindle.