I want to change over to a Shimano Octalink BB on an MTB, mostly because the current square taper crankset is a cheapish and worn one with riveted chainwheels and I happen to have on hand a new Shimano M443 crankset with bolted chainwheels and Octalink fixing.
My first question is, if the current square taper cartridge has a 113m spindle, does it follow that a 113mm Octalink cartridge is the one to get to maintain the same chainline? It's a Giant frame with 35mm seat tube.
Next question. The LBS (in Australia) finds that Octalink BBs are on back order at the wholesaler, though they are to be had on Ebay. I get the impression from previous posts on this NG that Shimano has decided that Octalink was A Bad Idea and replacement parts will disappear in the forseeable future. What's the alternative for the future needs of my bicycle fleet? Back to square taper? Or try to figure out the newer generation of external bearing BBs and compatible cranksets?
I have to add that the LBS is useless for advice. When I went looking for an Octalink BB there, all they had on the shelf was ISIS and the owner ASSURED me that it would fit an Octalink crankarm. I spinelessly wormed out of pointing out the difference between eight splines and ten splines by saying I really preferred Shimano brand if they would order one for me.
I want to change over to a Shimano Octalink BB on an MTB, mostly because the current square taper crankset is a cheapish and worn one with riveted chainwheels and I happen to have on hand a new Shimano M443 crankset with bolted chainwheels and Octalink fixing.
My first question is, if the current square taper cartridge has a 113m spindle, does it follow that a 113mm Octalink cartridge is the one to get to maintain the same chainline? It's a Giant frame with 35mm seat tube.
Next question. The LBS (in Australia) finds that Octalink BBs are on back order at the wholesaler, though they are to be had on Ebay. I get the impression from previous posts on this NG that Shimano has decided that Octalink was A Bad Idea and replacement parts will disappear in the forseeable future. What's the alternative for the future needs of my bicycle fleet? Back to square taper? Or try to figure out the newer generation of external bearing BBs and compatible cranksets?
I have to add that the LBS is useless for advice. When I went looking for an Octalink BB there, all they had on the shelf was ISIS and the owner ASSURED me that it would fit an Octalink crankarm. I spinelessly wormed out of pointing out the difference between eight splines and ten splines by saying I really preferred Shimano brand if they would order one for me.
Peter H
113 for 47.5mm chainline, 118 mm for 50mm (and you want the long (mtb type) octalink spline : ES25, ES51
"M-gineering" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Peter Howard said:
I want to change over to a Shimano Octalink BB on an MTB, mostly because the current square taper crankset is a cheapish and worn one with riveted chainwheels and I happen to have on hand a new Shimano M443 crankset with bolted chainwheels and Octalink fixing.
My first question is, if the current square taper cartridge has a 113m spindle, does it follow that a 113mm Octalink cartridge is the one to get to maintain the same chainline? It's a Giant frame with 35mm seat tube.
<snip by OP>
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Peter H
113 for 47.5mm chainline, 118 mm for 50mm (and you want the long (mtb type) octalink spline : ES25, ES51
-- /Marten
info(apestaartje)m-gineering(punt)nl
Thank you for getting back so quickly Marten. Just what I needed to know, and thanks for the reminder that I'll be wanting one of the long spline v2 ES series.
My first question is, if the current square taper cartridge has a 113m spindle, does it follow that a 113mm Octalink cartridge is the one to get to maintain the same chainline?
The spindle length needed for one particular make/model of crank bears NO relationship to whatever spindle length might be needed for some other make/model of crank.
(Marten answered the rest of your questions nicely.)
Sheldon "bbsize" Brown +--------------------------------------------+ | If it can't be expressed in figures, | | it is not science; it is opinion. | | --Robert A. Heinlein | +--------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 http://harriscyclery.com Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide http://captainbike.comhttp://sheldonbrown.com
I have to add that the LBS is useless for advice. When I went looking for an Octalink BB there, all they had on the shelf was ISIS and the owner ASSURED me that it would fit an Octalink crankarm. I spinelessly wormed out of pointing out the difference between eight splines and ten splines by saying I really preferred Shimano brand if they would order one for me.
Peter H
Spill the beans, which store?
Cheers
Joel -- Human Powered Cycles | High quality servicing and repairs [email hidden] | Affordable second hand bikes (03) 9029 6504 | Bicycle reuse centre www.humanpowered.com.au | Mechanical and on-road training and instruction
"Joel Mayes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Peter Howard said:
I have to add that the LBS is useless for advice. When I went looking for an Octalink BB there, all they had on the shelf was ISIS and the owner ASSURED me that it would fit an Octalink crankarm. I spinelessly wormed out of pointing out the difference between eight splines and ten splines by saying I really preferred Shimano brand if they would order one for me.
Peter H
Spill the beans, which store?
