Decided to do it myself to learn. I’ve read up about directions online, watched you tube install videos, seems rather easy to do. Any advice? I’ve heard you can damage the FSA BB’s if you’re not carefull with tightening. I don’t have a torque wrench but don’t think it’s necessary if I’m careful. Grease all the threads and don’t overtighten… any other advice? Thx
Some of the advice will depend on the type of bottom bracket you’re installing (ie. ISIS, BB30, Mega Exo). I have Mega Exo ceramics on a couple of bikes, so the advice I’d offer if you have that type is to ensure you have the internal aluminum sleeve lined up PRECISELY before you tighten the L side (non-drive side). I ruined an XTR bb years ago when I didn’t align the sleeve perfectly, and the sleeve (plastic) rubbed on the axle and had to be replaced. You’ll find that the sleeve doesn’t quite reach the other end as you’re tightening the L side, since it’s designed to fit exactly the width of your BB shell, but you can guide it with your finger as you tighten it to ensure it stays coaxial.
Other advice: You’re right about a good grease (I like Pedro’s) and lube all threads (I lube the various washer surfaces too) to keep the works from seizing up over time, and you’d get a more accurate torque wrench reading (if you used one) as well. It’s helpful to use a torque wrench for the main fixing bolt, as it needs to be pretty tight, but you could also tighten it too far and then damage the bearings / races. If it’s undertightened, it can work loose (and Murphy’s Law- it will, at the worst possible moment).
The little nubs on the BB cups that the BB wrench mate up with are soft and can be stripped if the wrench is not kept in line with the direction you’re turning them. My advice is to go slow when installing the BB cups.
Also- make sure you don’t forget the wavy washer when you’re installing it. I was on the phone while installing at set of these cranks and skipped that step, noticed it when I was almost done, and had to remove the cranks and start over. These cranks can actually be a PITA to take off, as the standard crank pullers I have don’t work, so I ended up taking 3x as long to get them on. So, installing it right the first time will save you some hassle.
thanks. I brought it to the shop and watched the Mechanic attempt to install it. I have the FSA Mega Exo ceramic BB, apparently it isn’t the same size as my Shimano Ultegra SL BB? It wouldn’t fit, although I read somewhere it was compatible. Once tightened there was quite a bit of play still with the crank, so the width of the largest parts of the BB/outer flanges?? appears to be different than the Shimano. Anyone else experienced this?
What type of frame do you have? Most bikes these days have English bottom bracket shells (68mm wide I believe), whereas the other standard, Italian is 70mm. So I’d make sure you bought the correct bottom bracket for your type of bottom bracket shell. Your shop may be able to help with a spacer to make the bearings farther apart (say, if you have an English BB for an Italian BB shell) but if it’s the other way around you may need a different BB.
Kuota F-Factor SL, LBS mechanic used a tool to measure both BB’s (Ultegra one while on the bike and the FSA out of the package) and said they were the same, but maybe since it’s only 2mm difference he didn’t measure carefully enough since it seemed close? My Ultegra BB reads “BC 1.37x24” on it… and now that I look at it my FSA says "“BC 1.37x24T” which should be the same, right? Weird. After researching the FSA online, it seems to come in English/68mm & Italian/70mm options… not sure which one I have. The center part (tube part that connects the threaded parts of the BB) reads “L <BB-70/68>R”. There was quite a bit of play in the cranks when installed; it was as if the long stem-like piece that is connected to the chanring was too long for it, I gues that’s the same as one side of the BB being too narrow. I appreciate your feedback, thanks