[Nocturnus]

I'm working on a '99 Nishiki Bravo. Going to replace the crank and BB on the bike. I come to find out that the BB calls for 120mm. Would I be able to run 108mm or do I need to find something close to 120mm. If it matters, this is going to be a SS converson.

 

[standard235]

Well, as long as you can get a straight chainline, then yes.

If you have a bunch of small spacers instead of a kit, it'll work. If you're using a tensioner, it should have an adjustable chainline too.

 

[Nocturnus]

Well, as long as you can get a straight chainline, then yes.

If you have a bunch of small spacers instead of a kit, it'll work. If you're using a tensioner, it should have an adjustable chainline too.

Hmm. I was hoping to stay away from a tensioner since I have horizontal dropouts. I guess I could keep the old BB since it's still good and just go with new crank arms and a chain ring. I'm just tring to make sure everything will line up with the gussett 1er ss conversion.

 

[Bikinfoolferlife]

How did you determine that you need a 120mm bb? What crankset are you using?

 

[Nocturnus]

How did you determine that you need a 120mm bb? What crankset are you using?

Looked up the specs of the bike online. But now i've ran into other problems. Took the old BB out to inspect it and was going to put it back in but the fixed cup and adjusting cup dont wanna go in. It's not crossthreaded or anything, guess I really need to clean the threads off some more.

 

[Bikinfoolferlife]

Bike frames don't determine bb spindle length as much as your crankset does. So if you stick with the old crankset, it makes sense; if you change crankset then go with the recommended bb spindle length for the new crankset (you might get two lengths suggested for different chainlines, though). Personally I'd try to keep the old crankset/bb unless the races were shot or there was some sort of damage to the cranks; hopefully you can clean those threads up real good (try an old stiff toothbrush with some solvent).

 

[Nocturnus]

Well, i'm def. going to need a new crank set since I cant really use the one on there now, with the chainrings being rivited togather and broken teeth on all the chainrings. This is what the specs on the BB the bike has now are Victor VPB-33, 120mm spindle.

I guess I really need to decide if I wanna dump anymore money into this setup, or just wait till refund time and get something a little bit newer to work off of.

 

[Bikinfoolferlife]

Riveted chainrings? Fuggeddahboudit...it's xmas, gift yourself a new crank/bb, or maybe a nice used one. If this isn't your main bike, get a new one for that bike and put the old crank/bb on the ss conversion...

 

[Nocturnus]

Ahh, money is tight and this this bike is a beater. I did go out the other day and get a new crank arm that has a removeable chainring. Just need to get a 32 tooth ring for it then it might be all good. I guess on a related question, is it possible to bend an axle if the chain binds? I put a new axle on the bike a few days ago, and rode it once and the chain binded and popped off. would something like that cause the axle to bend? that or the $5 axle special is a POS.

 

[Bikinfoolferlife]

What axle?

 

[Nocturnus]

axle for the rear wheel..

but im actully thinking about getting a newer rig to make a SS or just getting a Monocog..