Price to fit new crankset

Angusthewestie

Just wondering about the pros and cons of buying a crankset cheaply on-line and then getting it fitted locally. Any idea what I should expect to pay for the fitting?

I'm interested in the SLX M660 crankset and Merlin do it for £90, Ribble for about £80 (crankset + BB separately). Probably a job that would be best left to a pro. LBSs seem to be £110+, but wanted to check before seeing whether they would fit for free at the higher price. I prefer doing stuff locally whenever possible.

Cheers!

ride_whenever

Get your lbs to get it for you and fit it for free.

It'll probably work out cheaper.

peter413

Or buy the tools and do it yourself.

It isn't a hard job to do

Angusthewestie

Thanks - this is not a job I've tried before, although I'm OK on most other routine things. I would be happy to have a go and get the tools - the only thing that worries me a bit is the tensioning. How critical is this ... I think this tool can be quite expensive? Is this the sort of job that the average bike person could do and are there any potential expensive pitfalls?

I'd better have a look at the Park website!

Cheers!

peter413

Yep, look on the park website, it is very good guide.

The tool to install the BB is only a tenner and thats all you should need.

Then you just need to get the old one out

Spugnut

I've found prices to vary wildly. Just got an XT chainset online and I wanted to get my BB shell faced and new external BB and chainset fitted. My most local shop wanted £30 to face the BB and £20 for the rest. I thought that sounded a bit steep so I rang another of my locals (Freeborn Horsham) and it was £30 all in. It turns out when I took the bike in that it was actually £25. Half the price. I know where any bike work I can't do myself will be going.

I would have had a go at this myself but then saw the price of facing tools. :shock: . Figured while they had the cranks and BB out they might as well fit the new stuff. That bit was just laziness.

diy

Assuming you don't need the frame facing..

M760 XT for 100 quid
http://www.sprockets.uk.com/shimano-xt- ... p-985.html

then one of these to fit it..
http://www.woollyhatshop.com/Shop-By-Br ... _1600.html

do the job for 110 tops + some grease

Its a very, very easy job and then next time you can service it.

Angusthewestie

That's a really good price and tempting to upgrade as far as XT - I love XT stuff.

I'll explain my situation in a bit more detail:

I recently bought a new FS bike ... great frame, but have upgraded one or two bits and pieces. For the sake of completeness (and obsession, maybe), I'd like to have SLX or better throughout the drivetrain / gears. The one "weak link" left is the Shimano Deore M590 chainset (with external BB = SM-BB51). I know that this will be OK, but I figure that if I'm going to replace it, now is a good time as the rest of the drivetrain has little wear on it, so everything sould be compatible in terms of comparative wear.

I've seen that Ribble offers the M660 and M770 without the BB, although most retailers sell WITH the BB. As my bike is pretty new, would it be worth replacing just the chainset (without the BB), and if so, does this make the job easier? I confess ignorance on this, but think that in this case it might be more a question of a quick and easy DIY swap rather than fussing over replacing a nearly new BB.

Any thoughts or am I just being vain / naive?

Thanks 8)

diy

Take the whole lot out clean out the frame thread, grease it all up nice and install the BB that is intended to fit with the crankset. The XT one I posted includes the BB, I did the whole job really taking my time in under an hour.

The only thing you need to take into account is the shell size. Then its a case of threading up the bb adding the spacer rings, inserting the crank and tightened the pre tensioner and then tightening the crank bolts. I think it even comes with instructions

That tool I posted is all you need + a socket set and a few hex keys.

Don't over tension it though. With the tool you just use your hand on the tension nut.

I need to strip mine tomorrow night to clean it after the SDW100., I can upload a vid if you are that worried.

Angusthewestie wrote:

I recently bought a new FS bike ... great frame, but have upgraded one or two bits and pieces.

welcome to my world - spend 1200 in two years on replacements and upgrades

hbrashaw

a bit off topic, but is this your current crankset: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=40496 and is it 170mm, if it is are you interested in selling it?

Angusthewestie

Thanks - that sounds much more straightforward than I imagined. I've also been looking at some YouTube vids, and it looks OK on there too.

As the bike is newish, everything should be ready to roll and in good condition. In terms of spacers, would I just use the same as for the Deore, or might this be different, even if using the same make?

I just need to find out what the difference is between 760 and 770 now :oops:

welcome to my world - spend 1200 in two years on replacements and upgrades

... yes, I understand the compulsion. It's fun though!!!

Anonymous

if the bike already has an external BB, then you won't need to have it faced.

Angusthewestie

Yes, it's got the external BB51 on it .. out of laziness I wondered if this would be the same as the one supplied with the SLX, so could swap without actually removing the BB.

Angusthewestie

hbrashaw wrote:

a bit off topic, but is this your current crankset: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=40496 and is it 170mm, if it is are you interested in selling it?

It's that model but 175mm I'm afraid, otherwise I would be interested in selling. It's a Giant Anthem X4.

Anonymous

virtually all external BBS are he same, so yes, if it currently has a shimano BB, then the SLX will fit perfectly.

hbrashaw

angus, thanks but that's too big- i'm only 5ft 2

diy

But if you are going to bother to buy the XT crankset you might as well install the XT bb.

This shows you how - although the crank install is different obviously..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGkdgrjz ... re=related

770 is the newer version of the 760 - its why the 760 is cheaper. as best I could find their is bugger all difference in performance apart from the logo. Although many parts are not compatible between the two.

Angusthewestie

Thank you ... a bit lazy on my part, maybe, but I expect this turns it into a VERY easy job.

Ribble is out of stock:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/cycles ... HIMCHAM300

But Merlin has the full package for £90, which means I'd have a spare for the future?

diy

worth the extra tenner in my view to go XT

Angusthewestie

Definitely!

peter413

Just so you know guys, the SLX and XT BB are the same

Have a look here

I would personally just save the money and get the SLX, it looks better as well IMO

The Northern Monkey

I will install cranks for cake!

diy

peter413 wrote:

Just so you know guys, the SLX and XT BB are the same

being compatible doesn't make them the same..

http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techd ... 672023.pdf

but I agree there would be bugger all in it.

peter413

diy wrote:

peter413 wrote:

Just so you know guys, the SLX and XT BB are the same

being compatible doesn't make them the same..

http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techd ... 672023.pdf

but I agree there would be bugger all in it.

No, they are the same.

Otherwise there would be an XT BB and a seperate SLX BB. The Deore BB is compatible, does that mean its called the Deore/SLX/XT BB

Same with XTR, and Saint, although not with all Saints but you get the general idea

Angusthewestie

Thanks for all the replies - I've now got a much better idea of what I can do. As the bike is only a few rides old I would imagine that the BB is still in excellent condition, so I may as well either buy without the BB or keep a spare.

I will install cranks for cake!

- really bigbenj_08? How much cake would you need and where are you based? Could be tempted

The Northern Monkey

Angusthewestie wrote:

Thanks for all the replies - I've now got a much better idea of what I can do. As the bike is only a few rides old I would imagine that the BB is still in excellent condition, so I may as well either buy without the BB or keep a spare.

I will install cranks for cake!

- really bigbenj_08? How much cake would you need and where are you based? Could be tempted

As long as your BB doesn't need facing then I would

Angusthewestie

Cheers bigbenj_08 - that's a really kind offer.

YHM