Bikewer

A friend bought a 2006 Specialized Roubaix Comp. This has the FSA external-bearing crankset (triple) and the right crankarm has the pedal threads stripped.
I understand these carbon crank-arms are not repairable with bushings or helicoils...

So likely he’ll need a new crankset and I doubt I can find a used one for a bike this old. Are any more contemporary cranks compatible with the external-bearing BB?

If necessary, can I just install a conventional taper-spindle BB?

Marcus_Ti

Which exact FSA ext-bearing BB does he have? Spindle diameter and width is what we need to know. I'm guessing a 24mm

Being a 2006 it'll probably by English threaded....so tons of options if you replace the BB. Presuming my "probably" is true. Taper or external (Hollowtech, MegaExo, BB386EVO etc)--although you'll need NOS probably for the external cranks as triples ceased being sold on road cranks after 10spd.

SkyDog75

2006 isn’t old. My main road bike is an ‘06 and I’d have no problem finding new or used cranks for it today.

For that matter, it’s not much of a problem finding cranksets that would fit my older bikes, too. (My oldest was made in 1972.)

Lots of different cranksets use external bearings nowadays. Do any current models use the exact same external bearings? Maybe. Exactly what bearings do you have?

A more appropriate question, though, is what kind of bottom bracket shell does the frame have? When selecting a new crankset, just pick one that has a bottom bracket that can be mated to the frame. Buy both the crankset and bottom bracket, and problem solved.

(Many bottom bracket types are inexpensive.)

That depends on the frame’s bottom bracket shell type. English threaded? BB30? Something else?

Being a 2006, I’d guess English threaded. If so, you’ve got TONS of options.

fietsbob

Agree .. Normal threaded frame, get the whole package... potentially , priced like your new bearings are free..

bikeme

FWIW, I had fit issues mixing a 24mm FSA crank with a 24mm Shimano external BB (BB-MT800)...the bike originally came with a FSA BB but I opted for the Shimano due to familiarity with its installation and performance. The FSA crank was tight going into and through it but it ended spinning fine.

T Stew

Was it a carbon crankset? I had thought of sticking to one BB to cover a few different cranks (got a few dura ace BB9000 as they were cheap). Looked into FSA and lots of reports that their carbon 24mm cranks are slightly different than their alloy 24mm and apparently the alloy ones are more compatible with Shimano Hollowtech II BBs. But for 24mm I've stuck to Shimano so far so haven't got to try the FSA compatibility.

bikeme

Hi T, it is a 24mm alloy one--just a cheap one branded for Giant on a Liv/Giant mtb (my wife's). It was a booger to install--a few hits with a soft mallet to get it going until it stopped 5mm short of fully extending on the other side. My LBS suggested installing the arm which did indeed pull it through like butter (I'm not sure if that's normally needed). Spins great. Removing it later might be interesting, lol. I checked both BB and spindle with a caliper and the spindle was just a minute hair larger than the ID of the BB.