XTR M952 v 105 BB5500 Bottom bracket question

[ikdo01]

I recently bought elderly, but in really good condition, XTR M952 9 speed cranks to put on my old steel Team Marin. It didn't come with a BB, but I naively assumed I could use my existing bottom bracket (an XT ES71 BB 68 x 113), unfortunately this is not the case as the ES71 is Octalink V2 and the M952 uses Octalink V1 and two are not compatible.

To add my woes it would appear that the BB I need - Octalink V1 68 x 112.5 - no longer exists and is not available even on EBay. As far as I can see the only option for Octalink V1 is to purchase a new 105 BB5500, but this only comes in spindle lengths of 109.5 or 118.

So ... has anyone tried fitting an old XTR M952 chainset with the newer BB 5500 and if so which spindle length did you use?

If I went for the 109.5 (and assuming the chainrings don't clip the frame) am I really likely to notice the 4mm difference in practise - would the only issue be a slight offset in chainline or would there be problems with the front derailleur?

Cheers
Keith

 

[Cycleops]

Octalink no longer exists for a good reason, it’s cr@p, Shimano axed it due to many problems. Try googling Octalink problems. Cut your losses and look for a square taper or Hollowtech alternative.

 

[ikdo01]

Thanks for the reply, but the reason I want to use the XTR M952 chainset is that I'm rebuilding the the bike as a replica XC racer of the early 00's with a complete M950 XTR groupset - the only bit I don't have is the BB - so using square taper or hollowtech isn't really an option.

Also, while I'm aware of the reported issues, I have completed well over 20,000 trouble free miles of really serious abuse on my old XT and ES71 BB combo and it still runs smooth. I wouldn't be looking at replacing it if it was compatible with the M952 chainset.

 

[Drago]

I quite like Octa, but I'm in a minority, and there's no denying it could be problematic. Have you tried Amazon, or done an overseas eBay search?

As I understand it, and I may be wrong, V1 is MTB and V2 is road, so a 105 item would be V2 and incompatible. But I might be wrong.

Shelkdon tells us:

"Octalink ®
Shimano's system of splined bottom brackets.

Octalink ® cranks come in one of two different spline patterns:

The original "V1 " type for:
XTR (BB-M952 9-speed) 112.5 & 116 mm lengths
Dura-Ace (BB-7700 9speed) 109.5 mm (double) & 118.5 mm (triple) lengths
Ultegra (BB-6500 9-speed) 109.5 mm (double) & 118.5 mm (triple) lengths
105 (BB-5500 9-speed) 109.5 mm (double) & 118.5 mm (triple) lengths
The later "V2" type for:
Deore XT (ES70/71)
Deore LX (ES70/71)
Deore (ES50/51)

The V2 BBs work with FC M752, FC M751, FC M572, FC M571, FC M510-8 and FC M440-8 cranks.
Tiagra 2005 (4401,4404)
Sora 2005 (3301,3304) "

 

[Ajax Bay]

Have sent you PM ref an Octalink 1 BB