I have had another go at sorting out the Aerospace frame sealed bearing bottom bracket.
THIS TIME I'VE REALLY CRACKED IT
I hope all Viscount fans get to read this.
Okay, first off I did not use the OEM Viscount bottom bracket spindle choosing instead to use a
125mm long (please note that dimension) Klein bottom bracket spindle. Klein used (or was it copied?) the Lambert/Viscount spindle idea. The diameter of the spindle at 17mm is the same as Viscounts and exactly the same sealed bearings are used. Here is one Klein made earlier...
The Klein spindle is 4mm longer than the one made by Viscount and as you can see it has no grooves for circlips (don't worry!). The quality of machining is excellent and way better than Viscounts (much as I hate to admit it). The spindle has a JIS taper which will just about take the original Viscount (TA copy) cranks. The taper is perfect for Suntour, SR Apex, Sugino and Shimano cranks. The spindle is lighter than Viscounts, hollow, made of stronger steel too and has a standard metric thread for standard crank bolts. Since there are no grooves for circlips you can place the spindle anywhere in the BB shell. What more could you want?
With the Klein spindle being 4mm longer than Viscounts that gives you enough length to centre it within the BB shell and still get a good chainline. The cranks also nicely clear the chainstays. I have never been entirely happy with the standard Viscount spindle as it puts the right pedal further away from the frame than the left. Who knows what this asymmetrical spacing does for the knees, hips, etc? Probably makes no difference but I do have an iffy right knee...
The absence of circlips on the Klein spindle is not a problem. A special 'glue' is applied to the spindle and outer face of the inner race of the sealed cartridge bearings whilst it is being driven (or preferably pulled) through the bearings. After about 24 hours the glue 'circlips' have fully cured and the bike is ready to ride. Klein recommended Loctite RC680 at the time for their spindles but this is no longer available. I used Bondloc 638 simply because it was available from my local bearing factors. Hear is some information on it:
http://www.bearingshopuk.co.uk/bondloc- ... 9025-p.aspI have put SR Apex cranks on my Klein spindle and they have seated perfectly square on it even though the spindle is second hand (sourced via ebay). There is virtually no sideways chainring movement visible when the cranks are turned. I have NEVER seen that on a Viscount Aerospace bike e.g. Pro, GP, Grand Prix and Sport.
New old stock Klein BB spindles are still out there for sale. Such is the bomb proof build quality of the spindles that second hand ones are well worth searching out too. I have heard that the spindles are good for over 100,000 miles. Can't say that I will be able to proove that one...
Now, my next job is to assemble a bottom bracket spindle puller tool. I don't like knocking these things in or out!!
Obviously this post supercedes information that I gave on the Klein spindle in an earlier post on this thread. When I previously tried the Klein spindle I wasn't thinking too laterally.