FSA Gossamer / Shimano Ultegra BB Compatibility?

markie379

Hi ,
I currently have a Cube Agree GTC pro 2010 Press fit BB with a FSA Gossamer Compact Chainset.

Can anyone tell me if a Shimano Ultegra Compact Crank is a direct swap out or am I looking at replacing the BB too?

Thanks in advance

Mark

macnab

Off the top of my head: The ultegra will have a 24mm spindle, I think the FSA has the same unless its BB30 which has a 30mm spindle. Otherwise they should be compatible.
And just for info I bought an Ultegra crankset yesterday from Chain Reaction Cycles, after a 34% reduction and a further €20 saving using the code HP20 it cost me €191 delivered.

markie379

Thanks for the quick reply.Ill dig out Calipers later and check the Diameter of the spindle.

petethedrummer

I'm fairly sure Shimano chainsets are not compatible with BB30. That's why all the bikes with shimano groupsets AND BB30's have FSA cranks.

And, you can't fit the screw on hollowtech bottom brackets to a bike designed with a BB30 bottom bracket. BB30 is press fit.

petethedrummer

Actually it seems you can with a BB30 to Hollowtech II adapter.
http://www.enduroforkseals.com/id286.html

I have no idea if they are any good.

markie379

Chainset: FSA Gossamer Pro Megaexo Compact 50x34, Press-Fit BB

I got this from the spec for my bike.

Would this

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=35742

chainset be a better bet and would it fit my existing BB?

Thanks for the help

Mark

petethedrummer

Whats wrong with your current chainset? is it a standard double? and you want to change to a compact double??


That mega exo one you just linked is not BB30. You can see in the pic it has a red hollowtech tech type bottom bracket.

If you are looking at chainsets it should say BB30 in the blurb or else its not compatible.

macnab

petethedrummer wrote: »

Whats wrong with your current chainset? is it a standard double? and you want to change to a compact double??


That mega exo one you just linked is not BB30. You can see in the pic it has a red hollowtech tech type bottom bracket.

If you are looking at chainsets it should say BB30 in the blurb or else its not compatible.

Press fit does not have to be BB30, Trek do a BB90 press fit BB which takes 24mm crank spindles. Maybe Cube have their own version??

TheBlaaMan

Is there any such thing as a compatibility chart for all these issues, somewhere?

petethedrummer

macnab wrote: »

Press fit does not have to be BB30, Trek do a BB90 press fit BB which takes 24mm crank spindles. Maybe Cube have their own version??

yeah, I just got it into my head that it was a BB30 without checking. Sorry for the confusion.

clog

I have recentely had to put a FSA K force light chainset (megaexo) in a press fit BB30 frame. I had to get an adapter sleeve which enabled the bb30 to take a threaded bb. Its a specilised job to fit this though as a special tool and the correct type of bearing press is needed. This is permanent as well you cant really remove the adapter and go back to bb30 .
To be honest if i was doing it again I would just get the specific bb30 chainset and bb and have done with it.
Just make sure if you get an fsa chainset that it comes with the bottom bracket as they are about 70 euro to buy on their own.

macnab

below was from Velonews:

Dear LeRoi,
You can run a Shimano Hollowtech II crank in an FSA MegaExo bottom bracket and vice versa. The spindle diameter in both cases is 24mm, and both use a 7mm thick bearing. However, the FSA K-Force Light crank has slightly less width from arm to arm. I know because the kit does not yet exist to fit one on a Trek Madone.
FSA’s K-Force Light (and its other carbon cranks) use a slightly narrower bottom bracket than FSA alloy cranks (which are similar to the Shimano Hollowtech II size) and incorporate a wave spring washer to allow better bearing preload.

OP, basically the answer to your question is Yes.

clog

FSA mega exo bottom brackets will work no probs with shimano but not visa versa on the higher end models the problem indeed with the width. There is not the same system with FSA such as Shimano where you pre load the bearings and then tighten the pinch bolts the side, on Fsa the end bolt does everything and the widths are different the wave washer can only supply a very small amount of adjustment. Believe me i have tried to make it work.
I have a K force light (8200)on 1 bike, a Team issue (8060) on another and friend has slk (8000) on his bike different bb on each of them.
Back to shimano next for me though they are much more compatible with eash other.

markie379

Thanks for all the info and advice.
Safe bet will probably be the Ultegra Crankset.
I'm really only changing to complete the Groupset.
Brake Calipers are the next item ,
Now wheres that credit card