After a slight delay, Wheels Manufacturing has released its latest adapter kit for installing Shimano and SRAM cranks (or others with a 24mm-diameter axle) into frames with PF/BB30 shells.
Home mechanics will balk at the US$200 asking price (free shipping over US$75). But for shops that regularly have to deal with compatibility issues it's a reasonable amount for eight bikes' worth of widgets.
Unlike direct conversion bottom brackets such as the one from Praxis Works, Wheels Manufacturing's kit is designed to adapt 24mm-diameter cranks into existing PF/BB30 bottom bracket bearings using an array of precision machined Delrin reducers, spacers, and wave washers.
The Wheels Manufacturing kit also allows for slight chainline adjustments.
Shims will take up space or make chainline tweaks
Each service kit includes the following bits:
- (8) SHIMANO adapter (24mm ID, Shimano right or left; SRAM right only)
- (4) SRAM-LEFT adapter (22mm ID, Shimano right or left; SRAM right only)
- (4) SRAM-RIGHT adapter (24mm ID, Shimano right or left; SRAM right only)
- (12) 0.7mm spacer – right (24mm ID, Shimano right or left; SRAM right only)
- (4) 1.8mm spacer - right (24mm ID, Shimano right or left; SRAM right only)
- (4) 2.5mm spacer – right (24mm ID, Shimano right or left; SRAM right only)
- (8) 1.0mm spacer - left (30mm ID, SRAM)
- (4) 2.5mm spacer - left (30mm ID, SRAM)
- (4) 5mm spacer - left (30mm ID, SRAM)
- (4) 10mm spacer - left (30mm ID, SRAM)
- (8) Wave washer
- (1) Removal tool for pulling adapter out of BB
Don't need that many kits, or run Campagnolo cranks? Don't fret – Wheels Manufacturing has those covered as well, with individual kits for DIYers plus a dedicated Campagnolo adapter that works with the standard, pressed-on bearing so there's minimal additional work required (although the resulting setup leaves a redundant set of bearings).
For more information see the Wheels Manufacturing website.