Bottom bracket spacers

101_North
101_North Posts: 607
edited March 2011 in MTB workshop & tech
Folks. Installed a new hollowtech II BB tonight. I could have sworn that the old BB had 2 spacers on the drive side and 1 on the other - I checked quickly but when I came to put the new one on couldn't remember! When I set the new BB up with this the front mech was not changing right. I then changed it to 1 spacer drive side and 2 non drive side. Changing seems much better. I've just looked online though and general opinion is 2 spacers on the drive side. Have I set mine up wrong then?

Thanks

101

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    yes.

    what width BB?
    any bb mount stuff?
    what cranks?
    what BB cups?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • 101_North
    101_North Posts: 607
    No BB mounted stuff
    BB width is 68
    SLX cranks
    BB cups are a cheapie Token TK877EX

    If I've set it up wrong I'm at a loss explaining why the shifting was so bad first time round :?

    Thanks
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    should be totally standard. 2 drive side 1 non drive.

    my bet is that you had not fully fitted the axle through the BB.

    make sure the drive side arm is touching the bearing.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • 101_North
    101_North Posts: 607
    Thanks. I'll change it back tomorrow morning and see what happens. If it's shifting OK is there any major reason not to jut ride it as it is?

    Thanks

    101
  • Deputy Dawg
    Deputy Dawg Posts: 428
    Just had a look on the manual for the token BB. 2 spacers on the non drive side is for SRAM cranks.
    Statistically, Six Out Of Seven Dwarves Aren't Happy
  • camerauk
    camerauk Posts: 1,000
    I have 2 spacers on drive side of my Deore hollowtech II BB running a XT BB as per instructions as supplied with BB
    Specialized Camber Expert
    Specialized Allez Sport
  • 101_North
    101_North Posts: 607
    Thanks for the advice folks. I had made a right tit of it! Up at the crack of dawn and swapped the BB spacers back to the correct config. Nick I think you might have been right about the axle not being pushed through. The front mech needed a bit of alteration but it seems to be running OK now. Maybe one of these days I'll start a job on the bike and get it right first time!

    Thanks again

    101
  • cavegiant
    cavegiant Posts: 1,546
    I would say it is not too important if the spacers are where the manual says as long as you have the correct number.

    My bike had a weird chainline that was fixed with a bit of spacer bodging.

    Check it has been done properly first, if it shifter better before, do not fell bad swapping back. But try to get it right first, there is a big difference to setting up something badly and intentionally deviating from manual to achieve a result.
    Why would I care about 150g of bike weight, I just ate 400g of cookies while reading this?
  • ricardo_smooth
    ricardo_smooth Posts: 1,281
    mine only has 1 spacer on the drive side on a Deore HTII BB. This is how it came from the LBS and has cause me no issues with chain line
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    ricardo_smooth wrote:
    mine only has 1 spacer on the drive side on a Deore HTII BB. This is how it came from the LBS and has cause me no issues with chain line

    and the BB is 73mm.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown

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