I just wondered what should happen if you fitted a SLX Hollowtech BB and chainset on a 68mm BB shell frame with one spacer on each side, instead of 2 on the driveside and one on the non-driveside?

I’m going to be fitting a BB mounted Blackspire Stinger to my Fury but I noticed that the LBS only put one spacer on each side instead of 2 on the driveside and 1 on the non-driveside. What problems will I encounter when I try to fit the Stinger instead of the only driveside spacer?

It’s been run with one spacer either side for at least a couple of hundred miles so far. It’s running smooth. Should I have noticed anything, or are there problems to come?

I put the slx bb and cranks on my patriot with the stinger and a spacer on drive side and the non drive side arm worked its way off (luckily while on the street and not down a fast trail) since then I have removed the spacer so there is more to bite on to and no problems since. had to cut the roller on the stinger too to run a double setup for the chain to run straight!

If the crank is running fine and not crushing the HT2 bearing which will cause it to fail early, should be ok…. I fitted a Raceface crank with a GUB BB using the standard 2 spacer 1 spacer format and it was crushing the bearing. After a bit of fiddling, I settled on 1 per side and both the chainline and friction in the bearing are fine.

I think set it up with whatever works well. The “standards” are a starting point but be prepared to move from there.

hth

all the spacers are doing is controlling the end float – too few spacers may mean there is endfloat on the axle – no issue at all – too many may mean crushed bearings – premature failure.

I removed a spacer from an HT11 set up precisely to avoid crushing the bearings.

I changed the bearings in an old one, & the new bearings were thicker. So I’ve left a spacer out to make up the difference. Has been running fine. Seeing as the bearings were £2.50 I’m not too fussed.

How will I know if it’s crushing the bearings, then guys?

all the spacers are doing is controlling the end float – too few spacers may mean there is endfloat on the axle – no issue at all – too many may mean crushed bearings – premature failure.

I removed a spacer from an HT11 set up precisely to avoid crushing the bearings.

The driveside also has a bearing on front mech adjustment – with only a single spacer you may not be able to get the granny ring.

a GUB BB using the standard 2 spacer 1 spacer format and it was crushing the bearing.

GUB BBs are badly designed. I used a single spacer on mine in the end (but not before I managed to squeeze all 3 spacers in, and my crank fell off…)

ahhh. Cheers. So my BB won’t die early and I should just leave it then?