I have a 2008 Rockhopper frame to which I need to fit (according to Specialized) a 68mm x 118 ES51 or ES25 Bottom bracket. I bought the frame with no BB so I don’t know what was there before, but if I screw the drive-side of the BB in tight with my torque wrench to correct settings, the plastic non-drive side will not go in all the way. The BB is not an “E” type, btw. I nearly mangled the splines from the fitting tool slipping just trying to tighten it in, but it is not even close. It sticks out by about 2 mm, and the tool is barely long enough to fit over the splines cos it touches the end of the bb spindle.
Is it meant to be really tight to fit it in? or should I be fitting a spacer onto one side to get it to fit? And if so, which side, as this will affect the chainline…
I have measured the frame shell and it is exactly 68mm. My BB is new, but out of the bike I can only get the 2 sides to be 70mm from flange end to flange – hope this makes sense! Does the plastic end deform when fitting to give a tight seal?
If anyone has a 2008 Rockhopper, does their BB have a spacer on either side please?
And no I don’t want to upgrade the octalink xt cranks I have and use a hollowtech – I am skint 🙂
Thanks in advance guys