natterberry 

I would prefer the 86 bcd (actually using one on my next build.) I’m not setting any land speed records, so I prefer the ability to have lower gearing.

tricky 

Japanese crank spindle lengths vary across manufacturers and across crankset models. In looking at Sheldon Brown's BB spindle length database it looks like most Japanese vintage doubles range between 107 and 113.https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bbsize.html You can probably fudge it within that range you are sticking to doubles. To be safe you could measure your BB spindle with a caliper to get the exact mm length and make sure that whatever you are buying will fall within a few millimeters of the recommended crank length. Or, you could just wing it and it might/probably be fine.

Paint Job Steve

Double quote buddy. I got these cranks you first recommended. If there is a problem with them I won't come crying to you. My regular bike shop has corona hours and they're closed Tuesday and Wednesday so I went to a cut rate guy in the industrial section of town. His hours are 1 pm to 10 pm, I showed up at 2 pm and the guy was sitting on his ass which didn't give me a general good feeling. When he wanted to look at the bike there was no stand he just flipped it upside down on his work bench. Bike tools on the wall were sparse. Then I showed him the ebay print out I made of the cranks you suggested and asked him if he needed to take a measurement or something, he's got a heavy Irish accent and he's hard to understand but he told me they'll fit maybe and go ahead and order them. Left my bike there gonna bring him the cranks when they ship from ebay, if the guy tries to screw me I'm having him deported on the first Aer Lingus flight leaving California.

branko_76 

Turned your bike upside down on his bench eh? He should be deported and keel-hauled on the ship that takes him back...

Paint Job Steve

Pretty sure he's cooking his Yelp reviews, pages and pages of all 5 star. Forgot to mention when he was wheeling my bike back he bumped the dropbars on an open toolbox drawer bet you my tape has a gouge.

One more question I'm thinking about the cranks you picked out, I think I understand you suggested them so I could go smaller with the chainring down to like a 32. If I'm totally content with a 52/40 chainring do you think there are better SR Apex options on ebay?

Piff 

New chainrings for that crankset are, well, they're expensive. They simply don't make them anymore. In my opinion those cranks shouldn't have been recommended. If you want to drop to a set of rings with fewer teeth it may cost $70 plus shipping/tax.

Has anyone purchased from this site? https://store.bicycleczar.com/category-s/420.htm

It's the cheapest source for small rings this side of the Atlantic that I could find. Anyone else know a good source?

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natterberry 

Stronglight quite literally makes them new for Spa Cycles. Cost is reasonable, shipping is reasonable

Unrelated my comment above, the comments of “shipping someone back to where they came from” are completely unnecessary.

Piff 

Well, that's good news. It's still a bad crank recommendation considering there's only one manufacturer left compared to....how many for 110 BCD? And they're across the ocean. And expensive.

branko_76 

If you only need 40 as your lowest, I would look for a crank with a 130 bcd, much easier to find chainrings for them. Shimano 600 is a common crank which has 130 bcd.

Search "130 bcd 40" or "130 bcd 52" in ebay you'll see what I mean. 42T is much more common though, if not low enough, you could always go with larger cogged freewheel

Paint Job Steve

Thanks. I'm content with your pick just asking.

branko_76 

put these on your radar.......

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sak...sAAOSwLatesYdg

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Strongl...QAAOSwaShdojTa

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-STRONGL...gAAOSw~wReaUiG

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-STRONGL...kAAOSw6nNeaUkF

just search "86 bcd"

Paint Job Steve

Quick question, I got my cranks put on less than two weeks ago, this morning I noticed a chainring bolt MIA and the other bolts pretty loose. When the cranks arrived from ebay I noticed they were loose then and I told the bike shop guy about that and he said he'd take care of it. I'm getting in touch with him shortly to see what he says, just curious if it is possible that he did tighten them and all 5 bolts somehow came loose? Also what is the etiquette if he tries to charge me to replace the missing bolt? I don't want to be an ahole about it but I think a free one is in order.