First bmx bike in about 15 years, this is a new kink whip xl. Should this gap between the cranks and bb normal?
by Husqvarna5
First bmx bike in about 15 years, this is a new kink whip xl. Should this gap between the cranks and bb normal?
by Husqvarna5
13 Comments
No, that’s a big gap. The spacer on the inside might be too large or the crank arms are all the way pushed onto the spindle. Might wanna give the bolts a turn.
I’ve rocked gaps that were similar.
As long as your chain line is good and the bolts are tightened and bearings are seated, you should be fine.
For the record, the gap in my bottom bracket is caused by the length of my tube spacer. Better to have a tube spacer *slightly* too long (which creates a gap) than slightly too short (which would damage your bearings).
Maybe undo your pinch bolt and make sure your compression bolt for the cranks is proper tightened. If you haven’t got a pinch bolt and it’s just a compression bolt, just double check it’s up tight tight. All in all, it’s not unsafe.
I’ve got a 2025 Kink Whip and mines the same as yours, and I’ve always wondered the same thing
If there’s no lateral play in your cranks and they feel solid I wouldn’t worry about it. I have a little gap there too if I remember correctly it is just how that spacer is machined on the inside with a protrusion so it doesn’t rub the bearings. You could check it and see and file it down more if it really bothers you.
Absolutely can be normal depends on your crank bolt setup my odyssey thunderbolt crank have a special stringged washer in that exact place since it’s a 2 piece crank bothered the fuck out of me scoured the net for pics and sure enough found factory images promoting the bike n cranks that show the same gap.
Just the machining on that bearing spacer. It leaves a slight gap and allows the bearing preload to not be too tight in the process.
My whip xl had the same gap. Their non-drive cone spacer/dust cover has a ridge that buts up against the bearing. Is no problem, buddy. It can actually come in handy as a visual reference to tell you something is off-kilter in your bottom bracket.
That cone washer is just to protect the bearing seals
As long as the inner part of the spacer is touching the inner ring of the bearing, it’s fine. The outer part of the spacer should not be touching the bearing, of course.
Thanks for all the help!
It’s meant to be like that, so it only touches the inner part of bearing. If it laid flat, it would touch both parts of bearing and act as a brake.
You either need to tighten it or you need to put a spacer there