denaffen

Is there a spreadsheet or database somewhere showing what bb spindle length a given crankset works best with? Like, for example, a Sugino VP wants 118mm (or whatever), while a Shimano 600 wants 110 (or whatever)?

krakhaus 

Sheldon has a pretty good list. https://sheldonbrown.com/bbsize.html

denaffen

Thanks. That's good as far as it goes. I guess I was hoping someone had picked it up and fleshed it out more.

seypat

You can look up the crank on Velobase. It usually has the BB spindle in the info area.

esasjl

I'm only familiar with square taper, but I use an old BB to check the chainline for a crankset then buy a BB the right length. Fine adjustments can then be done with spacers or shims in the taper.

merziac

This is a loaded question, fleshing it out is up to you depending on crank, chainrings, chainstays, frame and yes, spindle. If you haven't done this much it can be a valuable learning experience, patience is key and other factors can harpoon you for being too focused on just one facet of this.

Many here subscribe to a hunt and peck method where you use your experience to start with a spindle that looks or seems close, best done from a bike that you are taking the BB apart and changing the crank on or just overhauling it so you have a reference starting point.

You will often have to swap in and out a couple or few to get there, it pays to have several spares for this. Like I said, patience is key and this is very good practice for future cup and cone folly.

The charts and such are way back in the past now and tapers deform, stretch, etc., much of it was just a starting point anyway and much of it was put out without variables that are often unknown and unpredictable until you get it apart and have a moment with the thing apart in your hands.

Charles Wahl

Sutherland's Manual is a good place to start, for stats on different manufacturers' spindles -- information on the "shell-to-end" right and left (some spindles are asymmetrical), as well as lengths and the different types of taper "stubbiness" (angle), plus suggested compatibilities. I am a confirmed square taper, never gonna try all that crap that came afterward guy, so Sutherland's 6th works for me, don't need anything later. But as everyone says, when push comes to shove in a build, it's guess, based on manufacturer data, and then trial-and-error to close things out. Or, get a Phil Wood.

seypat

It might help if the OP states the specific question/problem he/she is trying to solve.

Is there a crank you have that you are trying to find a spindle for? Or maybe you have a spindle that you need a crank for? There are plenty of cranks out there that can be used as singles, doubles or triples. Each situation will require a different length spindle.

denaffen

seypat I did that, actually, in another thread, but it wasn't all that relevant here for the more generalized question of whether or not this was collected in a DB somewhere. My data-driven brain feels it should be.

Still, there's a lot of good advice here, so thanks to everyone who chimed in. I don't think any of it would have helped me in my own very weird setup, but it's still been very helpful.

And for anyone interested, the very weird setup is going from cottered cranks to a square taper, with a Thompson BB. Swapping things in and out isn't much of an option there. I think I messed up when I ordered the Thompson BB with a 127mm spindle, which seemed right based on the original cottered spindle, but is -- as I'm sure you're already thinking -- pretty wide.

That said, I've got a line on some cranks that may work and if life can ever stop getting in the way I'll see what might work.

The Golden Boy 

Life, time, finances...

If it wasn't for all that garbage I'd have a xxxxload of working bikes!

repechage

This is tangent, but there was a collector years ago (now deceased) who kept requesting someone do a comprehensive valuation list, a total update and rework, expansion to what Sheldon Brown and Mike Kone authored.

He kept complaining, and never received what he wanted.

Of course he did not step up to fund the project either.

the way it goes, these things take time, lots of it and are often in the end are subjective (yes, even for cranks, wear and accurate identification)

denaffen

My god, I can't even comprehend how you'd make a useful valuation list. Way too many variables in play to try, IMO. In comparison a DB of crank offsets and spindle lengths is downright trivial. At least in comparison.

Assuming an online, collaborative database, I'd say the biggest problems would be
* consistently measuring crank offset. It's not easy to measure, and people are surprisingly inconsistent on measuring things in general
* having enough folks measuring enough things to have anything resembling a comprehensive DB
* validating the submitted measurements for any semblance of accuracy
* determining if there's enough folks who'd be interested in such a thing to make it worthwhile.

Actually coding up the form and DB is the easy bit. Those are the hard bits.^