Help Installing FSA Road Crank
 

I have an FSA energy crank with MegaExo BB.

I installed the BB and Right side of the crank as intrsucted. Put the left crank arm on and started to install the M18 or M12 Preload bolt on as intsructed, My boss, thinking he was helping, Finished cranking it in and seems to have stripped the bolt.:twitchy: However the cranks threads seems to be fine. Is there another preload bolt that will work that is NON FSA?

Not even sure how he did it, it seemed to thread on fine, but then what do I know.

It took alot of force to get the damn thing out, and Im really hoping he didnt fubar my brand new crank!

looking closer, the preload bolds threads look fine, it just took the paint off of them as it when on. is it supposed to be really tight threading in? because after about 3 threads the first time it got quite tight, not sure if that is normal or what.

Thanks

anyone?

As long as you where able to remove the preload bolt - this is good. I think that the bolt is a aluminum alloy and will be more firm than some other manufacturers preload bolt. If you decide to reuse the bolt - make sure you have some grease/anti-seize on the threads.

The preload cap is soft AL, the spindle is steel. You're not going to damage the crank.

ya, I figured as much.

What Kind of force am I looking at to get this threaded into? In says like 1.5 NM(dont have it infront of me anymore) It seems an awful lot for 1.5NM. I Found a new one that will fit its an FSA piece of slightly different design, but fits. benefits of working at a bike shop.

Also how freely does it spin? It seems kind of tight in there, but being that this is my first non old (think C&V and only one of those) Crank, I just am nervous. That and its a 290 Dollar crankset, so im a bit nervous.

Thanks for helping me out guys! hope im not being too annoying. we all start somewhere.

I was not clear when I wrote that the alloy bolt was going to be firm. I forgot to say -- more firm to turn than some other manufacturers bolts (the grease will help the bolt going in and coming out). Compaired to a old school BB/crank - new school exterior bearing/crank - you will have side to side movement. Tighten the preload bolt until there isn't any side to side movement. I have had some similar issues with FSA's before. But everything always works out.

ok thanks! Appreciate it.

There should be very light resistance to the preload bolt. You shouldn't be having to use gorilla or even moderate force on it.

ok, im using decent force to get it in there, it doesnt really tread in easy at all! it threads in tight from about the third thread and doesnt want to go more than about half way in

The crankarm fixing bolts are loose when you're attempting to do this? Inspect the preload bolt threads for damage?