Broken spindle
10-10-20, 12:08 PM
#1
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Broken spindle
My son was riding his Gitane TDF last night, and had the BB spindle snap on him. Fortunately, he was just starting out from a stop sign, so didn't crash and wasn't hurt at all. The crankset/BB is an Ofmega Mistral. The spindle is marked Ofmega 68C, and total length is 115mm. I'm not sure why this happened. Perhaps we had tightened the crank bolts too much? At any rate, I'll be looking for a BB or spindle for this. I think the crank arm is fine, but I posted some pics. More available here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmRjeYdy
If I can't find an Ofmega spindle or BB, any thoughts on replacements that might work? It is an assymetric spindle, much like Campy. I'll have to measure between the lands and the end lengths, but possible a thin-cup Campy Record spindle might work? At one time I had one, I'll have to look. I presume something like a Shimano UN55 would not work.
Thanks for any thoughts/advice on this.
If I can't find an Ofmega spindle or BB, any thoughts on replacements that might work? It is an assymetric spindle, much like Campy. I'll have to measure between the lands and the end lengths, but possible a thin-cup Campy Record spindle might work? At one time I had one, I'll have to look. I presume something like a Shimano UN55 would not work.
Thanks for any thoughts/advice on this.
10-10-20, 12:43 PM
#2
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here is a pre-owned example listed as 116mm in TL -
https://www.ebay.it/itm/Vintage-Ofme...0AAOSwoGdemy~L
also you can post in the ISO thread (stickies) and in the C&V for sale forum
tip - some taper experts have written that OFMEGA is unique and does not interchange well with others.
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here is a pre-owned example listed as 116mm in TL -
https://www.ebay.it/itm/Vintage-Ofme...0AAOSwoGdemy~L
also you can post in the ISO thread (stickies) and in the C&V for sale forum
tip - some taper experts have written that OFMEGA is unique and does not interchange well with others.
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Last edited by juvela; 10-10-20 at 12:45 PM. Reason: addition
10-10-20, 02:37 PM
#3
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Thanks, but that one is marked 70P, so is Italian, as are those on US Ebay (including the one that says it is English).
10-10-20, 02:53 PM
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my apologies
after posting enlarged image and was able to read the 70C marking
letter is C for "corsa" indicating a two plateau intended usage
checked ebay.it, ebay.com and subito.it without finding any good candidates
btw -
you might wish to check with Palo Alto Bicycles ("PAB") regarding spares availability. they are the creators of the Avocet badge. owner of shop was a part owner of OFMEGA.
https://www.paloaltobicycles.com
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Last edited by juvela; 10-10-20 at 03:16 PM. Reason: addition
10-10-20, 03:57 PM
#5
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That has been ready to go for a long time, those dark spots have been that way for a while.Glad the kid is ok.
Guess we should check spindles closely more often.
10-10-20, 06:53 PM
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Somewhere I have an English spec Ofmega BB which I prob won't ever need to use, and I'm guessing might have a suitable spindle for you. will check for length and revert...
Update: Asymmetric spindle is marked 68c and measures 118mm in overall length. markings on cup seem identical to yours: 34.8 x 24 f.s.
Also, in case it's helpful, the Ofmega cranks that matched this BB have been mounted on a regular cartridge BB (prob Shimano) for quite some time: although they have never been really stressed they've done a few thousand miles now without any signs of rejecting the spindle.
Update: Asymmetric spindle is marked 68c and measures 118mm in overall length. markings on cup seem identical to yours: 34.8 x 24 f.s.
Also, in case it's helpful, the Ofmega cranks that matched this BB have been mounted on a regular cartridge BB (prob Shimano) for quite some time: although they have never been really stressed they've done a few thousand miles now without any signs of rejecting the spindle.
Last edited by niliraga; 10-10-20 at 07:41 PM.
10-10-20, 09:32 PM
#7
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That is absolutely gnarly dude! I wonder if it made any creaking noises before it just snapped off? To me it looks like the failure was due to some impurities in the steel alloy or in other words a "bad part". I snapped a pedal off a bike once. But, it had already bent a little first. So, I should have known it was about to go.
10-10-20, 10:58 PM
#8
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I had this one partially fail while riding, had to soft-pedal back to the ride start after the crankarm started hitting the chainstay.
It's just a cheap JIS spindle.
It's just a cheap JIS spindle.
10-13-20, 06:56 PM
#9
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Just an update: I found the thin-cup Campy Record spindle, and it matches up pretty nicely. It measures 114.7mm vs. the 115.5mm of the Ofmega, the tapers seem very similar. I'll have to remeasure them, but both the end and the thickest parts seemed almost the same. The taper on the Ofmega is just slightly longer. The crank seems to sit on the Campy spindle just slightly less deep, but I'll measure that as well. The spindle fits fine in the BB cups; adj. cup is out just slightly from with the Ofmega spindle.
