Bottom Bracket Spindle Width Question
05-02-22, 10:33 AM
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Bottom Bracket Spindle Width Question
Ok, got this old '88 Trek 1200 and I wanted to throw in a new BB and realized that the old school cup and cone replacements are actually more expensive than the new sealed cartridge varieties. I suppose having a modern bb on this old school bike shouldn't be that bad. It's hidden anyways. I measured the axle and it's 116, but when I search for the axle widths on performancebike's website, there's only 1, 116mm option....
Why I'm asking this is, because I feel this bike may have been bastardized a few owners ago, and now I'm not sure this is the correct spindle width. There must be a reason why there's exactly one 116mm option on that site. This bike has a Shimano Mountain LX triple crankset on it... (not sure this bike was supposed to be a mountain bike wannabe-currently converting back to normal road bike configuration) Is this bike even supposed to have a 116? What was the standard back then in the late 80's, I forget
Why I'm asking this is, because I feel this bike may have been bastardized a few owners ago, and now I'm not sure this is the correct spindle width. There must be a reason why there's exactly one 116mm option on that site. This bike has a Shimano Mountain LX triple crankset on it... (not sure this bike was supposed to be a mountain bike wannabe-currently converting back to normal road bike configuration) Is this bike even supposed to have a 116? What was the standard back then in the late 80's, I forget
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70's Nuovo Record Jeunet Franche Compte, '88 105 Trek 1200, '85 Victory Bianchi Vittoria, '89 Exage Bianchi Strada LX, & '11 Shimano Masi Partenza
70's Nuovo Record Jeunet Franche Compte, '88 105 Trek 1200, '85 Victory Bianchi Vittoria, '89 Exage Bianchi Strada LX, & '11 Shimano Masi Partenza
Last edited by buddiiee; 05-02-22 at 10:39 AM.
05-02-22, 10:46 AM
#2
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Your '88 1200 came with a Shimano 105 double crank with a sealed BB (p. 24 in this link):
https://www.vintage-trek.com/Trek-Fi...d/1988trek.pdf
Unless you wanted to retain the Mountain LX crank, this would be a good opportunity to replace it with something closer to the original 105 crank and spindle/BB.
Edit: Spindle length for the '88 105 is 119 per this link:
https://www.velosaloon.com/products/...pset-from-1988
https://www.vintage-trek.com/Trek-Fi...d/1988trek.pdf
Unless you wanted to retain the Mountain LX crank, this would be a good opportunity to replace it with something closer to the original 105 crank and spindle/BB.
Edit: Spindle length for the '88 105 is 119 per this link:
https://www.velosaloon.com/products/...pset-from-1988
Last edited by bargainguy; 05-02-22 at 10:50 AM.
05-02-22, 11:45 AM
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Yea I seen that, but was confused when it called out the frame sizes; it mentions 50 as the smallest, but mine's a 48, which made me start to seriously doubt the catalog... I mean even the hubs are wrong. Catalog says hubs were sealed matrixes, whereas mine are ultegras...
And then on top of that, there isn't even a 119 option at performancebike lol.
I mean even the hubs are wrong. Catalog says hubs were sealed matrixes, whereas mine are ultegras...And then on top of that, there isn't even a 119 option at performancebike lol.
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70's Nuovo Record Jeunet Franche Compte, '88 105 Trek 1200, '85 Victory Bianchi Vittoria, '89 Exage Bianchi Strada LX, & '11 Shimano Masi Partenza
70's Nuovo Record Jeunet Franche Compte, '88 105 Trek 1200, '85 Victory Bianchi Vittoria, '89 Exage Bianchi Strada LX, & '11 Shimano Masi Partenza
Last edited by buddiiee; 05-02-22 at 11:49 AM.
05-02-22, 03:22 PM
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05-02-22, 04:24 PM
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Yea I seen that, but was confused when it called out the frame sizes; it mentions 50 as the smallest, but mine's a 48, which made me start to seriously doubt the catalog... I mean even the hubs are wrong. Catalog says hubs were sealed matrixes, whereas mine are ultegras...
And then on top of that, there isn't even a 119 option at performancebike lol.
I mean even the hubs are wrong. Catalog says hubs were sealed matrixes, whereas mine are ultegras...And then on top of that, there isn't even a 119 option at performancebike lol.
05-02-22, 11:05 PM
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According to Shimano BB-1050 and BB-1055 are both >>> 113mm for English (68mm), 115mm for Italian (70mm) 119mm sounds like a BB for a triple.
I don't know these older Trek products, but I am assuming they would be English BB?
https://si.shimano.com/pdfs/ev/EV-FC...1050-0757B.pdf
https://si.shimano.com/api/publish/s...-1055-1110.pdf
I don't know these older Trek products, but I am assuming they would be English BB?
https://si.shimano.com/pdfs/ev/EV-FC...1050-0757B.pdf
https://si.shimano.com/api/publish/s...-1055-1110.pdf
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05-03-22, 01:43 AM
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They are; 68mm width, english threading.
