Re: Latest Broken Crank/FSA

[Bill Sornson]

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:

> ... AND any wrench worth his salt installs Ocatlink
> cranks with the self extracor caps OFF, so you can ensure the splines
> are lined up. In the stoopid bike shop section, we had a bike outta a
> box that actually has a ES series BB(for XT/LX cranks) with an Ultegra
> crank crammed onto it. Needless to say the crank was history.

FWIW, I've installed my Octalink DA cranks incorrectly a number of times --
started tightening them up and realized the splines weren't aligned. Backed
'em off -- got things right -- tightened the bolts and all has been fine.
(Same crankset -- few incidents -- no discernable damage.)

I don't think they're as fragile as some on here say they are. Mine have
well over 16K miles (two bikes), and have never hiccupped.

Bill "granted, I did suffer moments of dread" S.

[Callistus Valerius]

>
> FWIW, I've installed my Octalink DA cranks incorrectly a number of
times --
> started tightening them up and realized the splines weren't aligned.
Backed
> 'em off -- got things right -- tightened the bolts and all has been fine.
> (Same crankset -- few incidents -- no discernable damage.)
>
> I don't think they're as fragile as some on here say they are. Mine have
> well over 16K miles (two bikes), and have never hiccupped.
>
> Bill "granted, I did suffer moments of dread" S.
-----------------
I've never had any problem with octalink, with over 60,000 miles on 3
different bikes. The BB's get a little rough after 20,000 miles, and I
change 'em. If you take some time, it's easy to line them up right, the
cranks. If you have a blaring radio, with people talking to you, while
you're doing it, it might be a different story. I've never understood the
"goofy footed" theory, and something about how they come loose. I tighten
them up when I put the new bb in, and never touch them again, until another
20,000 miles has gone by.

Now I do have an FSA seatpost, with the huge setback, to accommodate a
Brooks saddle, so I'm kind of worried about that, with the huge failure rate
of FSA products. I have had 4 seatpost failures, with 3 different kinds of
seatposts. They were all single bolt clamps, so now I strictly only get two
bolt clamps, don't know if that makes a difference, but no failures yet.
The FSA seatpost is a two bolt design so maybe it'll work, I hope. I can't
ride standing up, so it's a ride ender for me.