I've got the adjustable preload spacer, a spring spacer, any plethora of spacers you could dream of for this thing.

I install it all up almost any way conceivable and the second you put even a hair of preload on it like you're supposed to, it seems the crank does not have that nice spin to it any longer.

If I put some pressure on my hand and spin it, sure it might not matter.

But, any Shimano BB/crank combo I own has always spun for ages without a chain on it.

What gives with this design? Do the DUB BB not "spin" like a Shimano crank when unloaded? You always hear about wheel bearings mattering with "load". But this just seems silly. It should be able to spin at least several revolutions with the proper preload.

Advice beyond the numerous youtube videos and instruction manuals?

I've ridden it like this for a while, but had a slow day to look at this since it always bothered me. I'm questioning if I'm throwing watts into the trash bin with this.

I recently installed a PF30 DUB BB. It did not spin very well at all, maybe just over a revolution. And I'm pretty sure I got the preload correct. I was tightening the adjuster until just after the point where there wasn't any play in the cranks.

I saw a recent build of a Cervelo Caledonia with Force AXS on .

Skip ahead to 5:22, where the mechanic installs the cranks. He was kind enough to give them a flick. They don't seem to spin very well on that bike either. I am guessing this is par for the course (or, I suppose, both of us are ignoramuses).