FSA Gossamer crank axle stuck in Shimano hollowtech BB

buckles
buckles Posts: 694
edited August 2013 in Workshop
Is this a common problem?

Tiagra cranks go in and out easily as you'd expect. FSA Gossamers need to be hit with a rubber mallet with more force than I'm prepared to exert.

Worried I'm going to destroy the BB bearings or crack my frame if I hit the axle any harder. What can I do?
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Comments

  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    Was a couple of years ago I replaced my Goassamer chainset with an Ultegra one but don't remember it being and especially tight fit...
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    You could get the correct FSA bottom bracket, or put the tiagra back on.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    They can be a firm fit - grease the spindle and support the other side of the frame! Gossamer and HT2 are interchangeable - swapped them around lots of times.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • raymondliu
    raymondliu Posts: 56
    I thought the FSA range that is interchangeable with Hollowtech ii is MegaExo?
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Some models of FSA Gossamer chainset uses MegaExo BB - there are however different types, particularly between alloy and carbon cranks. Only the alloy ones are really interchangeable with HT2.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • hstiles
    hstiles Posts: 414
    Rubber mallet.
  • buckles
    buckles Posts: 694
    Uh, yeah. Not actually 'compatible' in the strictest sense of the word
    Steve I wrote:
    Update - Having a bit of a re-think, I sent an email to FSA complaining of the high price of these washers and they very kindly sent me some free of charge. I ordered a Shimano Tiagra set of external bearings. However, despite reading loads of Google results that FSA and Shimano are interchangeable, the spindle on my cranks was slightly too big to go easily into the bearings. I needed a lump hammer and block of wood to persuade them to get on with each other. I had to give a few reasonably heavy blows with the weighty hammer to get the spindle to seat. This may have been detrimental to the bearings so I consider this a bit of a botch for now.

    Surprisingly enough, the left arm went on with no play and the cranks are spinning reasonably freely, but it remains to be seen how long the bearings will last after this heavy treatment. So there you have it: in my limited experience, FSA and Shimano external bearing systems are not compatible unless it's normal to have to belt the spindle into the bearings. I suspect it's not as the cranks went easily in and out of the FSA bearings with hand pressure.
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  • buckles
    buckles Posts: 694
    antfly wrote:
    You could get the correct FSA bottom bracket, or put the tiagra back on.
    hstiles wrote:
    Rubber mallet.
    Did you actually read the OP?
    25% off your first MyProtein order: sign up via https://www.myprotein.com/referrals.lis ... EE-R29Y&li or use my referral code LEE-R29Y
  • Herbsman
    Herbsman Posts: 2,029
    Buckles wrote:
    antfly wrote:
    You could get the correct FSA bottom bracket, or put the tiagra back on.
    hstiles wrote:
    Rubber mallet.
    Did you actually read the OP?
    I wouldn't bother asking for mechanical advice in this forum mate, you're more likely to get useful info off a child
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  • hstiles
    hstiles Posts: 414
    Buckles wrote:
    antfly wrote:
    You could get the correct FSA bottom bracket, or put the tiagra back on.
    hstiles wrote:
    Rubber mallet.
    Did you actually read the OP?

    Yes. I run a Gossamer crank on a 105 BB and K-Force Light crank on a FSA ceramic BB. I need to use a rubber mallet on both sets of cranks to get them to fit. I've observed no adverse effects.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    My 105 cranks with Shimano BB go in with just a whack from the flat of my hand.
  • tonye_n
    tonye_n Posts: 832
    Buckles wrote:
    Is this a common problem?

    Tiagra cranks go in and out easily as you'd expect. FSA Gossamers need to be hit with a rubber mallet with more force than I'm prepared to exert.

    Worried I'm going to destroy the BB bearings or crack my frame if I hit the axle any harder. What can I do?
    It is not uncommon to have to use slight force to install this combination.
    You won't destroy the cranks, but 'could' damage the BB bearings if this is done repeatedly.

    note: Although anecdotally this combination is set to fit, the spindle of the FSA gossamer is slightly bigger than that of Shimano cranksets. Hence a rubber mallet is sometimes required for installation.

    I would get an FSA BB instead if I was you.

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