Hi there,
I have a new 2012 Intense Tracer 2 with a 73mm BB and I also have new 2012 RF Turbine Cranks. These are being fitted in conjunction with a Straitline Silent Guide. The issue I have is I originally spaced the BB with just one black 2.5mm spacer drive side and then fitted the cranks with one of the small axle washers on the non -drive side, so one per side. This did not pinch up sufficiently and had a very small amount of play in it. I Have now fitted the BB with a 2.5mm spacer either side with one black axle spacer either side and refitted, this all works and pinches up tight.
1- Is this ok to do?
2- Any solutions to make it standard?
Thanks
The axle spacers should be what you use to remove play in your RF cranks.
At the moment what I think you have done is make the BB overall width 75.5mm, this will mean that the centre tube is not secure in the bottom bracket shell, it may also mean that you do not have the drive side crank fully on the axle and may damage it in use. Also with the additional width you have created you may now be aplying an excessive side load on the BB bearings which will cause them to wear much faster than normal.
If it was me i would remove the non drive side 2.5mm space and use the axle spacers to get it to fit properly. You can use the axle spacers either side of the axle to fine tune the chain line. One of my bikes uses no axle spacers the other uses about 1.5mm it just depends on the frame. You only need to figure it out once per frame/BB combination, so in my oppinion is worth spending the time on.