Hollowtech 2 spacers

[bigjim]

I've removed my External BB to service it before I go on tour. It's in a 68mm English shell. On reassembly I've noticed that it only has a spacer on the non-drive side and none on the drive side. The bike has been running well without any problems. I know advice is two on the drive side and one on the non-drive. I'm wondering if it makes any difference running it as is? I don't have any other spacers and they are £2 each. I can buy a new BB with spacers for £8!
The bike runs on DT shifters on a triple so the chainline is ok and inner ring not touching frame.

[gerrymcm]

Are the spacers on these used simply to get chain line correct?

[bigjim]

Are the spacers on these used simply to get chain line correct?

Assume so.

[recordacefromnew]

HT2 road crank/bb generally don't have spacers. The 2 drive side plus 1 non-drive side configuration is specific to mtb parts, to cater for 73mm bb shells when you remove one from each side and the use of e-type front mech or chain device when you remove one from drive side.

[fastpedaller]

If it worked before removal, why change the setup?

[bigjim]

If it worked before removal, why change the setup?

Being cautious. I'm going on tour. Don't want it failing because of a spacer. I'm concerned that it may affect the bearings over time and I may just have got away with it up to now.

[Valbrona]

Depends on what particular crankset. If it is Shimano MTB and in a 68mm BB shell it will need spacers.

FC-M960
FC-M800
FC-M760
FC-M600
FC-M580
FC-M76
FC-M581

all the above cranksets need spacers in a 68 shell.

Are you sure your shell is 68 and not 73mm? 73mm shells and MTB cranksets typically only need one spacer like with your existing arrangement.

[bigjim]

No its an old Raleigh Royal tourer with a Tiagra road triple crankset.

[Erudin]

I've got a Shimano Tiagra FC-4503 Chainset on my Thorn Audax, no spacers.

Measure you bb shell width, maybe after it was faced for the external bb to be fitted the bb shell was less than 68mm wide and it required adding a spacer to bring the width back to spec. When I faced the bb shell on my old mtb I had to remove quite a lot of metal before it was faced.

http://bike.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/FC/EV-FC-4503-2594D_v1_m56577569830707832.pdf

http://www.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/TIAGRA/SI_1H60A_001/SI_1H60A_001_En_v1_m56577569830614887.pdf

[bigjim]

I've got a Shimano Tiagra FC-4503 Chainset on my Thorn Audax, no spacers.

Measure you bb shell width, maybe after it was faced for the external bb to be fitted the bb shell was less than 68mm wide and it required adding a spacer to bring the width back to spec. When I faced the bb shell on my old mtb I had to remove quite a lot of metal before it was faced.

Never faced it. I've fitted 3 hollowtech BBs to different steel bikes without facing any of them and never had a problem.

[Valbrona]

The only road crankset that Shimano says needs a spacer is Ultegra Triple - FC-6603 - and they say use it on the NDS. However, maybe all H2 bottom brackets come with the spacer so the inclination is to stick it in.

[Erudin]

Are you talking about a 2.5mm spacer that fits between the bb cup and the bb shell (like in 1st pic below)? You don't mean the 3 mm Spacer (part no: Y1GF11000, number 6 in diagram) that fits between the left crank and outside of the bb cup do you (3rd picture below and part 6 in bottom diagram)?

http://bike.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/FC/EV-FC-4503-2594D_v1_m56577569830707832.pdf

http://www.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/TIAGRA/SI_1H60A_001/SI_1H60A_001_En_v1_m56577569830614887.pdf

[bigjim]

Thanks all.
No I don't mean that spacer on the LH crank. That is present and intact. The BBs come with spacers and I thought I may need them. I'm coming to the conclusion that for a 68mm shell they are not necessary.

Jim

[cycleruk]

According to Shimano's instructions, there should be a spacer on a triple crankset.
http://si.shimano.com/php/download.php? ... 01-ENG.pdf

Personally to me, if you can tighten the "cap" (to preload the bearings) with the required torque and clip in the "stopper plate" then it shouldn't matter if there is a spacer missing. I would presume the spacer is there to even up the cranks either side of the frame because the triple crank arm is further from the BB