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Can U Help Me Install This Quarq?

 I know, take it to the LBS.  Nice try.  If I'm gonna be swapping it between bikes 2-3 times per year, then I want to be able to do this myself.  The $ and the inconvenience would be a pain in the butt if I took it to the shop every time.

The directions recommend using a Park Tool, BBT9, for the bottom bracket.  That doesn't measure torque.  There's another tool out there that pops onto the external bb, then connects to a torque wrench, thus more accuracy.  So, if SRAM is recommending the BBT (no torque measurement), are they suggesting that I can get away without a torque wrench?

 

Any other tips that you can provide would be appreciated.  Directions look pretty straightforward.  Any thing to look out for?

 

Thx,

Chris

Comments

  • I just got my Quarq recently.   When I took my road bike down for it anual tune up I had them install it at that time.  As for switching between bikes I have not done it yet.  But I bought an extra bottom bracket and magnet kit for my Tri bike so all I have to do is losen the screw, slide it out and install it on the other bike.  If I remember right the BB's are like 30 $$.

  • Do not attempt to swap the bottom brackets between bikes, you simply want to swap the crank itself. A SRAM GXP BB is about $28 if you look around online. Install one in each of your bikes with a Quarq mangent ring, then to do the swap all you have is one bolt.

    Assuming you got the SRAM GXP quarq, all you need is an 8mm (or maybe 10mm) allen key to do the swap. If you are not familiar with how to do this, have some one show you once, as if you cross thread it it can be an expensive mistake. I would suggest having your LBS install the BB and crank for the first time, then you can easily do the crank swap yourself. I do the swap in 2 minutes and did it at least once per week for the majority of the summer last year.

    You only need to torque the BB in when you first install it, so have the shop do that and don't bother buying the tools for it. As far as the normal swaps it is useful to have a torque wrench with an 8 or 10mm allen head for that. You can find a bike specific one online or visit a Sears and get a craftsman one.
  • True. Bottom brackets stay put - just swap the crank back and forth. I don't torque the crank bolt when I switch it around, just make sure it's reasonably tight, but I have the Lightning Carbon version.
  • I would not worry too much about torque when installing a bb either. Grease everything and tighten th crap out of it (that is a technical term). The proper amount is like 35 nm IIRC. Unless you have a really big lever on it you are not going to over torque it. It is also not going to come loose as long as it is pretty tight.
  • Great feedback from you guys. I'll be going to the shop to get it installed the first time and I'll get the extra BB and magnet kit for the tri bike. Thanks, y'all saved me a ton of hassle!
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