FSA crank warning

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05-13-07, 11:45 PM

#26

Ernesto Schwein

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Quote:

Originally Posted by damocles1

You guys are kind of missing the point here. The cranks were installed, properly, with loctite AND teflon tape. They never loosened, or so much as creaked for 1200 miles of racing (They are on the PF RS race bike). They was never any play.
They started creaking and upon inspection, the alu bolt had come apart. My initial post was a warning for everyone to check their alu bolts, not the same old 'how to install FSA cranks' thread. It's more of an indictment of the alu bolt than the cranks or FSA. It's a poor design spec...

Big guys break bike parts.

05-14-07, 12:04 AM

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Rman

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Quote:

Originally Posted by VT Biker

Since I would rather take care of this problem now, did you have to special order the steel bolt from FSA? Or is this a common bolt that most bike shops should have if I wanted to preempt the creaking even further?

The LBS had the FSA CroMo ones. They sell LOTS of FSA parts. The bolts I got are hollow on the back side to save weight. The owner was going to sell me a used set that were sitting at the counter because he was too lazy to open up the show case. I refused the used ones and told him I want the new set sitting in the showcase. Why risk buying used bolts which you do not know the history? I got the 2 FSA CroMo bolts for $9cdn. Problems all gone now.

05-14-07, 12:08 AM

#28

sfrider

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Quote:

Originally Posted by biker128pedal

Does FSA specify Loctite? Like the low strength 222.

641 on the splines and 242 on the bolt threads.
I'm pretty sure the bolt is CrMo as well, at least the one that came with my SLK is. It's too heavy and cold to feel like aluminum, but clearly way too light to be tool steel.

05-14-07, 03:40 AM

#29

VT to CA

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Christ... this is all I need, more worries. Thanks for the warning.

05-14-07, 06:23 AM

#30

damocles1

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernesto Schwein

Big guys break bike parts.

Bullsh*t! I weigh 180 and have never broken anything crank or BB related. The problem is the fact that FSA seems to cobble new products together in order to get them to market. The Alu bolt of a poor choice. It has nothing to do with rider weight...

And besides, a part should last more than 1200 miles...period...

05-14-07, 09:20 AM

#31

sjumper

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Is this the part in question?

https://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.as...id=228&pid=410

Is it really made of alloy (I think so)? And there is a similar part made of cromo (I don't see it)?

Or are some of you mixing up the M15 bolts used with ISIS BB?

05-14-07, 09:38 AM

#32

FatguyRacer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by HigherGround

I replaced my FSA aluminum bolts with steel ones, as it helped to minimize a clicking sound from the BB/crank area.

+1

I toss them aluminum ones in the tool box. Even with the steel ones, I still torque them up every week or so. Im using a Ti ISIS.

I may have a different problem.

Is is possible to bend a Ti BB?

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05-14-07, 09:47 AM

#33

VT Biker

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Quote:

Originally Posted by sjumper

Thanks. I too am having toruble finding the Chomoly part that would replace the current ALU bolt.

05-14-07, 10:09 AM

#34

WCroadie

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Quote:

Originally Posted by VT to CA

Christ... this is all I need, more worries. Thanks for the warning.

05-14-07, 11:00 AM

#35

bruce19

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Quote:

Originally Posted by bbp

The bolt comes with loctite on it. I had the same problem. After installing a brand new bolt with loctite it still backed it self out over time. I ended up chucking it and getting a UT record crank. I won't be buying any FSA cranks for a while. I don't care how many races CSC wins on them.

My bolt came undone this Sat. at the end of a 50 mi. ride. Fortunately, I had an 8mm available and managed to get it home just fine. Consulted with the LBS this morning and theorized that bolting everything together with the Loctite dry is not as good as doing it when it's wet. So, we did just that. Time will tell. I can tell you that I had a similar problem with the screws that came with my Speedplay cleats when I first bought them. Lost several screws in the first 100 miles. Did them all over with fresh blue Loctite and they have not even loosened in the past 2K mi.

05-14-07, 11:05 AM

#36

bruce19

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernesto Schwein

Big guys break bike parts.

Not sure what constitutes a "big guy", but in the past 25 yrs. of cycling I've weighed from 175-190lbs and never broken anything on my Bianchi Squadra, MAZA Prestige TSX, LeMond TI or Masi Gran Criterium S. The bolt backing out on my crankarm last Sat. was a first for me. And, yes, FSA Carbon.

05-14-07, 11:29 AM

#37

damocles1

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I just talked to Sam at FSA. He said that the bolts they spec now, as well as the bolts sold on their webstore, are steel.

https://fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?l...id=228&pid=410

I'm ordering mine right now...

05-14-07, 11:36 AM

#38

sjumper

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Quote:

Originally Posted by damocles1

But was your old one alloy?

05-14-07, 11:45 AM

#39

damocles1

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Quote:

Originally Posted by sjumper

But was your old one alloy?

Yep, and I never had a problem with it until a week ago.

05-14-07, 12:09 PM

#40

Ernesto Schwein

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Quote:

Originally Posted by damocles1

180

I rest my case.

here , this thread is for you:
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/297882-im-big-heavy-what-do-i-do.html

05-14-07, 03:40 PM

#41

Abn1SG50S

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Has anyone had these issues with the FSA K-Force Light Compact crankset? I have about 500 miles on mine and after reading the threads about the bolts loosening I check mine every week, but no problems so far.

05-14-07, 03:42 PM

#42

damocles1

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I'll be glad to meet you to ride. @180, I'm still a better climber than 90% of people. 6'1" and 180 isn't big, especially when you take into consideration all of the fatties on road bikes these days.

05-14-07, 03:50 PM

#43

gpelpel

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FSA exchanged my SL-K Compact crankset after I complained that the main bolt was getting loose every 40-50 miles. I first ordered a new bolt but that didn't solve the anything, it seems the crank shaft on to which the bolt is attached was the problem. No issue since I got the new set.

05-15-07, 12:47 PM

#44

Bécane

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Abn1SG50S

Yep I had problems with mine loosening badly after about 2000 km. Got the bolt changed. I must say I did not verify what was used to replace the defective bolt.

I worry about any "suspect" noises since then. I think I'm going to buy the proper tool to tighten the bolt regularly if needed.

BTW I checked some customer reviews about FSA SLK crankset on www.roadbikereview.com, well ... lets say that this problem seems to be quite prevalent.

05-15-07, 12:51 PM

#45

bruce19

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Quote:

Originally Posted by HigherGround

I replaced my FSA aluminum bolts with steel ones, as it helped to minimize a clicking sound from the BB/crank area.

It turns out my FSA bolt is not aluminum but steel. Still backed out on me.

05-15-07, 01:23 PM

#46

Ryleeryno

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Quote:

Originally Posted by wrote4luck

Makes me remember why I love my new Ultegra crank so much.

Ultegra 6600 crank all the way! Stiff and nice looking.

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05-15-07, 02:55 PM

#47

bruce19

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Quote:

Originally Posted by couleeman

Flywolf, I have the same crankset and these are carbon wrapped aluminum. Im fairly certain the fixing bolt is steel. My magnet thought so too.

Mine is steel and it backed out on me last Sat. Took it to the LBS where I bought the bike last August and they loctited it and re-torqued it. Did it gratis.