Can you install an FSA crank in a Shimano BB? Does this work? Are they interchangeable?
I couldn’t on mine (per my lbs). I had a shimano octalink BB and when I installed the FSA crank, I needed an ISIS BB. If octalink and ISIS are compatible, my lbs lied to me and robbed me $40.
It depends on what kind of FSA crank you get. If you get one that is Octalink compatible and you have a Shimano Octalink BB, then yes. If you get one that is ISIS compatible, then no. If you get an integrated crank i.e. a Mega-Exo, then obviously it doesn’t matter.
I guess I’m not clear on the difference in Octalink and ISIS. I thought the only thing that refered to was the external connection of the crank arms to the crankshaft which would be independent of the BB? Or is there more to it than that?
Octalink is Shimano’s proprietary standard for the splines on a non-integrated bottom bracket (pre-external bearing cups style). ISIS is another standard and in both cases refers to the number and orientation of the splines on the spindle where it interfaces with the crankarms and as such Octalink will not work with an ISIS crankset and vice versa as indicated in the image below (for more information go here http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_m-o.html):
