Swapping over DA cranks, BB

vermooten

Hi,

At various times in the year I'll be doing events which demand a triple chainset, other times when a compact or a standard chainset will do. I've got little experience in bike mechanics but have learned a fair bit (mostly by making mistakes). These are Dura-Ace components.

Is this kind of swapping over easy to do? I could of course take the bike to my LBS every time I want to do it but that's not practical - it's not very local for one thing, it costs money and it doesn't satisfy my need to be able to do it myself.

Any thoughts?

nicklouse

HT11 version or not?

the swaping of the cranks if HT11 is easy.
But the problem will be the front mech. at very least it will need a reposition and the required cable adjustment. at worst you will need to replace the front mech, it depends on that the range of the mechs are. Then there is the chain a different length one will be needed.

And this is again presuming that the LH shifter will Do 3 rings.

vermooten

hmmmm.... thnaks nicklouse. The box does indeed say HT11 or similar. I suspect i will need a different front mech but that's do-able. I might get the LBS to do the first swap from comapct to triple and find out what they needed to change. Once I know this I reckon I can do it. A year ago I was surprised at how simple it is to change a cassette.

Cheers,
Andy

Smokin Joe

I'm not a triple man myself, but if I needed one it would stay on permanantly. I don't really see what you can gain by swopping between that and a double, apart from a very insignificant amount of weight that you will never notice.

vermooten

I had a triple once before, and I think it made me lazy. More importantly, I simply want to know how to do it. Your point though is a good one, Smokin Joe. Surely I should be able to do the same hills eg Hardknott with a compact?

John.T

If you have Dura-ace double shifters they will not work a triple. I think triple ones will work a double but you need to check that. You can get almost the same range of gears with a compact. Changing between a standard double and a compact just needs the front mech moving and one link differance in chain length.

craigenty

I'd forget about the triple as it will complicate things too much. A compact with a reasonably low geared cassette at the back should do the job. (12-27?) This will solve any front mech and expensive shifting issues.

I currently run a Stronglight Vulcan 50-34 compact chainset on an ISIS bottom bracket for mountains and Sportives and a Dura Ace 53-39 for racing.
I have got the changeover down to about 40 minutes including a quick adjustment to the front mech. I usually leave a 11-23 cassette on permanently but for the really hilly stuff it has to be the 12-27

The chain length is such that it works fine on both chainsets but not 53-27 or 34-12

dennisn

If I understand your letter you will also have to swap out your shifters. Triple front
cranks don't work at all with regular double front shifters at least I don't think they do(anyone). Now this takes a bit more
work. Or maybe you knew that.

craigenty

Sorry Vermooten. I missread your post. i thought you were swapping between triple, double and compact.

As above there will be issues between a double set up and triple front mech, triple shifters, length of BB etc

vermooten

Thanks chaps. I think that, rather than fit a triple, I'll just train harder!

Cheers,
Andy

craigenty

vermooten wrote:

Thanks chaps. I think that, rather than fit a triple, I'll just train harder!

Cheers,
Andy

That's the spirit

Maybe see you at La Marmotte?