So I’ve bought a new bike and I’m having trouble getting the Rotor 3D+ cranks installed on them. I’m not the one doing the wrenching but my LBS has informed me the “spacing” is off. I watched the Rotor installation video on youtube and for a BB30 bike they said you needed 2x11mm spacers (one on each side) to make this work. After leaving my bike at the shop the more than capable mechanic has called me saying they have to get in touch with Rotor and/or Felt to get this issue resolved.
I’m at a loss for why things aren’t working. It’s a Felt IA with a BB30 (Vision brand) Rotor 3D+ 165mm Cranks with a 30mm spindle. If there are any suggestions as to why/how this part combo is acting up on us I’d be more than grateful to hear it. I’m not sure if this means I have to order different spacers or if the worst has come true and the Rotor cranks are incompatible with the Felt IA.
Perhaps this is best left in the hands of the mechanic? For what it’s worth the Felt AR I have had no troubles with the Rotor 3DF cranks I put on it so it seems to be model specific.
Yeah the preload nut is there. He didn’t mention to me if it was too tight or too loose. I’ll be checking back in with them this weekend and get more details. I’m starting to think it may be a good idea to take it to a Cervelo dealer who has more experience with Rotor components but I hate feeling like a traitor to my LSB!
Edit: Just spoke to them now and the issues was the 2 spacers and improper load nut setup. Looking like crisis has been avoided.
Perhaps the information you have about the spacers is incorrect. The Rotor 3D+ spindle is only 11mm longer than a normal BB30 spindle, so adding 22mm of spacer (2x11) is too much. The bottom bracket shell width on a typical BB30 is 68mm while the BBright bottom bracket width is 79mm.
The 3D+ is specifically made for the BBright system and I am unsure if it is even cross compatible in that direction. I know some of the newer SRAM BB30 cranks have a 11mm spacer you can remove to install on a BBright frame, but I don’t think any/all BBright crankset can be installed on a BB30 frame.
Yeah the preload nut is there. He didn’t mention to me if it was too tight or too loose. I’ll be checking back in with them this weekend and get more details. I’m starting to think it may be a good idea to take it to a Cervelo dealer who has more experience with Rotor components but I hate feeling like a traitor to my LSB!
Edit: Just spoke to them now and the issues was the 2 spacers and improper load nut setup. Looking like crisis has been avoided.
Should fit without any issues and quit easy they just need to follow the manual that came with the cranks. Place them all the time on felt bikes incl the IA.
It was a take off from an old Cervelo a buddy gave me so the majority of the issue was there were not spacers or manual when we originally started the process. I’ve learned my lesson and will be going retail next time to avoid issues.
Perhaps the information you have about the spacers is incorrect. The Rotor 3D+ spindle is only 11mm longer than a normal BB30 spindle, so adding 22mm of spacer (2x11) is too much. The bottom bracket shell width on a typical BB30 is 68mm while the BBright bottom bracket width is 79mm.
The 3D+ is specifically made for the BBright system and I am unsure if it is even cross compatible in that direction. I know some of the newer SRAM BB30 cranks have a 11mm spacer you can remove to install on a BBright frame, but I don’t think any/all BBright crankset can be installed on a BB30 frame.
All BBright-compatible cranks I’ve seen work in traditional BB30, and you definitely need both spacers with a BB30. With a BBright BB you only use the spacer on the drive side. This at least is how SRAM and Rotor work. That’s the beauty of it–they’ll work on pretty much any standard (BB30/Bright, PF30, even conventional threaded with the right BB). The Rotor is definitely not a “BBright-only” crankset.
Did you get it figured out? It sounds like your crankset may not be the BBRight specific one as the older ones needed spacers on both sides to work on a BB30 - I believe all Rotor SRM’s are also this way.
So most likely, you’ll need to put one that looks like this on the drive side and one on the non drive side - like this - except you want the preload nut. If the crank is newer (as in the last couple of years) the spider has the spacing built into it (pictured here) so you’ll only need the non drive side one. Should be fairly straight forward.
Mechanic says everything is good now he’s just messing with tuning the gears as I’ve gotten a set of QRings with a Medium cage RD with 11-32 cassette. He says there is some rubbing but I expected that with the setup and I avoid cross chain gearing 99% of the time.
Thanks to all who gave their insights and suggestions. I greatly appreciate the helping hands!