Re: [Classicrendezvous] Stronglight cranks, small parts specs

(Example: Racing)

Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 10:38:15 -0500
From: Jerry & Liz Moos <moos@penn.com>
To: KCTOMMY <KCTOMMY@email.msn.com>
CC: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [Classicrendezvous] Stronglight cranks, small parts specs
References: <000a01c04cb6$48710860$4b301a3f@oemcomputer>


KCTOMMY wrote:
> I have a chance to pick up a pair of Stronglight 93 Crank Arms. As I have a
> PX 10 currently sporting an American mountain crank, this would appeal to
> me. However, the seller doesn't have a bottom bracket.
>
> Does the 93 crank have a standard spindle taper so that the arms would work
> with a Shimano or Campy bottom bracket?

TheStronglight cranks will sometimes bottom out on the bottom of the taper of modern BB axles. If you can't find Stronglight or TA and don't want to spend the money for Phil Wood, a JIS standard Japanese axle like Sugino Maxy works well (Dura Ace, Sugino Mighty, and most other pro quality Japanese stuff is not JIS). Loose Screws and Sheldon, among others, sell Maxys with the French threaded cups needed for a PX-10 frame, unless the frame was among the last PX-10s in the mid 80's, which had English cups. It is possible the the cups you have in it now will work with the JIS axle, but don't bet on it.
> Can I use standard crank bolts and washers? I know the extractor is a
> unique Stronglight size.

Stronglight crank bolts were 16mm, but modern 14 or 15 mm bolts and washers work fine. Sheldon and Loose Screws have the Stronglight extractors. Don't use a TA extractor like came on one end of the Park - it looks like it will work, but will damage the crank.
>
>
> What length spindle do the arms take?

Stronglight axles for a road double were 118mm. The Sugino axle of the same length will push the cranks out a bit farther, so for the same chainline, I use a 115 or 116 Sugino axle.
>
>
> Are the chain ring bolts an odd size?

No.
>
>
> Does $45 sound right for the crank arms?

If it is in very good or better condition with chainrings of usable sizes, that sounds reasonable. You see people sell them NOS for over $100, but you also see used ones picked up at swap meets for $15. I think $45 would be a little high for the arms only with no chainrings. Remember that the chainrings are 122 BCD, so modern chainrings will not fit. Stronglight still makes 122 BCD chainrings, but the current production is of lower quality than the old ones. There are a fair number of old rings around, but buying them obviously adds to the cost. If you have a little time, you can get a lower cost by finding arms and rings together.

Regards,

Jerry Moos