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I'm going to buy some 160mm cranks for my kid. It says its compatible with 113mm axel bb.
However I assume that as long as i get the shell width right (68 in this case) then I could use something like a 118mm axel as long as it suitable for the chainline?
Yes. Bigger will fit, but put the chain further out, smaller may rub the chainset on the rear stays.
Cool got it.
Another question is it most likely to be ISO or JIS? Is one much more common than the other?
I think all square tapers are the same, except Campagnolo.
I run square taper on my Cotic Soul. If you have the shorter (107) axle the pedal end of the crank can hit the chainstay. It happened on mine when out of the saddle. If you can only get the longer (73?) body all that happens is the thread sticks out a bit on the non drive side but it's still rideable. Mrs BigJohn's previous bike came like that.
When they say use 113 mm they mean this gives the correct chain line.
118 mm will give the wrong chain line
That doesn't mean it won't work at all but I can't see why you wouldn't go with 113 mm
If I remember correctly JIS and ISO are slightly different, with ISO able to fit on to JIS at a pinch but JIS not able to fit into ISO, or something like that. Campagnolo, as always, not compatible with either