|   Question regarding replacement of cranks & BB | Boneman
Apr 24, 2002 5:53 PM | | I'm contemplating taking on the task myself and was curious if it's just a matter of installing the BB & cranks until seated, or is there some sort of positioning (other than seated). Can I get away without using a torque wrench? Will the cost of the BB tool & crank puller wind up costing me more than having my LBS install?
thanks |
| Give a man a fish.... | Monte
Apr 24, 2002 6:14 PM | | and he'll eat for a day. Give him a fishing rod, and.... Well, something like that.
Hey Boneman, if you drop the coin on the tools you won't be going to the LBS everytime you want something done on your bike. Bicycles are meant to be worked on by the rider/owner.
Installing a BB and crankset is easy to do, with a little forethought. I'll preface the rest of the story with the fact that I've ben drinking.
Anyhoo, yes, you can install a BB without a torque wrench. Same for the cranks. Buying the tools might cost more than having the LBS do it, once. The next time you'd probably be money ahead if you bought the tools and did it yourself.
Mike T.'s got a sh!tload of good information on his FAQ site. Do a search for "Mike T" and FAQ. I don't know the URL offhand.
By all means, I'd say buy the tools and do it yourself. BB and crank installation is one of the basic things you should know how to do yourself. Riding where I do I have my BB and cranks off pretty regularly during the winter months. I should be able to leave them on now that spring in here and summer isn't too far away.
Buuuuuuuuuuuurp,
Monte |
| Cheers Monte !!!!!!!! | Boneman
Apr 24, 2002 6:25 PM | | I've always felt with anything needing work or repair (home,car,bike, etc.) that I would pay greater care and attention than someone else I'm paying. That's what I'll do. Being the first go at it, I was wondering if there were any special "tricks" to it. Hey, where are you from? I know a Monte myself who's frequently tipping a few. Thanks again |
| Must be a different fellow.... | Monte
Apr 24, 2002 6:40 PM | | I hope. I'm from Bellingham, WA.
Anyway, search around. Look over Park Tool's web site, http://www.parktool.com.
Search around Sheldon Browns web site, http://www.sheldonbrown.com (or something like that).
LBS are good for somethings, but not the basics. BB's and cranks are pretty basic.
Enjoy,
Monte |
| Son of a Preacher Man - why not get the torque wrench... | næstep
Apr 24, 2002 6:52 PM | | Just to offer a counterpoint on the torque wrench, I'd suggest you go to Sears or Home Depot and drop $25 on a 50 to 100 ft-lb beam-type wrench.
Browse through the Everything Drivetrain forum and you'll come across a fairly regular question regarding noise or play or loose bolts in the area of the bottom bracket. Shimano bottom brackets call for a fairly high 50 ft-lb installation torque, and cranks aren't far behind at 35 ft-lbs. Improper torque is often the root cause of these problems.
On top of that, a loose crank can deform to the point that it can't be properly torqued in the future, and that just ain't fun.
Until recently, the crank and BB were the components I'd use a torque wrench on. But lately, I've added disc brake rotor bolts, disc caliper mounting bolts, suspension pivots and stem bolts to that list. Overkill? Maybe. But there's a certain reassurance that comes out of it that I appreciate. |
| I have to agree, a torque wrench is one of the tools... | Squash
Apr 25, 2002 3:17 AM | | That I consider essential to bike maintenance and repair. A good mechanic that's been at it for years can (sometimes) get a feel for how tight things need to be. Usually the average joe just doesn't spend enough time tightening bolts etc. to learn that feel. Even then it's better to read the spec and use a torque wrench just to be sure. While with some parts of the bike exact torque is not essential (shifter clamps etc.), with others like bottom brackets, cranks, brake fixing bolts etc., it is. There are just too many parts of the bike, that if improperly tightened can cause damage to the bike, or injury to the rider should they come loose during a ride. Not to mention that damage that can be done by over tightening. Spend a few bucks and get the torque wrench. Your BB install won't be the last time you'll use it.
Good Dirt |
| Teach a man to fish... | shiggy
Apr 25, 2002 9:34 AM | | ...and you are out of a job!
80) |
| Teach a man to fish... | Zignzag
Apr 25, 2002 11:31 AM | | and he'll spend all day in a boat drinking beer. |
| Another question | Boneman
Apr 24, 2002 7:35 PM | | will the front derailleur need to be repositioned? |
| shouldn't, but............. | heff®
Apr 24, 2002 7:52 PM | | ......it depends. If you're replacing with the exact same cranks and rings, no. If you're going with a different setup, it might not need to be adjusted up and down, but may need to have the H and L screws adjusted to shift cleanly.
heff® |
| re:isis or sq.? | mongoose valiant
Apr 25, 2002 8:39 AM | | sq. use a tourque wrench/isis seats. |
| No, not quite... | næstep
Apr 25, 2002 11:36 AM | | Proper torque is just as critical for splined cranks as for tapered. There are quite a few complaints posted regularly regarding LX & XT splined cranks making noise or exhibiting play due to improper torque, and the same holds true for ISIS.
næstep |
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