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Isis or Hollowtech / X-type

dhxcmedhxcme Posts: 1,467
edited March 2008 in MTB workshop & tech
Which cranks would you have.

Let me set a scenario which i came up against. It's getting dark, your six miles from anyway of getting home it's threatening to rain and you offside crank drops off.

Now if i had hollow tech or x-type i'd be screwed as i forgot my allen keys.

Luckily i had isis (get you out the sh*t) drive so i just slid the crank back on and made it back home.

I'm sticking with isis but i'm just wondering what others say.
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Posts

  • supersonicsupersonic Posts: 82,708 Lives Here
    Octalink!
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  • Jimbob_no5Jimbob_no5 Posts: 1,568
    not sure on this one, ive always used isis but for the new build i want saint hollowtechs just because not much can go wrong but i do always take allan keys out with me
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  • stubsstubs Posts: 5,001
    go with shimano there is a little pin that holds the crank on it shouldnt fall off even if the pinch bolts come loose
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  • norco forevernorco forever Posts: 1,177
    saints/hollowtechs only need an allen key to fix most things :P
    If you aint in A&E, you aint riding hard enough

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  • dhxcmedhxcme Posts: 1,467
    I had a set but just not the one for my cranks which isn't normal. I had saints on my bike before it got nicked and to be honest they weren't anything special.

    Also they ARE isis cranks but shimano octalink work the same.
    Always buy Orange
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  • nicklousenicklouse Posts: 50,675 Lives Here
    stubs wrote:
    go with shimano there is a little pin that holds the crank on it shouldnt fall off even if the pinch bolts come loose

    a what?

    thereis a preload bolt and 2 pinch bolts. where is this "pin"?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
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  • skylinerskyliner Posts: 613
    If you fit them properly and check them periodically they don't fall off mid-ride in the 1st place.
    It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
  • dhxcmedhxcme Posts: 1,467
    That would be anouther f*ck up on my part. washed and greased everything but must have missed it on the torqueing up. still got home without walking so not all bad.
    Always buy Orange
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  • Marjory Stewart BAxtorMarjory Stewart BAxtor Posts: 508
    supersonic wrote:
    Octalink!
    go home!

    go on... !
    Train hard, ride easy
  • dave_hilldave_hill Posts: 3,877
    Marjory Stewart BAxtor wrote:
    supersonic wrote:
    Octalink!
    go home!

    go on... !

    Square Taper!!! :twisted:
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  • Marjory Stewart BAxtorMarjory Stewart BAxtor Posts: 508
    I don't mind square taper - served the generation before well.


    Just don't let it anywhere near Marjory Stewart BAxtor's cranks
    Train hard, ride easy
  • stubsstubs Posts: 5,001
    dont know if its on the latest hollowtech cranksets but on mine and a couple of mates sets there is a small plate that pivots on one of the pinch bolts on this plate there is a small pin that locates in a milled hole on the crank axle when you undo the pinch bolts you have to lever up this plate before you can remove the crank arm

    it was quite funny watching my mate try to remove the crank arm because he had forgotten about this we stopped him just as he was going to get the big hammer out
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • stubsstubs Posts: 5,001
    just had a quick look on the shimano site the 2008 cranksets have the safety pin as well download the pdf for the xt crankset and its part number 4
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • plugp7plugp7 Posts: 298
    Square taper, UN72 if you can find them.
    Fit and forget.
    Cotic Soul 26 inch. Whyte T130
  • MilkieMilkie Posts: 377
    I had a RaceFace X-Type BB.. It lasted about 200 muddy miles before I had to buy a replacement. I bought a Shimano one this time, as they last a lot longer.
  • rob colerob cole Posts: 706
    the shimano hollowtech II tension cap tool is nylon, weighs all of 25gm and size of a small biscuit so not really hard to put in your backpack along with your allen key multi tool - that is all you ever need to strip off or reinstall Hollowtech II cranks

    you are right that later versions of HT2 come with a "safety plate" with a hardened steel pin that locks into a hole in the axle to prevent the crank working loose if something happens to the pinch bolts or tension cap (and which you must remove or loosen before trying to remove the non-driveside crank arm)

    however, i have been running Hollowtech II cranks since they came out (LX, XT and Saint) and have never had one "fall off" unlike square taper (which i've also had SNAP on me leaving a nice scar up my calve muscle)...

    ..or X-Type which kept working loose as the spline friction fit became worn

    or ISIS which was a bad joke in terms of b/b life

    or Truvativ Howizter which uses the ISIS interface with external bearings and cranks that seem to like jumping off the axle stub at their own pleasure

    HT2 it is then :wink:
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