Re: [CR]cottered aluminum cranks

(Example: Framebuilders:Rene Herse)

Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 20:18:37 -0800
From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]cottered aluminum cranks
References: <022220052339.6234.421BC2B0000BD6A10000185A21604666480E070B080E90@att.net> <a052106c6be41a5bc977e@[68.167.254.37]>


Jan Heine wrote:
> (snip)
> TA cranks are mentioned several times in Le Cycliste: Announced
> around 3/1959, but not yet available (and they didn't say it would be
> cottered!). 1/1960: article on design, with cottered
> pear-shaped axles. 9/1960: Definitive Rebour article on the TA cranks.
> 11/1962: Square taper cranks announced.
>
> I have seen the pear-shaped cranks on 1961 and 1960 bikes. Whether
> they were original equipment, I don't know. However, little else on
> the 1960 bike appears to have been changed...

Jan,

Maybe T.A. didn't say the mod. Criterium crank would be cottered but what else could it be with a hole though the crank identical to any other cottered crank and the allen bolt device shown in this photo: http://homepage3.nifty.com/ClassicBicycles/brands/components/TACriteriumBB.jpg http://members.aol.com/satorumas/brands/ta_criterium_crank.html

Supposedly you could remove the cranks with a 5mm Allen wrench as your only tool, a real advantage when touring. But that's not been my experience with the Criterium cranks on my '61 A.SiNGER Sportif. In addition to the 5mm Allen you'll need a hammer and a drift as the "cotter" gets wedged in there REAL good!

That they were replaced with a true cotterless design after approx. two years speaks volumes.

Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California

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