do i need a special tool? cause i need to fiddle the bb spacing on my new bike,if so what do i need?
thanks
Bruce

You'll need the XTR crank removal tool if its the M970 chainset you have.

Which XTR? IIRC on the newer (M970) there is some sort of cap thing that needs to be removed? possibly….

You need this http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25630

yeah the 970…

That's what you need ^^^^ what chunkyMTB said. It should have come with your cranks. Did you buy them 2nd hand?

You remove the wee plastic thing (that's just there to protect the threads) using the lugs on the tool, then screw the tool in and then unscrew the allen bolt on the cranks.

no it didnt come with them I got them brand spankin new from merlin…

so should i have got one?

aye, you should have got one I think. I got mine of CRC and it came with the tool.

brand spankin new from merlin

you wouldn't get tools with oem shimano stuff

Probably grey imports don't come with the tool.

Yep, my Merlin XTRs came wrapped in bubble wrap with no tools, clearly OEM, but cheap as chips, so who cares! I had one anyway from a legit set!

Tool's not exactly pricey, so you're still quids in!

I got my kit boxed up…not oem,Still the groupset was pretty cheap.

bikerbruce

I've got a spare removal tool for sale if you're interested?

Just be careful when your removing them. As stated above you remove the plastic screw in washer ONLY, then screw in the tool and use the allen bolt in the cranks to pull the arm off.

If you remove the metal washer/bolt/plastic washer and try to screw the tool in it gets jammed (as I found out) and is a p.i.t.a to remove again 👿

You need this, and some of this:

I didn't get one on my XTR crank purchase – if its boxed you should have got one if its oem then no. You need the tool above. one side removes the nylon spacer and the otherside screws into the crank arm, you then use an allen key to remove the nut which in turn (d.t. the screwed in tool) extracts the crank off the axle.

EDIT: You cannot remove the cranks with the tool not even with elbow grease and a large hammer 😉

I can remove anything with a lump hammer 😀

Sadly, this includes skin, or if I'm unlucky something not supposed to be removed 🙁

What drives me nuts is that the M960 was a dream to fit and remove, very simple. The newer and apparently better M970 is utter sh1te to fit and remove. A massive step backwards IMHO. Looks alright though.

Ive got the tool.
jobs done….first ride tomorow,
thanks
Guys

dans160 – Member
What drives me nuts is that the M960 was a dream to fit and remove, very simple. The newer and apparently better M970 is utter sh1te to fit and remove.

I really can't imagine anything much simpler.

I can.

Rich Penny – have you ever removed XTR cranks with a hammer? You haven't have you? Its the tools described, along with an allen key to extract the NDS crank – then you can use the tools you describe! 🙂

Starting with the hammer would be a little hasty!