Cheers
Joel -- Human Powered Cycles | High quality servicing and repairs [email hidden] | Affordable second hand bikes (03) 9029 6504 | Bicycle reuse centre www.humanpowered.com.au | Mechanical and on-road training and instruction
I would not like to say, Joel, :-) because we have a choice of two (2) LBS here in my provincial Queensland town. The other one is even worse and I cannot afford to make myself persona non-grata at the one I frequent. The keen and competent teenage mechanic is the one to see if you can bluff your way past the front counter. I appreciate his skills very much when I have something requiring expensive tools such as bottom bracket chase 'n face or a headset fitted by the book. As a bit of a novice home bicycle mechanic I'm pretty much on my own otherwise which is why I do a lot of mail order, have several good manuals and hang around this NG asking elementary questions. BTW, I like the humanpowered.com website. Have bookmarked it for thorough exploration.
"Sheldon Brown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Peter Howard queried:
Quoted message said:
My first question is, if the current square taper cartridge has a 113m spindle, does it follow that a 113mm Octalink cartridge is the one to get to maintain the same chainline?
The spindle length needed for one particular make/model of crank bears NO relationship to whatever spindle length might be needed for some other make/model of crank.
(Marten answered the rest of your questions nicely.)
Sheldon "bbsize" Brown +--------------------------------------------+ | If it can't be expressed in figures, | | it is not science; it is opinion. | | --Robert A. Heinlein | +--------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 http://harriscyclery.com Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide http://captainbike.comhttp://sheldonbrown.com
Ooh yeah, I should have mentioned that the original square taper bb and crankset is also Shimano. I have previously perused the two references you quoted and found them informative. You are rightfully proud of the bb photo comparison. I have it permanently downloaded into my brain so I can tell what I'm looking at at a glance. Rightly or wrongly, I think of Shimano as the Microsoft of bicycle parts and Campy and everyone else as Apple. I'm on a steep learning curve so I tend to like mid range Shimano stuff solely because it is common, available and reasonably simple to sort out what works with what, thanks in no small part to the sheldonbrown web-pages. My Greenspeed trike has a 105 front derailleur and I think that's real slick and upmarket. The other week I came across a $15 Puch ten speed at the local garbage tip recycle shop. Nice lugged frame with spear point flourishes, Huret derailleur, Weinman brakes and Mavic rims. Fortunately, it appeared to be the former property of a giant. I swear the top tube was 900mm off the ground so I easily dissuaded myself from buying a whole lot of trouble when I'm flat out coming to grips with modern bike parts.
BTW, I like the humanpowered.com website. Have bookmarked it for thorough exploration.
Ta!
We're a small place but we try to have fun :-)
I got to the ride one of the world's fastest (according to the owner) electric recumbents last month, 0 -> 60 in under 4 seconds, sub 20 second laps on the nearby velodrome. $1000 of lithium-ion batteries under the seat!
And tomorrow I'm rebuilding an early 30's frame by a (now defunct) local frame builder, with all the correct period parts.
Can you think of a better job :-)
Cheers
Joel
-- Human Powered Cycles | High quality servicing and repairs [email hidden] | Affordable second hand bikes (03) 9029 6504 | Bicycle reuse centre www.humanpowered.com.au | Mechanical and on-road training and instruction
Since you were posting on BB I wonder if you know the answer to this question:
I have a FSA SLK compact double crankset (model 8680) and MegaExo BB (model BB-8000). I am thinking of replacing the MegaExo with DA Hollowtech BB (model SM-FC 7800) but I am not sure if they are compatible for the FSA SLK compact double.
Is it compatible? If so, is the Shimano Cup tool compatible with the FSA cup?
"Peter Howard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
"Sheldon Brown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Peter Howard queried:
Quoted message said:
My first question is, if the current square taper cartridge has a 113m spindle, does it follow that a 113mm Octalink cartridge is the one to get to maintain the same chainline?
The spindle length needed for one particular make/model of crank bears NO relationship to whatever spindle length might be needed for some other make/model of crank.
(Marten answered the rest of your questions nicely.)
Sheldon "bbsize" Brown +--------------------------------------------+ | If it can't be expressed in figures, | | it is not science; it is opinion. | | --Robert A. Heinlein | +--------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 http://harriscyclery.com Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide http://captainbike.comhttp://sheldonbrown.com
Ooh yeah, I should have mentioned that the original square taper bb and crankset is also Shimano. I have previously perused the two references you quoted and found them informative. You are rightfully proud of the bb photo comparison. I have it permanently downloaded into my brain so I can tell what I'm looking at at a glance. Rightly or wrongly, I think of Shimano as the Microsoft of bicycle parts and Campy and everyone else as Apple. I'm on a steep learning curve so I tend to like mid range Shimano stuff solely because it is common, available and reasonably simple to sort out what works with what, thanks in no small part to the sheldonbrown web-pages. My Greenspeed trike has a 105 front derailleur and I think that's real slick and upmarket. The other week I came across a $15 Puch ten speed at the local garbage tip recycle shop. Nice lugged frame with spear point flourishes, Huret derailleur, Weinman brakes and Mavic rims. Fortunately, it appeared to be the former property of a giant. I swear the top tube was 900mm off the ground so I easily dissuaded myself from buying a whole lot of trouble when I'm flat out coming to grips with modern bike parts.
