Cranks and Bottom bracket

[GAVSTER]

Couple of problems - I have a Dawes Galaxy circa 2004.

I also have a crunchy bottom bracket - it creaks and cracks when climbing.

I know it's not pedals or chainrings that is the problem as I've taken them off and the noise remains under load (me standing on cranks)

The cranks say they are hollowtech but I've no idea if the BB is octalink or should be removed with a crank puller or what.

So far with various experimentation i have not been able to remove cranks let alone BB.

So - questions. Firstly has anyone which type of beastie this might be? Secondly could you point to how I should go about removing this and replacing the BB.

Cheers

Gav

 

[GAVSTER]

More searching on the interweb leads me to believe it's a Shimano FC-M533-SK which says that the BB is integral to the chainset.

In that case is the BB replaceable or not?

 

[bottombracket]

is there an allen key (5 or 6 mm) on the l/h crank - at the frame end?

If so,

http://www.enduroforkseals.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/hollowtech2a.pdf

Should give you the idea...

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Have a look at Shimano's tech. document here.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Fitting instructions here.

 

[GAVSTER]

Gerry - many thanks for the response and you have already exposed me for the idiot I am.

There are no bolts on the non-drive side crank.

It is therefore not a Shimano FC-M533-SK

It deffo says hollowtech on crank. Maybe I should try and post a piccy ?

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Most Shimano components have the model number marked on them somewhere. Are there any numbers on your kit?

 

[GAVSTER]

Not that I saw - It said hollowtech on the crank but i will look again.

From the tech docs it looks kinda like

http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/t...FC/EV-FC-M530-2463A_v1_m56577569830608887.pdf

Gav

 

[Gerry Attrick]

OK. Have a look here. See if that helps you identify it.

 

[PpPete]

Not that I saw - It said hollowtech on the crank but i will look again.

From the tech docs it looks kinda like

http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/t...FC/EV-FC-M530-2463A_v1_m56577569830608887.pdf

Gav

Pretty sure that's like the original Hollowtech - nothing like the Hollowtech II which hass that allen bolt on LH crank.

It's a splined interface between crank and BB. Shimano also called it Octalink and ISIS is similar from another mfr.

You need a crank puller with the little "button" on it. The button is usually magnetic - you can remove it if you want to do Square taper. Like this.

In my experience Galaxys of that vintage are lot harder to dis-assemble than ones from the 1970s and 1980s. I needed a very long extension bar on the BB tool to get one out not so long ago.

The noises are likely to come from the crank/BB interface - the spline ones are notorious for that, although mine's been OK so far.

On a Galaxy my suggestion would be to replace the whole kit & caboodle with a Stronglight Impact Triple chainset and a Shimano UN54 BB English thread - 118 mm spindle (rather than the Stronglight JP400)
It is going back to an older technology but I've done exactly this on my wife's Galaxy and she's very happy with it.

I put a Tiagra Octalink on mine and TBH the 52-42-30 is too high a gearing for a tourer.

 

[GAVSTER]

Mr Porky - thanks for that info.

I will check out your suggestion.

I certainly wouldn't want bigger gears than I already have.

The BB has done only 3000 miles so I'm slightly peeved that it's gone crunchy but i wouldn't want to ignore it and then damage the frame.

Gav

 

[GAVSTER]

Pretty sure that's like the original Hollowtech - nothing like the Hollowtech II which hass that allen bolt on LH crank.

It's a splined interface between crank and BB. Shimano also called it Octalink and ISIS is similar from another mfr.

In my experience Galaxys of that vintage are lot harder to dis-assemble than ones from the 1970s and 1980s. I needed a very long extension bar on the BB tool to get one out not so long ago.

The noises are likely to come from the crank/BB interface - the spline ones are notorious for that, although mine's been OK so far.

On a Galaxy my suggestion would be to replace the whole kit & caboodle with a Stronglight Impact Triple chainset and a Shimano UN54 BB English thread - 118 mm spindle (rather than the Stronglight JP400)
It is going back to an older technology but I've done exactly this on my wife's Galaxy and she's very happy with it.

I put a Tiagra Octalink on mine and TBH the 52-42-30 is too high a gearing for a tourer.

Mr P - just having a look about and I found a Stronglight Impact Triple for just over 30 quid. I also found other folk that have done a similar swap out but appear to have used BB that have used 113 mm and 115mm.

Is there a way of ensuring that i get the right size BB that will work with my front mech?

Also - if I am changing the rings should I also change the change and cassette or is that overkill?

 

[PpPete]

My mistake

118mm is the one to use with a Shimano triple not the Stronglight (which is actually a rebadged Sugino)

Stronglight's website clearly says 115mm here.

I wouldn't get the JP400 BB though. A Shimano UN54 in 115mm will last longer and they are not expensive.

Any Shimano front road mech handles that combo quite adequately. What's your existing mech? What size are the existing front rings?

As for changing chain & cassette - get a chain wear checking tool, if your chain is more than 1% stretched it's time to replace both cassette and chain anyway.

 

[GAVSTER]

Cheers Pete -

I have a tiagra front mech running 48/36/28 and it's fine.

Right mind made up - stronglight and UN54 115 mm here we come.

I might just buy a new chain and cassette anyway and do the lot.

Gav