Anyone have issues with their cranks coming loose?

RaceFace Cranks
RF.jpg
 

coregrind

Well-known member
Dec 16, 2020
95
80
BEAVERTON, OREGON USA
I installed 160mm aluminum e*spec arms on my Rail 9.7. At the end of my first ride (~24 miles), the driveside arm was wobbly loose while the non-driveside arm bolt was just in need of tightening. I contacted e*thirteen to inform them of the situation, stating I had used the original installation instructions as guidence with 40Nm applied to the hardware. They wanted to confirm I applied grease to the spindle and then suggested moving up to 45Nm torque for the bolts. I put the higher amount of torque to the hardware, added some paint lines for visual reference and all seems to be fine now after additional ride time.
 

BiGJZ74

E*POWAH Master
Subscriber
Mar 17, 2021
573
444
American Canyon, CA
I installed 160mm aluminum e*spec arms on my Rail 9.7. At the end of my first ride (~24 miles), the driveside arm was wobbly loose while the non-driveside arm bolt was just in need of tightening. I contacted e*thirteen to inform them of the situation, stating I had used the original installation instructions as guidence with 40Nm applied to the hardware. They wanted to confirm I applied grease to the spindle and then suggested moving up to 45Nm torque for the bolts. I put the higher amount of torque to the hardware, added some paint lines for visual reference and all seems to be fine now after additional ride time.
I did the same thing and swapped to160mm e13 Crankarms but just torqued by feel and never had them come loose. Interesting that ur driveside was the wobbly side as its usually the non drive side falling off. I did have the original 165mm ND side fall off once.
 

arTNC

Member
Feb 1, 2024
240
281
Texas
I'm not going to poo-poo the evidence that people are having issues with their e13 crank arms, but we've not seen that at our shop where we're a Trek, Spec, and Santa Cruz dealer. In particular we have a demo Gen 1 Rail 7 with the originally delivered e13 crank arms.

Right off the bat we pulled the drive side arm to address the loose chainring nut that is common on many Bosch motors. Both arms were pulled and anti-seize applied to the splines like we always do. That demo bike has never had the arms loosen, and it has seen the normal abuse of a shop demo bike.

I bought a Gen II Rail 7, but before I even rode it, I changed the OEM 165mm e13 arms to 160mm e13 arms...anti-seize applied. These arms have never loosened either. Other bikes with the e13 arms through the shop haven't loosened either. We should buy some lottery tickets. 😄
 

BeBiker

Active member
Aug 26, 2020
700
421
Belgium
Just curious if this is happening. Thanks

I started havin this issue.
Tighthening to the correct torque, sealant was every time a solution for a few weeks, then came loose again.

So now I tighten to the correct torque, bolt with sealant.
Support in the middle of side1, tap very hard with a big stiff rubber hammer in the middle of side2.
tighten to the correct torque again.

Didn't come loose for +-6 months now.
 

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