Installing Cranks without spacers

[allan1836]

Hi All! I bought a used Shimano FC-M545 cranks with outboard bb and there are no spacers included with the unit. I let my local lbs mechanic install the crank in my bike and he didn't even ask for the spacers.

My question is, Is it ok to use the cranks without the supplied spacers? Will there be future problems on this matter specially if I go on trails already? I am currently just using the bike on-road and has not found any problems, yet. By the way my frame is a 09 KHS Alite 2000.

Thanks guys.

[steampunk]

i won't guess what the effects are, but the M545 instructions clearly state using the "A" 2.5mm spacers.

Service Instructions FC-M545

[allan1836]

@steampunk, thanks for the quick reply. Yes, I read the manual online just yesterday that's why I was alarmed about the spacers. Can this spacers be bought separately? I think I will follow the manual. Tnx again.

[maloyski25]

Originally Posted by allan1836

@steampunk, thanks for the quick reply. Yes, I read the manual online just yesterday that's why I was alarmed about the spacers. Can this spacers be bought separately? I think I will follow the manual. Tnx again.

i think the plastic spacers are always available in the package when you buy a crank + outboard BB. Usually 3pcs yung spacers, hindi ba kasama to nung binili mo ung crank?

[Benjie]

Hi, i am using 2010 deore and i didn't use one spacer intended for the left arm of the crank since we can't tighten much the lock pusher (don't know the correct name for it) it is the one that you have to use a special tool. My technician said it is okay to omit one spacer in order to tighten the lock as mentioned coz i have lost the original since the 1st technician who installed it never cared to tighten it much. Some bikers say that my BB housing is a bit wider. 'til now my crank is perfectly working, so i can say that spacers doesn't really play a very important role in the crank.

[stevejobs]

I'm in the process of building a new bike and from what I've read (Shimano Service Instruction, as linked by steampunk), the purpose of the spacer is not make the BB fit tighter. The role of the spacer, assuming that you used the right one on the right side, is to make your chainline properly aligned. This will ensure that your FD, BB, crank and rear sprockets are in proper alignment.

Most newer bikes use 50mm chainline.

Refer to your frame's user manual to see what the recommended chainline.

What is Chainline?

[Lui-G]

you can easily check if your crank would require spacers just by looking closely. if you see a tiny gap wherein you can see the crank's spindles, try hitting that side with your bare hands and check if it closes the gap.

then analyze.

hth

[ezrydre]

Just check the same manual on the link provided below. And it seems to me that there are three (3) spacers where all three (3) are needed for the BB with a width of 63mm and just one (1) for 73mm BB. Following this setup will ensure 46.8mm chain line and is the usual installation for 3-chainring setup. If your planning to go 2-chainring setup, tweaking on the placement of the spacer might help.

(I may be wrong...)

[lordPAOLO]

Originally Posted by allan1836

Hi All! I bought a used Shimano FC-M545 cranks with outboard bb and there are no spacers included with the unit. I let my local lbs mechanic install the crank in my bike and he didn't even ask for the spacers.

My question is, Is it ok to use the cranks without the supplied spacers? Will there be future problems on this matter specially if I go on trails already? I am currently just using the bike on-road and has not found any problems, yet. By the way my frame is a 09 KHS Alite 2000.

Thanks guys.

Since used na maybe you should ask about the three (3) spacers where you bought 'em; regardless if you'll be using them or not. Kung wala na talaga (or nawala) maybe you could ask some LBS if meron silang extra or some lying around. Not only are those spacers used to fine-tune your chain-line, more importantly they are used to achieve the optimal distance/width between your left and right crank arms!

HTH.

[shauntot]

hope this helps sir, took it from MTB maintenance and repair video, shows you how many spacers to install based on your bb shell length