If this doesn't work, I have a Campy Racing T crank with correct BB I can toss on here for a bit.
If this doesn't work, I have a Campy Racing T crank with correct BB I can toss on here for a bit.
10-13-20, 07:11 PM
#10
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...the Ofmega spindles where the taper is problematic are the earliest ones. The socket and spindle end on those are very obviously much smaller than standard tapers of all other makers. It's impossible to mount one of those cranks on a standard spindle, if that helps any.
...the Ofmega spindles where the taper is problematic are the earliest ones. The socket and spindle end on those are very obviously much smaller than standard tapers of all other makers. It's impossible to mount one of those cranks on a standard spindle, if that helps any.
10-13-20, 08:53 PM
#11
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Thread Starter
Somewhere I have an English spec Ofmega BB which I prob won't ever need to use, and I'm guessing might have a suitable spindle for you. will check for length and revert...
Update: Asymmetric spindle is marked 68c and measures 118mm in overall length. markings on cup seem identical to yours: 34.8 x 24 f.s.
Also, in case it's helpful, the Ofmega cranks that matched this BB have been mounted on a regular cartridge BB (prob Shimano) for quite some time: although they have never been really stressed they've done a few thousand miles now without any signs of rejecting the spindle.
Update: Asymmetric spindle is marked 68c and measures 118mm in overall length. markings on cup seem identical to yours: 34.8 x 24 f.s.
Also, in case it's helpful, the Ofmega cranks that matched this BB have been mounted on a regular cartridge BB (prob Shimano) for quite some time: although they have never been really stressed they've done a few thousand miles now without any signs of rejecting the spindle.
.
...the Ofmega spindles where the taper is problematic are the earliest ones. The socket and spindle end on those are very obviously much smaller than standard tapers of all other makers. It's impossible to mount one of those cranks on a standard spindle, if that helps any.
...the Ofmega spindles where the taper is problematic are the earliest ones. The socket and spindle end on those are very obviously much smaller than standard tapers of all other makers. It's impossible to mount one of those cranks on a standard spindle, if that helps any.
10-14-20, 10:15 AM
#12
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can you clarify which dark spots are the issue? There are two photos and both have dark areas. Do you mean the first photo?
10-14-20, 04:34 PM
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10-14-20, 07:43 PM
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10-14-20, 10:53 PM
#15
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Thanks.
Likes For Mr. Spadoni:
10-14-20, 10:57 PM
#16
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so where do you get magnaflux testing done? I have a frame that some suggested I get fluxed, due to possible cracking.
10-15-20, 12:17 AM
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Its kind of an old school thing, you can call around to automotive machine and cylinder head shops but they will probably not want to do something out of their wheelhouse.
I think you can buy kits but its a skill that can be tricky.
A framebuilder is who you should try to consult.
Do you have pics of the area in question, is the paint stripped, can you see any wrinkles, distortion, cracking paint, etc. ?
10-15-20, 09:00 AM
#18
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I will send pics at a later date. Frame is stashed away at this point. It’s a 72 Colgano. On its last ride, the steerer tube broke. When I pulled what remained of the fork, I saw some damage to the paint on the down tube. As the bike in question had been ridden hard and often stored outside, albeit in a dry climate, I chalked up the paint issue to cracks. A car guy I know suggested Magnafluxing. Having only a passing idea of the process, I never followed up on his suggestion. I figured I would look at the frame again if a replacement fork of the right type ever materialized. Still waiting for the fork, but curious about the viability of the frame.
10-15-20, 11:25 PM
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I will send pics at a later date. Frame is stashed away at this point. It’s a 72 Colgano. On its last ride, the steerer tube broke. When I pulled what remained of the fork, I saw some damage to the paint on the down tube. As the bike in question had been ridden hard and often stored outside, albeit in a dry climate, I chalked up the paint issue to cracks. A car guy I know suggested Magnafluxing. Having only a passing idea of the process, I never followed up on his suggestion. I figured I would look at the frame again if a replacement fork of the right type ever materialized. Still waiting for the fork, but curious about the viability of the frame.
Could be nice, fancy or just ok but I find that once you take some of the pressure off, the right thing often comes along sooner rather than later.
I know it sounds like a load of crap but has worked for me more than a few times and several times in fine fashion.
10-16-20, 09:30 AM
#20
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Ok. You convinced me, guess it’s time to pull that frame out of the rafters.
