(Yet) Another Campy BB Question

Does anyone happen to know what the 'a' stands for on an old school SSa bottom bracket??

Cheers!

[size=7]bump

[size=10]Anyone??

You could ask campyoldy.. except you left it too late and he's done a runner.

Maybe "Athena"?

What do all the others stand for? Maybe there's a pattern..
"B/B axle 68-SS, 68-SS-120, 68-C-120, 68-SSA, 68-SPc, 68-SS Gran Sport, 70-SSA, 70-SSB, 70-SP, 70-SPc no end bolts"

That is a good shout, Hippy. I did notice the other day that he had whacked up some "I'm on holiday" text on his site, but that's down now so I'll assume he's back.

Will post any advice given!

Lifted from ClassicRendezous:

• There is a date stamp on the back of 1973 and later NR/SR cranks. A number in a diamond represents a year in the 70's that the arm was made. A number in a circle represents a year in the 80's that the crank was made. Either "11" or "22" in a box represents a production run, probably mid 80's that was pretty much the last of the NR/SR stuff. Perhaps some of these late items were warranty stock? Don't know for sure...

• 1978 was a big year of change for NR/SR. CPSC mandated that the front derailleur have a "lip" on the leading outer edge so nobody would impale themselves on it - Never mind the big aluminum disc with sharp teeth - or Huffy's!

Now we can tell the true NR/SR BB Road Spindle Story!

To accommodate the CPSC front derailleur lip, the distance between the arm and spider of the crank had to be increased, which then meant that the bottom bracket had to be lengthened too! The result is that the arms were redesigned - older pre- CPSC right arms can be identified by a relatively large bulge of relatively larger diameter on the backside where the spindle enters. Later arms have a smaller bulge of smaller diameter. The changeover was in the 1978-79 period. Early cranks use bb spindles with markings such as 68ss x 120 or 70ss x 120, while the later cranks use slightly longer spindles that are marked simply 68ss or 70ss. Some transition era spindles carry the designations such as 68ss x 120 AND have +1 /+1.5 markings to the side of the 68ss x 120 or 70ss x 120 stampings. That means that the spindle is the same as the later ones without the 120 designation. Use of a later crank on early spindles usually caused the crank to hit the frame. Use of the later spindle on an early crank pushes the arms out farther than optimal - but if using on a 6 or 7sp, or if the arms are worn, then the chainline error may be minimal - this combo may in some cases even be better.

THE UPSHOT is that the 120 designation does not, for practical purposes, refer to rear frame spacing - the issue to worry about is era of crank.

Use of derailleur with lips on early cranks is a leading cause of grooves being worn on the backside of the drive arm. Keep those lips off our early cranks!

Sweet Jesus Christ - I think I need to grow a new brain to deal with the ridiculous amount of information that exists on Campy BBs. Makes you wonder why people venerate Italian engineering.

Shimano all the way!

shimaNo

campagNOlo
it works both ways

Not if you call it Campag....

;0)

I have a Croce D'Aune 70-SSa

It is Italian thread and has a crank length of 111mm

I am going to use it on my deRosa with a C-Record double crank

I would ne interested also to know waht the 'a' stand for

The secret's out, Brett!!

Here is my reply from Nigel at CampyOldy.

hello Sam
I really dont know what letters mean.
I was replying to a guy yesterday who wanted 68-SSA which I have and also SPC which held together are identical. Doubtless there is some microscopic difference that Camp felt necessary. Its getting to the point where if it fits the frame and inner ring clears c/stay, its the right one.
You might find info on campyonly.com
Nigel.

So if it fits the cranks and frame, then it fits! Not much help though when you're buying something from the States hoping it will fit!