Todd Richards

Is there a differencer between FSA, Zipp, etc cranksets that have rings stamped 'C-10" and 'S-10"?

I have a campy record carbon compact squre taper crnkset that I like but it's bb is a bit heavy, and I've always like the out-board bearing design of the 'other manufacturers" (ex:fsa, zipp) cranksets.

However most if not all of threse other manufacturers rings are stamped 's-10' and are listed on there websitres as 'shimano compatable'.

Is there actually a difference between the rings tooth shape/width/profile that makes them compatble with only Shimano/sram and not campy (assuming both are 10 speed?)

I posted this question late u=yesterday but the only responce I got was from somebody who misunderstood my question. I know that a shimano compatable ring will not fit onto a campy crankset and visa/versa (at least not the Record Ultra torque and Record carbon square taper sets that I have owned) 'cause the 5th bolt is ever so slightly further away from the center then the others.

HillRider

The tooth profiles are compatible. The incompatibility is in the bolt circles for standard cranks (135 mm for Campy, 130 mm for nearly everyone else) or the location of the 5th bolt on some Campy compact cranks that won't fit a standard 110 mm bcd chainring.

DaveSSS 

The idea of C-10 and S-10 compatible rings dates back to the days when Campy used a slightly wider chain than Shimano. These days, everyone makes a 5.9mm 10 speed chain.

I've never had any problems using a 5.9mm chain of any brand with any of the five FSA cranks I've owned. The oldest dates back to 2003 and was considered 9/10 compatible.

As noted, if you're just buying rings, the bolt circle diameter must match the crank and genuine Campy cranks have 135mm BCDs rather than 130, plus many models have one bolt that attaches to the back of the crankarm, so you have to know what you are buying.

Todd Richards

thank you so much your answers were very informative. i do understand the special campy 5th bolt issue, and the 130 nd 135 circlie diameter thing- it was the tooth profile difference or lack of that i did not know about.
thank you!

tatfiend 

Campy has always gone their own way as far as crank BCDs are concerned. It used to be that everyone copied Campy dimensions on racing cranksets but with the rise of Shimano they tend to now copy Shimano BCDs when designing aftermarket cranksets.