Resistance in brand new FSA drivetrain?

gschreckchat@comcast.net

2007-04-23

I had a similar problem, and had the BB shell faced, and the problem go much better. Also, the standard mego exo bearings are not very good, hence the push for ceramic. The new mego exo or other versions (Shimano et. al.) will usually spin less well than an internal BB. Remove the chain from the rings on both types of bikes, and spin the cranks. You will see a difference. After I put in ceramic bearings in the maga exo crank (after facing first), they became similar in spin. Gets expensive though.

I think the real answer is train harder, but it is more fun to buy stuff.

--

George Schreck
gschreckchat@comcast.net
(503) 502-0425

-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Erik Voldengen"

I also noticed that when I got a bike with FSA MegaExo cranks/BB.

The good people at Bike-N-Hike fixed it for me, so I don?t know what the issue was. But I?ve since dealt with a lot of external bearing BBs from FSA, Shimano, SRAM, and Truvativ. It?s pretty clear to me that when using an external bearing BB, it?s even more important to have your frame?s BB cups faced. If your frame?s BB faces are not perfectly aligned, I believe it?s quite likely you?ll noticed increased resistance when backpedaling.

If I had to guess, that?s probably the solution to your problem. But I?m not a professional mechanic, so maybe someone else will chime in with another explanation.

-Erik

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Van Dusen
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 8:48 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Resistance in brand new FSA drivetrain?

I'm hoping someone out there might be able to help me out here. I got my first 'real' bike and it has a FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue MegaExo crankset w/Integrated spindle drivetrain. After today's ride I was cleaning it up on the stand and while spinning the cranks by hand I noticed a lot of resistance in a few key spots. It's always in the same spot (4 o'clock through 6 o'clock on the right) and I can't seem to figure out what is causing this outside of some bearing issue. A quick Google search didn't yield anything real useful outside of replacing my bb bearings with ceramic bearings. Does anyone know if this is just from the drive train being so new? I've never seen anything like this in my short career.

Forgive me if I left out any details that might help. Any information is appreciated I'm hoping this issue might explain my poor performance this morning....

Ryan


Ryan Van Dusen

2007-04-22

Thanks for all the helpful feedback I'm gonna take it down to the shop.

BTW-Is there an OBRA forum? I hate littering inboxes with this stuff. I
know CrossCrusade has one and it's stagnant 9 months out of the year, maybe
we should take over theirs ;-) Kidding of course.

Thanks again,

Ryan

On 4/21/07, Dan H wrote:
>
> Erik,
> There is no "lash" (side play) adjustment on out board bearing bottom
> brackets so the BB shell dimension is more critical than in the adjustable
> BB days. Too much facing could result in excessive lash. Extreme care is
> called for.
> Dan H.
> 503-320-8606
> www.bicyclerepairman.us
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Erik Voldengen
> *To:* obra@list.obra.org
> *Sent:* Saturday, April 21, 2007 9:14 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [OBRA Chat] Resistance in brand new FSA drivetrain?
>
> I also noticed that when I got a bike with FSA MegaExo cranks/BB.
>
>
>
> The good people at Bike-N-Hike fixed it for me, so I don't know what the
> issue was. But I've since dealt with a lot of external bearing BBs from
> FSA, Shimano, SRAM, and Truvativ. It's pretty clear to me that when using
> an external bearing BB, it's even more important to have your frame's BB
> cups faced. If your frame's BB faces are not perfectly aligned, I believe
> it's quite likely you'll noticed increased resistance when backpedaling.
>
>
>
> If I had to guess, that's probably the solution to your problem. But I'm
> not a professional mechanic, so maybe someone else will chime in with
> another explanation.
>
>
>
> -Erik
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] *On
> Behalf Of *Ryan Van Dusen
> *Sent:* Saturday, April 21, 2007 8:48 PM
> *To:* obra@list.obra.org
> *Subject:* [OBRA Chat] Resistance in brand new FSA drivetrain?
>
>
>
> I'm hoping someone out there might be able to help me out here. I got my
> first 'real' bike and it has a FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue MegaExo crankset
> w/Integrated spindle drivetrain. After today's ride I was cleaning it up on
> the stand and while spinning the cranks by hand I noticed a lot of
> resistance in a few key spots. It's always in the same spot (4 o'clock
> through 6 o'clock on the right) and I can't seem to figure out what is
> causing this outside of some bearing issue. A quick Google search didn't
> yield anything real useful outside of replacing my bb bearings with ceramic
> bearings. Does anyone know if this is just from the drive train being so
> new? I've never seen anything like this in my short career.
>
> Forgive me if I left out any details that might help. Any information is
> appreciated I'm hoping this issue might explain my poor performance this
> morning....
>
> Ryan
>
> ------------------------------
>
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>
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> OBRA mailing list
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>
>


Dan H

2007-04-21

Erik,
There is no "lash" (side play) adjustment on out board bearing bottom brackets so the BB shell dimension is more critical than in the adjustable BB days. Too much facing could result in excessive lash. Extreme care is called for.
Dan H.
503-320-8606
www.bicyclerepairman.us

----- Original Message -----
From: Erik Voldengen
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 9:14 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Resistance in brand new FSA drivetrain?

