I can't even wiggle the crank arm once it's partially on (1-2mm before it touches the splines). It's
either on or off, it's that stiff.
I'm going to take the bike and cranks to a bike shop tomorrow - forget all this messing about and
potential crank wreckage. I think I'd rather have someone who's installed octalink cranks before do
it. That way they will definitely know if the resistance I'm feeling when trying to mount the crank
is irregular. This is a disappointment for me as I wanted to build the bike myself from scratch. I
don't think it's worth it though if I knacker some essentially non-replaceable cranks.
Next time I have the wise idea to build a bike, I'm going to make it my winter hack!
Steve Blankenship <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> As you've noted, you can't push a splined DA crank on by hand with the
bolt
> in it. You can if you remove the bolt, but that's not necessary. Here's how I do it: (w/no comment
> on greasing - your call)
>
> 1. Without removing the cap/bolt, place the crank over the spindle, attempting to match up with
> the splines, and thread the crank bolt in *lightly*.
> 2. As you *lightly* continue to thread the bolt in, you will feel
resistance
> when the crank contacts the spindle, most likely in a mis-aligned
position.
> Do NOT continue tightening the bolt. But don't loosen it either, at least not more than 1/8 of a
> turn. The slight pressure is useful for the next step.
> 3. Grab the crank arm while holding the opposite end of the spindle and rotate (or wiggle) it back
> and forth until you find the proper alignment. You can feel it "slot in" as it lines up.
> 4. Try threading the bolt in now; if you got it right, there won't be the resistance you felt
> earlier, and the crank will move onto the spindle as
you
> tighten the bolt. If you feel tension on the bolt immediately without the the crank moving, you
> don't have it aligned - try again.
> 5. Repeat for the other side, noting alignment with the opposite crank.
>
> Really not that difficult if you go slow and pay attention, but not as
easy
> as it used to be. Like so many things... ;-)
>
> SB
>
> "RandomChris" <
[email protected]> wrote in
message
>
news:[email protected]...
> > Thanks all for the info, but it seems maybe I didn't make my original
post
> > clear enough!
> >
> > I'm fine with the theory of how the crank and BB fit together, it's just with this one it seems
> > difficult/impossible to get the splines to
'mesh'.
> >
> > The bottom bracket and crank are both Dura Ace, so nocompatibility
issue.
> > They are from the 25th anniversary group, which is why the bottom
bracket
> > spindle is made of titanium (one of the differences between standard and
> the
> > anniv edition).
> >
> > I've greased the axle and tried pushing the crank on by hand. The
splines
> > appear to be lined up but no amount of fiddling will get the splined bit
> of
> > the crank on the axle. Even if I try the crank bolt at this stage and
> begin
> > to tighten it there is too much resistence to go an further. So I
stopped.
> I
> > thought the crank would go all the way on by hand and tighten with the
> crank
> > bolts to the correct torque. I've tried both cranks on both sides, in different positions....
> >
> > Maybe it's something I should take a mallet to and attempt to knock on! Maybe it's not a precise
> > fit at the end and something's snagging?
> >
> > I don't want to wreck either component as the 25th anniv stuff is
> difficult
> > to replace.
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > RandomChris <
[email protected]> wrote in
message
> >
news:[email protected]...
> > > Can anyone help me figure out how to fit a pair of Dura Ace cranks to
a
> > > splined bottom bracket? All the instructions I've found (Park's
website,
> > > those provided with the component) say to push the crank onto the
axle.
> I
> > > can't do this. Neither the left nor right crank will go on far enough
> (by
> > > hand) for the splined parts to come into play. I've tried pushing by
> hand,
> > > should I just put the bolt in and let this push the crank onto the
axle?
> > I'm
> > > reluctant to do this as the axle is Ti and if the splines aren't lined
> up
> > > 100% correctly I could trash the BB and/or crankset. I would have
> expected
> > a
> > > close fit but would at least have expected to be able to push them on
by
> > > hand.
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > >
> > > Chris
> > >
> > >
> >
>