Are square taper cranks good?

Are square taper cranks good?

Square taper bottom brackets may seem like anachronisms dating from the last century, and yet they remain the best option for metal cranks. The result is a lighter bottom bracket – but the larger spindle requires more material on the crank.

Can I upgrade a square taper bottom bracket?

If there is one reason to upgrade from a cottered setup to a square taper BB then upgrading via a cartridge BB would be it. Simply remove the old bottom bracket and replace it with the new.

What is a square taper chainset?

Traditional cotterless cranksets use a tapered square spindle (axle) end. The sides of the end taper at a 2 degree angle compared to the centerline, 4 degrees compared to each other. Square, tapered end of cotterless crank spindle with fixing bolt and washer.

What is the difference between a BB UN55 and a BB UN26?

Both have sealed bearing, both have hollow spindles. Reportedly, the bearings are a bit higher quality in the UN55; but the biggest difference is the UN55 has an aluminum cup on the non-drive side, where the UN26 has a plastic cup. (aluminum is softer than the steel housing of the sealed bottom bracket).

How long do square taper bottom brackets last?

Simple rule is (unless you’re starting a long trip) “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. Do normal maintenance, keep things properly lubed and your BB should last for another 4,000 miles or more.

Are Isis and octalink compatible?

Not compatible. Octalink cranks –> Octalink BB. It’s not what you ride, it’s how you ride it ! Agreed with above, Octalink = 8 splines, Isis = 7 splines.

How tight should bottom bracket?

If your bottom bracket’s threads are particularly tight, you might want to have the them chased to see if they can be freed up. Generally speaking, with bottom bracket thread, you don’t want them ‘baggy’ and loose, or annoyingly tight, somewhere in between.

Are all square taper BB the same?

Whilst both versions of the square taper Bottom Bracket look the same, the European made ISO square taper spindles are slightly longer, tapering down to a small end than the Japanese Industry Standard (JIS) Bottom Bracket spindles do.

What is UN26?

The BB-UN26 is the basic model, BB-UN55 offers higher quality at what is still a reasonable price. All are for BSA / ISO threads ( 1.37 inch diameter, 24 tpi ) and fit a 68 mm or 73 mm wide bottom brackets. Note that these bottom brackets are supplied without bolts, which are available separately.

How often should you grease bottom bracket?

Best practice 1-2 years depending on use and grease quality. If you’re cycling in a lot of rain or off-road 3-9 months is a better bet. If it’s a cheap bb and you don’t care about failure then let it eat so long as it’s adjusted and running smooth.

Can you change your Chainset from double to Triple?

To change your chainset from double to triple or vice versa, bear in mind that you will probably also need to change your shifters, front mech, rear mech and bottom bracket. Get in touch if you need more advice on what compatible parts you need. Choose the right chainset for your riding style and the terrain.

What kind of wrench to use on square taper?

The goal is to break the crank’s grip on the square taper spindle. A 15mm socket wrench is the best tool to use. A socket ratchet wrench is the most convenient of course. Or ring spanner. Basically you want to be using a tool with the longest handle possible. That way you will get the leverage required for the intial turns.

Where are the bearings on a square taper crankset?

Most square taper bottom brackets come in cartridge form. The bearings are sealed units that sit permanently inside the bottom bracket’s body. The unit is seated into matching threads inside the bottom bracket shell, then screwed into the shell.

Is the square taper a spindle or an axle?

And yes, this is a spindle since it “spins”—an axle, on the other hand, is fixed with the bearings rotating around it. The “square” relates to the seemingly obvious four faces that make up the square taper spindle’s end. The end is actually an octagon since the square edges have been bevelled slightly.