Bottom Bracket Spacers

cavemud

Hi guys

New to the forum.

Been cycling (commuter, mbiker & roadie) for many years. I've always done my own bike maintenance etc.

Have just dragged myself into the 21st century and bought a new style chainset with the hollowtech type outboard bearings.

I had read somewhere on the net that spacers may be needed, but the new BB hasn't come with any.

How do I know if I need these spacers and if so what sizes etc.

Thanks in advance

alfablue

Whether you need spacers depends on the exact chainset you are using, and maybe the bike frame.

See the service instructions here for Shimano 105 for example, it shows a spacer for the FC-5603 version. The spacer should come with the chainset. Maybe an LBS can help

With my own bike I had an Ultegra Hollowtech II triple chainset fitted, extra spacers were required to clear the chainstay on the drive side, then another spacer to make the left hand crank equidistant.

I found at least one place selling spacers (no idea if thats the size you need, if you need one at all).

Note that it is recommended that your bottom bracket shell is faced before fitting HTII to ensure the cups are parallel. The LBS will do this for £10-£15 (the tools cost £hundreds!).

cavemud

Thanks alpha.

The frame is brand new, and the facing looks good.

I've just put the cranks on and theres no clearance issue on the chainwheel side.

Good point about the cranks needing to be equidistant.

I now have a stuck seatpost to deal with........oh joy...

salsarider79

Measure the Bottom Bracket width. It should be either 68mm or 73 mm. Measure carefully cos there is not that much diffrence. If it is 68mm then you will need two spacers on the driveside (where the rings are), and one spacer non-drive side. If its 73mm, you'll need one spacer drive side and no spacer on the other.
Check www.parktools.com for more info
p.s What width is the seattube, where the seatpost goes? Seatposts go up in 2mm increments so be careful.

salsarider79

Measure the Bottom Bracket width. It should be either 68mm or 73 mm. Measure carefully cos there is not that much diffrence. If it is 68mm then you will need two spacers on the driveside (where the rings are), and one spacer non-drive side. If its 73mm, you'll need one spacer drive side and no spacer on the other.
Check www.parktools.com for more info
p.s What width is the seattube, where the seatpost goes? Seatposts go up in 2mm increments so be careful.

salsarider79

Measure the Bottom Bracket width. It should be either 68mm or 73 mm. Measure carefully cos there is not that much diffrence. If it is 68mm then you will need two spacers on the driveside (where the rings are), and one spacer non-drive side. If its 73mm, you'll need one spacer drive side and no spacer on the other.
Check www.parktools.com for more info
p.s What width is the seattube, where the seatpost goes? Seatposts go up in 2mm increments so be careful.

salsarider79

Measure the Bottom Bracket width. It should be either 68mm or 73 mm. Measure carefully cos there is not that much diffrence. If it is 68mm then you will need two spacers on the driveside (where the rings are), and one spacer non-drive side. If its 73mm, you'll need one spacer drive side and no spacer on the other.
Check www.parktools.com for more info
p.s What width is the seattube, where the seatpost goes? Seatposts go up in 2mm increments so be careful.