Sampson produces an inexpensive fixed spindle with dual adjustable cup bottom bracket. The spindle for the Colorado is made of machined Ti 6Al-4V rod. The spindle's 2 degree tapered ends slope to become the 17mm diameter needed for the interior of the bearing cartridge. A flat shoulder, with a 21mm height, rises for the bearing to seat against.
The center of the spindle, between the two bearing cartridges has the diameter reduced to 17mm, for weight savings. The spindle has each end drilled to a depth of 23mm then tapped for the crank bolts. The bearing cups are machined from 2024 aluminum rod. Each of the cups are machined as a single piece and uses a lockring made from 3.04mm aluminum plate. Each cup has six 3mm diameter holes drilled in its exposed face for a B/B peg spanner (Park SPA-1 Green). The bearing cartridges are made in China (again, what was known as Mainland China) labeled "DF" and "6903-RS".
The sealed cartridge bearings rely on eleven 4mm diameter steel ball bearings in a steel retainer within the steel inner and outer races. A removable, rubberized steel seal is pressed into each side. The bearing cartridges fit tightly into the cups. Careful tightening of the cups presses them over the bearings and seats them around the cartridges. The outer face of both the cup and the lockring are given a mirror-like high polish. Crank arm bolts are not included.
The Colorado is available to fit a 68mm width B/B shell in these spindle lengths 103mm, 108mm, 112mm (172 grams), 116mm, 122.5mm, or 126mm. There are 108mm, 113mm, 122.5mm, 126mm made for 73mm wide shells. Also an Italian thread for a 70mm wide B/B shell is available in 112mm. The 108mm long version for the 68mm wide B/B shell weighs 160.5 g.
68mm shellSpindle length - 03-08-12-16-22-26 $Price in Catalog
73mm shell Spindle length - 08-13-22-26 / W $Price in Catalog
The Stratics is fixed spindle with dual adjustable fixed cups design. The Stratics model singular difference from the Colorado is its spindle. The Titanium spindle for this B/B has an oversized 21mm diameter middle section with four milled flutes along this oversized center. The spindle ends are bored to a 24mm depth and tapped 8mm x 1mm threads for the crank bolts. The spindle after machining is given a special exterior hardness treatment that elevates the spindle's resistance to flex and shearing. This treatment leaves the exterior of the spindle a Gold color. The bearing Sampson has chosen is the 6903RS size bearing that is so popular for B/B's. The cups found in the Colorado down to the high polish are again used her in the Startics. We found the Park SPA-1 Green spanner worked well for tightening them. With the spindle in place and each bearing cup tightened in place, the Sampson B/B uses two machined from aluminum rod lockrings which cinch down to the installed cup and hold it rigidly in place. The lockrings have six square notches cut in the perimeter for a lockring wrench or ring spanner (Park SPA-3) to turn it into final position. With the cups and lockrings now cinched into position Sampson includes two O-rings to be rolled externally down the spindle, which situate into a crevice between the cup and the spindle, to seal out contaminants. The Stratics is available for a 68mm wide B/B shell in 103mm, 108mm, 112mm, 116mm, 122.5mm, or 126mm. It's also made for a 73mm wide shell in 108mm, 113mm, 122.5mm and 126mm. The 112mm set weighs 170 grams, while the 126mm set weighs 184 grams.
68mm shell Spindle length-03-08-12-16-22-26 $Price in Catalog
73mm shell Spindle length-08-13-22-26 / W $Price in Catalog
