Anyone know whether it’s possible to use a bb30 crankset in the bb90 frame (i.e. Speed Concept or Madone)?
For example, can you put a SRAM Red bb30 crankset into a bb90 Speed Concept?
I know there are special adapters for standard english or italian threaded cranksets to be used in a bb30 frame.
the quick answer is ‘no’. BB30 uses a 30mm spindle, BB90 is designed for 24mm.
Given my recent experience, my thoughts are ‘don’t go BB30 unless you have to’.
Given my recent experience, my thoughts are ‘don’t go BB30 unless you have to’.
Can you explain that a little more? what happened?
Anyone know whether it’s possible to use a bb30 crankset in the bb90 frame (i.e. Speed Concept or Madone)?
For example, can you put a SRAM Red bb30 crankset into a bb90 Speed Concept?
I know there are special adapters for standard english or italian threaded cranksets to be used in a bb30 frame.
No. The axle won’t be long enough.
Thanks. I thought an adaptor may make it work. Guess not.
Given my recent experience, my thoughts are ‘don’t go BB30 unless you have to’.
Can you explain that a little more? what happened?
sure. Installation was a giant pain. The issue I ran into is that after pressing the bearings into the frame, I then pressed the spindle through the bearings. The fit between the spindle and the bearings was so tight that the bearings then pushed themselves out of place. I had to do some pretty inventive maneuvers which involved multiple woodworking clamps just to get the damn spindle through the bearings while keeping the bearings in place. I guess if the bearing had a ‘tighter fit’ in my frame, this wouldn’t have been a problem. However, this is the nature of the beast given the tolerances involved.
I could also have used a really heavy threadlocking compound, but the fit between the spindle and bearings was so tight I’m not sure it would have helped.
The other issue is the bearing preload. It’s really finicky. The system of plastic washers to get the bearing preload dialed in is just janky. Basically, you know it’s right if your crank doesn’t fall off (too loose) or you crush the bearings (too tight). It seems that it’s almost mandatory that one of those two things happens to you until you know it’s adjusted correctly.
I have it working now, so we’ll see how it holds up. The SRM is way lighter than the other alternatives, so that’s cool–but I’m not sure the benefits outweigh the PITA factor.
I just set up my Ultra-Torque BB30 crankset and it was super simple. I also think the 24mm adaptors with the BB30 bearings do not take away from the MegaExo, Hollowtech II, and GXP designs.
Which frame do you have?
-SD
it’s a Raleigh Competition, 2010. I mic’d the BB shell, and it was right within spec and appeared to be well-machined, so I don’t think the frame was the issue at all. The bearings pressed in reasonably tight and evenly into the frame. Obviously though, once they got pressed back out by the spindle, the fit was less tight. The fit on the Cannondale spindle in the bearing was really, really tight–so maybe that was the issue.
Honestly, I loved the idea of the BB30, until I went to install it…
The BB30 1A that the SRAM 975 uses is nice and simple to set bearing preload with a threaded preloader similar to Shimano XTR. Much better than the spacers and wavy washer IMO. I have run into the BB30 bearings coming out the other side issue that Roady mentions in a couple of frames, the one issue with BB30 is that it requires very tight tolerances in both width of shell and ID and if its even slightly over spec the bearings want to come out and it requires some ingenuity to keep them in. I dont have any experience with Press fit 30, but that sounds like potentially a better system.
Kevin
The BB30 1A that the SRAM 975 uses is nice and simple to set bearing preload with a threaded preloader similar to Shimano XTR. Much better than the spacers and wavy washer IMO.
do you have a picture or link for this thing? I’ve about it, but it’s like Sasquatch to me… Also, is the preloader dealy available separately?