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70's Nuovo Record Jeunet Franche Compte, '88 105 Trek 1200, '85 Victory Bianchi Vittoria, '89 Exage Bianchi Strada LX, & '11 Shimano Masi Partenza
70's Nuovo Record Jeunet Franche Compte, '88 105 Trek 1200, '85 Victory Bianchi Vittoria, '89 Exage Bianchi Strada LX, & '11 Shimano Masi Partenza
05-03-22, 02:35 AM
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@buddiiee - The important part is whatever you decide for a crank, make sure you have the right spindle. They are matched. Two dependencies for determining spindle length, BB shell size and crank choice.
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05-03-22, 03:46 AM
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Being a mountain bike crank, spindles for the Mountain LX would have likely been spec’d for a 73mm shell. I would also assume it has a wider Q factor which puts the pedals further out. That’s a personal preference but I like narrow road cranks on a road bike.
If you keep the Mountain LX, I would spec the spindle based on achieving the desired road bike chainline. See Sheldon’s article on everything chainline. Personally, I’d replace the LX with a road bike crankset. You might even get someone on BF to swap you straight up.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainline-multi.html
If you keep the Mountain LX, I would spec the spindle based on achieving the desired road bike chainline. See Sheldon’s article on everything chainline. Personally, I’d replace the LX with a road bike crankset. You might even get someone on BF to swap you straight up.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainline-multi.html
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05-03-22, 04:12 AM
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Simple Solution
VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION:
First find a crank that you want to use... Then find a 68mm British Thread BB that works with that crank! Sealed bearing BB cartridges are GREAT! Once installed you never have to mess with them again!
All of those BB widths sound significantly different - 113mm, 115mm, 116mm, 119mm... Bear in mind that 1mm is less than 0.040" which is slightly over 1/32".
Over time from use plus removal and replacement, the square tapers in soft aluminum crank arms will deform and seat further onto the BB spindle tapers. 3mm or 1/8" is not an uncommon amount of distance for that to happen. That can throw all of the specs out the window, especially with old used crank arms.
With worn cranks, you are probably better off with a spindle that 2mm+ longer rather than a shorter one... You are only talking about less than 1/8" !!!
I threw together this Flickr album one night in 2011 while I was rooting through my stash of BB and spindles trying to put together a winter SS beater. I should update it but....
https://www.flickr.com/photos/282672...7627678462359/
Check out my comments below the photos. It will give you a better picture of what you need to look for.
verktyg
First find a crank that you want to use... Then find a 68mm British Thread BB that works with that crank! Sealed bearing BB cartridges are GREAT! Once installed you never have to mess with them again!
All of those BB widths sound significantly different - 113mm, 115mm, 116mm, 119mm... Bear in mind that 1mm is less than 0.040" which is slightly over 1/32".
Over time from use plus removal and replacement, the square tapers in soft aluminum crank arms will deform and seat further onto the BB spindle tapers. 3mm or 1/8" is not an uncommon amount of distance for that to happen. That can throw all of the specs out the window, especially with old used crank arms.
With worn cranks, you are probably better off with a spindle that 2mm+ longer rather than a shorter one... You are only talking about less than 1/8" !!!
I threw together this Flickr album one night in 2011 while I was rooting through my stash of BB and spindles trying to put together a winter SS beater. I should update it but....
https://www.flickr.com/photos/282672...7627678462359/
Check out my comments below the photos. It will give you a better picture of what you need to look for.
verktyg
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05-03-22, 05:56 AM
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Agree with those above advocating to get the Crank first.
if eBaying, you can choose a crank BB combination... 105, 600-Ultegra, 600EX, etc...
if eBaying, you can choose a crank BB combination... 105, 600-Ultegra, 600EX, etc...
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05-04-22, 09:39 PM
#13
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I just repacked my BB on a 1987 Trek 560. It also had a 116mm spindle, Shimano D-3L, with Hatta cups. Crankset is a 600 double. When disassembling, I thought the spindle might be in backwards due to orientation of lettering, but then realized this one is symmetrical L and R so it didn’t matter (32mm each side). Not sure if this helps you, but figured yours might be similar since 1 year apart.
05-05-22, 06:28 PM
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Looks like old campy grease 
But yea, I found some old really good condition 1050 105's... So now which axle should go with those?
But yea, I found some old really good condition 1050 105's... So now which axle should go with those?
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05-05-22, 07:06 PM
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https://si.shimano.com/pdfs/ev/EV-FC...1050-0757B.pdf
05-06-22, 09:17 PM
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113? I will try this.
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05-06-22, 11:37 PM
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Just fyi, @buddiiee, it's more accepted to refer to the "width" of the BB shell and the "length" of the spindle.
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05-07-22, 12:31 AM
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Shimano BBs
I just repacked my BB on a 1987 Trek 560. It also had a 116mm spindle, Shimano D-3L, with Hatta cups. Crankset is a 600 double. When disassembling, I thought the spindle might be in backwards due to orientation of lettering, but then realized this one is symmetrical L and R so it didn’t matter (32mm each side). Not sure if this helps you, but figured yours might be similar since 1 year apart.
Point being, if you are going to use a Shimano BB spindle, make sure that you have cups to fit it.... This spindle is 112mm wide and is for use with track cranks. It's also 68mm wide but not marked.
verktyg
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