Installing power-torque cranks - is violence neccessary?

DickieH

Hi,

I am performing my first ever install of a crankset. It is a Veloce 2011 power-torque alloy. Ive been following the instructions and its all gone easy until i come to add the non-drive side crank onto the central shaft. It was a snug fit from the off, but as its gone in further the force required (with mallet) to persuade it in further has become a bit scary. I know getting it off again requires a special tool, but still.....is this normal? I cant imagine anyone doing this to expensive carbon cranks for example. Is installing them always a bit of a 'mare?

cheers,

r

DickieH

Ive just watched this video by Campag and my experience of installing the crank arm is nothing like as easy as it goes on here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1_3smRyk-w

With a lot of bashing, ive got it to about 2mm of its corect position (i think). So do i bash some more and hope i never have to remove it, or should try to remove it now becasue somethings not right?

Are there any tricks with things like this, like applying heat for example to makeparts expand? I think to either get it off, or properly on I am going to need every tip in the book.

cheers,

rich

Tallyho

Don't bash it! Yeah that video is annoying. I have a feeling Camapagnolo feel up against it these days and oversell things. The bottom bracket cups go in slow and with some force even with a properly reamed BB thread. The rest I found straightforward: i used a fair bit of grease on the left side crank joint to the spindle even though the shockingly bad campag instruction 'leaflet' did not ask for it. I found it fairly easy then to tighten up the bolt which drags the crank over the spindle end to it's full extent. I could not envisage getting the thing off in future without using the grease.

Haven't ridden the crankset yet but can say it's a better design to the Ultra-torque version I had before. They have rolled this out at Centaur/Athen level but I can see it displacing Ultra-torque in Chorus/Record gruppos in 2012 when any feedback on bugs have been dealt with.

DickieH

Thanks,

I used grease but maybe not enough - or maybe the parts have bad tolerances. I think I will get my LBS to sort it for me.

cheers,

rich

darren H

I think it's designed like that
The guy at Mercian told me they can be a bit difficult to fit. I myself am still thinking about ultra torque again.
My chorus ultra torque on my rourke has been faultless.

I think it could be an idea to put the non drive crank on and off a few times just to wear the fit in a little.
Might just be stiff first couple of times.

I say just fit and re fit until it gets a bit easier and each time it should go on a bit further.

No don't bash it , good luck.

gareth273

I have to say mine went on as easily as the one in the video. No bashing required at all. Used a torque wrench to tighten up the large Allen bolt as shown and all has been fine.

gareth273

I have to say mine went on as easily as the one in the video. No bashing required at all. Used a torque wrench to tighten up the large Allen bolt as shown and all has been fine.

on-yer-bike

Tallyho wrote:

Don't bash it! Yeah that video is annoying. I have a feeling Camapagnolo feel up against it these days and oversell things. The bottom bracket cups go in slow and with some force even with a properly reamed BB thread. The rest I found straightforward: i used a fair bit of grease on the left side crank joint to the spindle even though the shockingly bad campag instruction 'leaflet' did not ask for it. I found it fairly easy then to tighten up the bolt which drags the crank over the spindle end to it's full extent. I could not envisage getting the thing off in future without using the grease.

Haven't ridden the crankset yet but can say it's a better design to the Ultra-torque version I had before. They have rolled this out at Centaur/Athen level but I can see it displacing Ultra-torque in Chorus/Record gruppos in 2012 when any feedback on bugs have been dealt with.

why is it better than UT?

DickieH

The nice blokes at Cycleworks guildford fixed it. They said i just hadnt put on enough grease.