BB Questions

mwestray

I am running an FSA SLK carbon compact crankset with mega exo BB so I've confronted some of the same questions you have. First, the primary function of the "green disk" (in addition to confusing people) is actually for use in pressing the bearings into the cups. It is not a spacer, in spite of what well-meaning respondants have stated in this thread. Second, your issue of left crank arm not fitting fully onto the splines of the spindle may have a couple of causes. Make sure that you've included the rubber shell spacer (part #6 in the installation manual) between the BB shell and the left side cup, and the O-ring (#10) between the cup and the left crank arm. The spindle has a slight taper, so the crank arm won't immediately slip on all the way until the crank arm meets the bearing cover. Remember to put Loctite 641 on the end of the spindle and the splines of the crank arm (important!). Put the crank arm on as far as it will go, and insert the M18 fixing bolt (add blue Loctite 242 to the bolt threads if it isn't already there) and carefully tighten the bolt. As you tighten, the crank arm will be pressed futher onto the spindle splines. Torque the fixing bolt to 44-54 Nm. If you've been living right, the crank arm, O-ring, and bearing cover will all meet with no gap, and the crank will spin smoothly. However, I know that FSA has experienced some quality issues in mating the spindle and crank arm (I had problems undersized crank spindles, and FSA quickly replaced the cranks), so it's possible that your spindle diameter could be too large (size matters!). If still in doubt, call FSA. They're hard to get on the phone, but very helpful once you can speak with someone.

After my initial problems with the SLK (had to replace it under warranty twice within the first month of use), I've put 6,000+ miles on it with no problems. Good luck to you!

Fujiman

Thanks for the reply, I have a email into FSA right now and will try to call them later today, I am east coast and they are west coast and I did not get done working on the bike till after they were closed Friday night.
I have a 8000 BB and did not receive a rubber spacer (#6) in the box.
I will check again when I get home but do not remember seeing it!

I think I got either an over sized spindle or under sized crank arm as it will only go on about half way and that is trying to crank it on with the M18 Fixing bolt.

I would assume the crank arm should fit all the way onto the spindle splines?

__________________
Send Lawyers Guns and Money-The Shit has Hit the Fan!! (Warren Zevon) RIP
If you care to watch his Video here's a link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5puAN1PGQw

Peter@vecchios

Newer FSA splines are tapered after some of their left hand crank arms fell off. Get a big wrench and tighten it till it stops. Lots of torque. green loctite isn't a bad idea either. But if you did use the green spacer, the crank is all the way of and it still knocks back and forth, your shell is probably less than 68mm. Just get a thin BB cup spacer and space it till the arm is all the way onto the arm, not play and no binding. The only system that accounts for mis-sized BB shells is the Campag system. All other require the BB shell be 68mm. Too big-face it. Too small, spacers.

Fujiman

I have checked the shell and it is within .001 thousand of 68mm, checked with dial caliper 5 places on the shell.

IF I crank it all the way with a big wrench how will I get it off if I need to?

__________________
Send Lawyers Guns and Money-The Shit has Hit the Fan!! (Warren Zevon) RIP
If you care to watch his Video here's a link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5puAN1PGQw

sideshow_bob

umm with the same amount of torque used to install it, it's got a self extracing end cap on it.

a) as posted above are you using a torque wrench? if you are torquing to say 55 and not getting it up the spindle, then thats an issue in and of itself. if you aren't using a torque wrench and simply by feel you're thinking it's not going on ... i'd check with a torque wrench.

b) as another poster wrote there are differernces in QC. one of my sets of cranks is pretty easy to slip the arm up the spindle, the other is a much tighter fit. ymmv.

c) if the gap is 1-2mm the spacer will sort that out. if it's as you've said an 1/8" then that is not going to fix the issue.

i suspect it's a tight fit (as it should be) and that you are under torquing it.

--brett