Bicycle Mechanics - Shmano Craziness and recall

OK I was looking at upgrading my crank on my 95 gt (its 18 years old) and noticed on sheldon browns site that eh altus c90 cranks are "recalled"
I was looking for information about chain line etc.

so I called Shimano America and asked them about it. they said yes its true and they will replace the cranks, front mech and chain with brand new altus stuff and labor to remove and replace free at a shimano dealer, then gave me a list of local dealers
So I called a local shop and they said Yup bring it by.
than later I just put new/ different cranks on later if I want. but either way I get a new chain and bb and


What I can't do is get a credit for the stuff and use it to buy better stuff, but I bet I can get him to put a differnt fron mech that I bought on.

What I can't do is get a credit for the stuff and use it to buy better stuff, but I bet I can get him to put a differnt fron mech that I bought on.

I followed what you were saying... up until here.

I followed what you were saying... up until here.
I think he's trying to say he wants credit towards upgrades, not recall replacement parts.

but I bet I can get him to put a differnt fron mech that I bought on.

That's the part that confuses me.

oh ...
I just bought a deore front mech (I hate typing derailleur) on ebay. so why have him put the altus on just to take it off and so I put the deore on and readjust the upper and lower limits.

oh ...
I just bought a deore front mech (I hate typing derailleur) on ebay. so why have him put the altus on just to take it off and so I put the deore on and readjust the upper and lower limits.
I don't think it's general etiquette, but I just americanize chop up derailleur into derailer.

FD works for me....I can SPELL that one right! ;-)

noticed on sheldon browns site that eh altus c90 cranks are "recalled"

Linky linky?

Are these cranks clearly labeled "Altus C90" or is it one of those deals where you have to look at special manufacturer stamps and look up a code in a table on a secret website or something?

Linky linky?

Are these cranks clearly labeled "Altus C90" or is it one of those deals where you have to look at special manufacturer stamps and look up a code in a table on a secret website or something?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=shimano+c90+recall

Linky linky?

Are these cranks clearly labeled "Altus C90" or is it one of those deals where you have to look at special manufacturer stamps and look up a code in a table on a secret website or something?
281647

no secret code, just a call to shimano America. I googled shimano customer service.

Phone

Shimano American Corp.
(949) 951-5003


here is the link on the sheldon brown site that got me thinking.
http://sheldonbrown.com/bbsize.html. looks like the 1995 'A' named mtb bike cranks are bad

oh ...
I just bought a deore front mech (I hate typing derailleur) on ebay. so why have him put the altus on just to take it off and so I put the deore on and readjust the upper and lower limits.

Why not use FD (like eveyone else) instead? Just asking!

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=shimano+c90+recall

Hah, lmgtfy.com, nice snarky linkage (maybe they should call it rtfm.com (nope, it's taken)). Note OP says he read it on SB, SB did not appear on that google search, and nothing turned up when I googled site:sheldonbrown.com altus c90 recall (https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Asheldonbrown.com+altus+c90+recall&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a), hence my question.

If you want to upgrade cranks, the shop might give you some kind of credit for the new, warranty replacement Altus crankset, but it would probably only be at their cost, around $15 or so.

Why not use FD (like eveyone else) instead? Just asking!
I like the sound of "Mech" but D is easier to type.

If you want to upgrade cranks, the shop might give you some kind of credit for the new, warranty replacement Altus crankset, but it would probably only be at their cost, around $15 or so.
the shop on teh phone was like "you want to what" "return something you didnt pay for?" You want credit towards something else." I thnk my best bet may be to either just use them or try to sell them on ebay maybe with the brand new FD that I wont be using. I may call another shop and see if they can work with me.

the shop on teh phone was like "you want to what" "return something you didnt pay for?" You want credit towards something else." I thnk my best bet may be to either just use them or try to sell them on ebay maybe with the brand new FD that I wont be using. I may call another shop and see if they can work with me.

If you're paying MSRP for a crank upgrade from the same shop, they might play ball with you; same if you brought in the replacement warranty crank and the upgrade you prefer and suggest trading the brand new Altus crank for installation. Not a normal course of business, but if you have a shop you frequent all the time, something they might do for you. Otherwise, you're at their mercy and shop policies -- no obligation on their end to work a deal with you. Definitely worth some phone calls, but I wouldn't be surprised if you don't feel the love with cold calls like this...

you should try to sweet talk them into something better bc that current altus crank looks like a cheap turd, imo.

you should try to sweet talk them into something better bc that current altus crank looks like a cheap turd, imo.
It it's but it's a new turd. I am going to see what I can do at a smaller shop. One of the main reasons for a upgrade was to get 175 instead of 170 if I can do that altars floor free I'll be happy enough. It's still vex St that they will replace 18 year old parts.

Anybody know what's wrong with them. Why they were recalled?

the shop on teh phone was like "you want to what" "return something you didnt pay for?" You want credit towards something else." I thnk my best bet may be to either just use them or try to sell them on ebay maybe with the brand new FD that I wont be using. I may call another shop and see if they can work with me.

I would actually side with the shop on this one.
Crediting the new cranks back to the shop so you can buy other stuff would not be in the spirit of the recall.

