Shimano XTR Chainset FC-m950 new BB

scd83

Hiya,

Well I brought a second hand Merlin Ti bike I thought it was around 3yrs old as the person I brough it of produced a receipt stating this. But after researching the chainset Im thinking otherwise. I have recently noticed plenty of creaking from the BB and there is a bit of play in it. I had my thoughts of it being the BB confirmed when I stopped in at a free bike check on the way to work this morning.
I just dropped into Cycle Surgery and asked about a new replacement BB and was told not likely as they are like hens teath for this model and about £80. Is this the case? If so does anyone have any suggestions for a reasonably priced replacement I am not wanting to spend much over £100. I would love to rplace it with a current xtr model but don't think I could get it passed the misses.
I use the bike daily commuting to work and hit the trails atleat twice a month. I want the best bit of kit for the money I have so any advice would be greattly appreciated.

Thanks,
Steve

supersonic

This is the Octalink V1 bottom bracket I believe. Many old road Octalink BBs are the V1 standard, and you may be able to pick one up cheaply.

I don't know what size you need though, but for example:

http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/p ... ncy&id=GBP

supersonic

This shows the difference in types:

ellsbells1973

if you decide to change the whole chainset and bb instead i would recommended the shimano slx from merlincycles http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... et_331.htm
it looks just as swish and is highly rated by WMB, MBUK and MBR

satanas

Look at some of the USA mail order places. One of the larger ones (maybe CBO, Price Point or Jenson USA?) advertised these BBs for $20US very recently. All of the road Octalink BBs were Octalink V1, but XTR is the *ONLY* MTB BB with this spline, so don't buy XT or lower thinking it will fit - it won't. The road axles are 109.5 for doubles and 118 for triples, while XTR are 113/116mm. If you have a 68mm BB shell you may be able to get away with a road BB, and perhaps a spacer or two; if 73mm it will be more complicated to do this. You may be able to change the "cups" from 68 to 73mm - this is possible on some Shimano cartridge BBs, but I have no idea if this is possible for XTR.

supersonic

Be careful of Tiagra though (and maybe some lower ones) as that is V2.

njee20

Whilst SS is right about the V1 splines and the possibility of using a road BB I wouldn't bother. Current XT weighs less than M952 including the BB, I'd buy an XT chainset and flog the XTR to some retro chap, probably get some decent money for it, and the XT will be lighter and stiffer, whilst replacement parts will be cheaper and easier to come by.

If it's an M950 as opposed to M952 (the former has no cutouts on big ring, a 'groove' all the way round the big ring and is marked for IG chain) then it's an 8 speed one and is pre-1999.

The rings are bigger than standard too, and the OEM ones cost a fortune. They were 24/34/46 on the 4-arm and 26/36/48 on the 5-arm.

Either way the crank is far older than 3 years old, although that's not to say the frame is. What are the decals like? Older Merlin frames had really nice classy understated decals, they then went to massive 'Merlin Metalworks' ones that looked cheap IMO!