Does a Cottered TA crankset use the same size BB spindle as a cottered Nervar Crankset?

The Spindle in question is on my '72 Raleigh Super Course, I'm considering a Cottered TA crankset. Because I think it looks awesomer than the square taper ones.



The fact that it won't need the stupid special size puller is kinda cool too.

I don't think I've ever seen a cottered TA crankset, only Stronglight. Do you have a pic?

Neal

Isn't there a guy with a website that covers TA really in depth?
The only "cottered: TA I can find any reference to requires a TA BB;
https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk...anks-comp.html

I didn't look close enough. Its Nervar with TA rings. Sorry!

I have seen two sizes of Nervars. I think it's 5/8" for English and 15mm for French bikes or something like that. I think the Japanese use the same size as the French but they tend to be the cheap kind.

TA cottered cranks had a unique spindle, kind of half-round, half-square:

^Would you believe I had a pair of those, which I gave away to a guy who worked at the lbs about fifteen years ago. What was I thinking.

First of all, be sure to measure the overall length of the axle to ensure a correct fit. And then...

Here are some of the rather confusing variables available on old Nervar crank arms which you should also be concerned with.

This is a detail of a 1974 catalog page which was scanned by enthusiast Robert S Broderick. By this point in time, cottered steel cranks were really on their way out in favor of a growing number of inexpensive alloy cotterless cranks. But, Nervar was still producing a wide variety of cranksets in their earlier patterns. With the variations shown in the image below, you could find a very inexpensive replacement crankset to match any of your existing bottom bracket or pedal thread needs. - But, that was then...

Best to accurately measure the diameter of the end of a BB axle. A 5/8" (British standard) axle = 15.88 mm. It will fit into a French diameter opening... but just a bit loosely. A 16 mm (French) axle will not fit into a British crank opening. Also, proper British dimensioned cotter pin [3/8"= 9.5 mm] will not fit into the smaller bore of a French crank arm. To be honest, I've never tested a mis-matched fit, but you might have an issue when combining the two sizes... the tapers may be a bit off and so with such a combination the cotter pin could prove too loose a fit to anchor the smaller axle properly... But, maybe it's no big deal at all.

In any case, Good Luck! Cottered axles are becoming very hard to find - just in a correct required length!

Probably Joel Metz's pages?

https://www.blackbirdsf.org/ta/

Neal

Newb.

I've got nothing witty to retort with. I'm fresh out this morning for some reason.

that's what she said?

sadly, no....it was the reply to what she asked.

Yeah, that guy.