Consider:
Shimano is providing the LBS for a specific crank (and reimbursing the labor hopefully) to replace a broken Shimano item; note that this is not the fault of the LBS yet they are probably taking a loss in terms of work time that could be spent on profitable repairs.
Also, the replacement item comes from Shimano; not LBS inventory, it is of no use to them in terms of resell value. You're asking them to sit on dead inventory, as well as be dishonest to Shimano regarding use of the replacement parts.

If you don't want the free cranks and labor; then don't waste the LBS' time and money. You were planning on tossing the old cranks and upgrading anyway right?-as in you were going to give your LBS some real work.
How about you do that as originally planned, and not try to take advantage of them by manipulating the intent of that recall.

scooterfrog, Recalls are legal items and as such have no leeway as far as the manufacturer that initiated the recall is concerned. You maybe able to have 175 mm crankarms on the new crankset rather than 170 mm crankarms.

Brad

I would actually side with the shop on this one.
Crediting the new cranks back to the shop so you can buy other stuff would not be in the spirit of the recall.

Consider:
Shimano is providing the LBS for a specific crank (and reimbursing the labor hopefully) to replace a broken Shimano item; note that this is not the fault of the LBS yet they are probably taking a loss in terms of work time that could be spent on profitable repairs.
Also, the replacement item comes from Shimano; not LBS inventory, it is of no use to them in terms of resell value. You're asking them to sit on dead inventory, as well as be dishonest to Shimano regarding use of the replacement parts.

If you don't want the free cranks and labor; then don't waste the LBS' time and money. You were planning on tossing the old cranks and upgrading anyway right?-as in you were going to give your LBS some real work.
How about you do that as originally planned, and not try to take advantage of them by manipulating the intent of that recall.


I don't intend to hurt the shop in any way. And don't want their labor at all.
My best reasonable case. I remove the parts and do on over the counter swap for the parts. I then find an ethical easy to get full retail ball value for said brand new bb crank fd and chain.
Second same as above but I get less than full value. Maybe eBay or an in stock return to the shop for credit.

Then Buy what I want

Third. To just use new parts. If I can get the longer crank that's not a bad deal.

But I am losing out in this off I don't accept something for the cranks. I can't trust them even to use on a beater bike. I can't sell them becaues I know about the recall. That would be very unethical. I was never going to throw out the old ones.

Just pull the cranks off yourself, exchange them and sell the replacements on ebay. If you're lucky you might get the box.

I believe the OP was referring to this recall from July of 1997. Here’s the link…
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml97/97149.html

The 1995 Giant Rincon I inherited still had its original FC-M290 42/34/24 170mm crankset (one of the recalled cranksets), but my LBS said it was too long ago and Shimano wouldn’t do anything about it.

Since I wanted different chainrings anyway (48/36/26), I opted for the cranket that I preferred (at my own expense), which has been far better gearing though I still wish it had the 24 tooth granny gear for my most menacing climbs. I could easily change the 26 tooth to a 24, but I’m managing with the 26 tooth.

I believe the OP was referring to this recall from July of 1997. Here’s the link…
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml97/97149.html

The 1995 Giant Rincon I inherited still had its original FC-M290 42/34/24 170mm crankset (one of the recalled cranksets), but my LBS said it was too long ago and Shimano wouldn’t do anything about it.

Since I wanted different chainrings anyway (48/36/26), I opted for the cranket that I preferred (at my own expense), which has been far better gearing though I still wish it had the 24 tooth granny gear for my most menacing climbs. I could easily change the 26 tooth to a 24, but I’m managing with the 26 tooth.

Thanks for the link.
I'll talk to another shop and do what makes sense. Thanks all for the help

Found this...

"Shimano is voluntarily recalling the following bicycle cranks due to a potential safety problem, where the crank could break causing loss of control of the bicycle. These cranks bear the model number

FC-CT90, FC-M290, or FC-MC12"

http://www.rideyourbike.com/recalls.shtml

If this thing was like 10 years ago, shimano still have to swap the partS??? asking because I might have a bike with those cranks.

ultraman6970, You need to contact Shimano. Some recalls, primarily safety related, are open ended.

Brad

Yes they are honoring this. That's my implied craziness.

Shimano may or may not have any obligation to replace the parts after 10 or 15 years (the recall was quite some time ago), but since the parts likely cost them $5 or less each to make, pluss the $20 a shop might charge them for installation, it is a whole lot easier than dealing with a lawsuit.

The shop has absolutely no obligation to exchange the cranks, and they have every right to weigh the pros and cons of the transaction and accept or refuse it based on the perceived value to them. Some shops might make the swap and give you some credit for the replacement cranks, but don't expect anything more than their cost for a similar replacement crank (~$15) - this is a replacement for a 10 year old $35 crankset, remeber.

Shimano may or may not have any obligation to replace the parts after 10 or 15 years (the recall was quite some time ago), but since the parts likely cost them $5 or less each to make, pluss the $20 a shop might charge them for installation, it is a whole lot easier than dealing with a lawsuit.

The shop has absolutely no obligation to exchange the cranks, and they have every right to weigh the pros and cons of the transaction and accept or refuse it based on the perceived value to them. Some shops might make the swap and give you some credit for the replacement cranks, but don't expect anything more than their cost for a similar replacement crank (~$15) - this is a replacement for a 10 year old $35 crankset, remeber.

agreed. the shop has no responsibility to me to do anything other than what shimano tells them they must do.
new crank
new bb
new chain
new fd
that's the kit according to shimano
install