Quoted message said:Quoted message said:Susan Rosenblatt said:I have an old Gitane (beater bike) with a Swiss thread BB, and I would
like to install a triple crank. I have on hand a six year-old Campy
crank and bottom bracket.
Would it be possible to use this crank? Other advice very welcome.
No worries about shifters, as I am still using friction downtubes on
this particular bike.
Quoted message said:A Muzi <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:I don't know of any Swiss threaded Gitanes and I sold them
for a long while. It is possible someone changed the
threading but not likely.Are the cups marked m35xp1 with a prominent "G" on the right
side cup? That would be Swiss.French cups are the same but not reversed (gauche) on the
chain side.First, if the BB is in good shape, try your new crank on it.
If the spindle seems long, many classic spindles may be
reversed (short side on the right) for use with newer
cranks. (The trend is to ever-shorter spindles).Failing that, Phil Wood makes mounting rings in all threads
( even obsolete sizes!)and his spindles are made in every
imaginable dimension so that is always an avenue , albeit
not cheap.Most modern BB cups are not available in French or Swiss at
all. Classic loose-ball type spindles are not available in
the very shortest lengths for some very modern cranks.
Quoted message said:Many thanks for all of the help. I originally bought this bike, a
Gitane 600, in 1976, and so I know that the bottom bracket threading
has not been changed.Although the bike says that it was made in France, it came with
Shimano 600 gears, SR stem, and other Japanese parts. I had always
thought that the BB was English (in many overhauls, no mechanic ever
disabused me of this impression).When I took the bike and Campy cranks to a new (young!) mechanic, he
informed me that the bb was Swiss, and that the Campy crank would not
fit. I don't think he even tried to fit it.The current (original) cranks are marked Tourney, and the BB cups are,
so far as I can see, marked 35xp1, but I cannot find a prominent "G".
They also say Tange Japan.Given your expert knowledge of Gitanes, do you think they are really
Swiss?Think I'll try another (older) mechanic for a second opinion. Who is
good in the SF Bay Area?
My bet is French, just like every one we sold here until
Gitane went ISO (in about 1981 or so). The "Swiss" comment
is a red herring.
I'd try your new crank on that spindle (or on that spindle
reversed). If it's suitable, clean up your nice Tange BB
with fresh grease and new bearings.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971