I also noticed that when I got a bike with FSA MegaExo cranks/BB.

The good people at Bike-N-Hike fixed it for me, so I don't know what the issue was. But I've since dealt with a lot of external bearing BBs from FSA, Shimano, SRAM, and Truvativ. It's pretty clear to me that when using an external bearing BB, it's even more important to have your frame's BB cups faced. If your frame's BB faces are not perfectly aligned, I believe it's quite likely you'll noticed increased resistance when backpedaling.

If I had to guess, that's probably the solution to your problem. But I'm not a professional mechanic, so maybe someone else will chime in with another explanation.

-Erik

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Van Dusen
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 8:48 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Resistance in brand new FSA drivetrain?

I'm hoping someone out there might be able to help me out here. I got my first 'real' bike and it has a FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue MegaExo crankset w/Integrated spindle drivetrain. After today's ride I was cleaning it up on the stand and while spinning the cranks by hand I noticed a lot of resistance in a few key spots. It's always in the same spot (4 o'clock through 6 o'clock on the right) and I can't seem to figure out what is causing this outside of some bearing issue. A quick Google search didn't yield anything real useful outside of replacing my bb bearings with ceramic bearings. Does anyone know if this is just from the drive train being so new? I've never seen anything like this in my short career.

Forgive me if I left out any details that might help. Any information is appreciated I'm hoping this issue might explain my poor performance this morning....

Ryan

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Dan H

2007-04-21

Ryan, you might have got a bad bearing or it may not be seated square in the cup that threads into the bottom bracket or a seal may have been damaged in assembly. In any case, if the bike is new, it should be a warranty issue the dealer you got it from can take care of.
Dan H.
503-320-8606
www.bicyclerepairman.us

----- Original Message -----
From: Ryan Van Dusen
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 8:47 PM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Resistance in brand new FSA drivetrain?

I'm hoping someone out there might be able to help me out here. I got my first 'real' bike and it has a FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue MegaExo crankset w/Integrated spindle drivetrain. After today's ride I was cleaning it up on the stand and while spinning the cranks by hand I noticed a lot of resistance in a few key spots. It's always in the same spot (4 o'clock through 6 o'clock on the right) and I can't seem to figure out what is causing this outside of some bearing issue. A quick Google search didn't yield anything real useful outside of replacing my bb bearings with ceramic bearings. Does anyone know if this is just from the drive train being so new? I've never seen anything like this in my short career.

Forgive me if I left out any details that might help. Any information is appreciated I'm hoping this issue might explain my poor performance this morning....

Ryan

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Erik Voldengen

2007-04-21

I also noticed that when I got a bike with FSA MegaExo cranks/BB.

The good people at Bike-N-Hike fixed it for me, so I don't know what the
issue was. But I've since dealt with a lot of external bearing BBs from
FSA, Shimano, SRAM, and Truvativ. It's pretty clear to me that when using
an external bearing BB, it's even more important to have your frame's BB
cups faced. If your frame's BB faces are not perfectly aligned, I believe
it's quite likely you'll noticed increased resistance when backpedaling.

If I had to guess, that's probably the solution to your problem. But I'm
not a professional mechanic, so maybe someone else will chime in with
another explanation.

-Erik

_____

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Ryan Van Dusen
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 8:48 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Resistance in brand new FSA drivetrain?

I'm hoping someone out there might be able to help me out here. I got my
first 'real' bike and it has a FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue MegaExo crankset
w/Integrated spindle drivetrain. After today's ride I was cleaning it up on
the stand and while spinning the cranks by hand I noticed a lot of
resistance in a few key spots. It's always in the same spot (4 o'clock
through 6 o'clock on the right) and I can't seem to figure out what is
causing this outside of some bearing issue. A quick Google search didn't
yield anything real useful outside of replacing my bb bearings with ceramic
bearings. Does anyone know if this is just from the drive train being so
new? I've never seen anything like this in my short career.

Forgive me if I left out any details that might help. Any information is
appreciated I'm hoping this issue might explain my poor performance this
morning....

Ryan


Ryan Van Dusen

2007-04-21

I'm hoping someone out there might be able to help me out here. I got my
first 'real' bike and it has a FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue MegaExo crankset
w/Integrated spindle drivetrain. After today's ride I was cleaning it up on
the stand and while spinning the cranks by hand I noticed a lot of
resistance in a few key spots. It's always in the same spot (4 o'clock
through 6 o'clock on the right) and I can't seem to figure out what is
causing this outside of some bearing issue. A quick Google search didn't
yield anything real useful outside of replacing my bb bearings with ceramic
bearings. Does anyone know if this is just from the drive train being so
new? I've never seen anything like this in my short career.

Forgive me if I left out any details that might help. Any information is
appreciated I'm hoping this issue might explain my poor performance this
morning....

Ryan