BB Spindle size Question
 

I'm trying to change the spindle in my '72 Schwinn World Voyageur to accept a triple crankset. I got the appropriate spindle (or so I thought) and when I installed it in the BB the Adjustable cup goes in too far to get the lockring on.

I checked the BB shell size with calipers just now and it is certainly 68mm just like the spindle I'm using. Is this one of those Thin Cups/Thick spindle things?

I know I need a 68mm spindle ....apparently just a slightly different 68mm spindle.

Am I better off just buying a cartridge unit?

Not enough info.

6700+ posts and you ask a nebulous question?

Don't make me get Robbie mad.

Seems perfectly clear to me. A cartridge BB would be the simplest solution.

ok ok call off the dogs!

68mm bb shell.
I wanna use a TA Cyclotouriste 48-38-28 triple.

What size Spindle should I use?

Am I better off just switching to a cartridge? If that's the case What size Shimano cartridge BB do I need?

I'm confused by the way cartridge BB's are sold. They call them 68x124 or 68x117...is there a table that shows what the drive side length is for these cartridges?

**edit**

oh Sutherlands has shed some light on this....they have a chart of Shimano BB sizes and their associated "SER" or Shell-to-End width.

so if this pic is accurate
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/i...a-bb-axles.gif
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/i...a-bb-axles.gif

It's saying that there are two possibilities for a Triple Chainring TA setup. Which is correct?

. . . the one that gives you the right chainline!

You ran out of room with the spindle replacement because the spindle you were substituting has a smaller distance between the bearing tracks than the one that originally worked with the cups you have. TA and Stronglight have quite a wide track; even more than lots of Italian spindles -- look at Sutherland's and you'll see what I mean. Bear in mind that a cartridge bearing BB will have JIS tapers -- a bit chunkier ends than a TA -- so you may need a slightly shorter SER (shell-to-end, right; Sutherland's parlance) than the diagram above suggests. If you can, buy from someplace that will let you return; or have the shop do it.

118mm. BTW, I have a brand new one.....JIS Cartridge

+1 118 is what you need. Also, some adjusting cups are deeper than others. I ran into the same problem, and found one cup was 15mm deep and the other 18mm, and that was enough to get the lockring on.

I've encountered a similar situation with a Bianchi: 68mm BB shell, thin cups, spindle was 5S which had a larger space (55mm) between the bearing races than "3" series spindles (52mm). Have a look here: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bbsize.html for a table with some spindle specs.

Dan, I agree that you need a 116-118mm spindle. It's a good idea to buy a spacer or two; they're handy to keep around.

can you guys please enlighten me as to how you are getting 118mm as the correct length?

i believe you, i just don't get it.

Standard TA/Stronglight double spindle length is 118mm. Are you folks figuring in the taper or something to come up with that for a triple? The Stronglight-branded triple spindle I have is 125mm.

Neal

OOps.... I just noted you want to use a triple so a 118 will not work, a 118 is for a double. I'm sure you are going to need about a 122-123 spindle.

This is it exactly. The constraints on spindle fitting all have to do with fitting the frame with the intended crankset. The constraints are: the clearance between the chainset (crank arms plus rings and bolts) and the right chainstay, chainline, distance between the bearing tracks, diameter at the base of the spindle end (matching the hole in the cup), and balanced offset between the left and right pedals relative to the frame center plane (the importance of this is a matter of taste).

One of my LBS has a box of old NOS, take-off, and used spindles, including JIS, a Campy or two, some cottered, and the odd Campy or Stronglight, and sells the NOS JIS for $5.00 each. Trial and error is a lot cheaper than with cartridge types.

TAs first may need their proprietary taper, depending on model. If a JIS or ISO allows the crank bolt to seat it properly, you can experiment. First try a spindle that is probably too long, and measure the properties above. Barnett's gives a flow chart for how to match a spindle to a frame and crankset, translating the fit measurements of one example to the closest matching specs for the best available spindle fit. Armed with the part number of your best JIS (if the taper works) fit, you can go to Niagara and buy a Pyramid that has the correct shape.

I think Barnett's or Sutherland's also have a section on Ashtabula dimensions. If so, it may cut out some of the trial and error.

This ain't easy, go carefully.

I asked Peter White about spindle specs for more modern TA cranks (an Alize), and he said finally that if I send him the crank, he can select the best BB for me. Ultimately, having a good BB is worth the cost.

I also missed that this was a triple. I'm calculating 122-123mm like Capecodder by taking the spec'd 125mm spindle and subtracting 2-3mm to compensate for the JIS taper.

This BB stuff can get very tricky at times......

Fwiw, I'm running a TA triple on my Ebisu with a Phil Wood 123mm BB with JIS taper. It's actually a bit too short. Should have gone with 125 or 127.5.

Neal