Orbea Wild FS & Loose EThirteen Crank Arm

[RA Expressions]

Getting quite frustrated with the E Thirteen (E Spec) loose crank arm. It's happened a few times with the non drive side crank arm. It comes loose during the ride and I keep having to tighten it down. Tried red lock tight and it came loose again. Any fix for this? Or is there another type crank that would be compatible with the Bosch motor?

 

[Andrie]

What do you mean by non drive crank?

 

[Andrie]

If you mean non drive is the left side, I have the opposite problem. Mine is the right side that keep coming loose. The side where the chain ring is.

 

[RA Expressions]

If you mean non drive is the left side, I have the opposite problem. Mine is the right side that keep coming loose. The side where the chain ring is.

Yes, left side opposite the chain ring.

 

[Andrie]

How often it comes loose? Mine was every ride, until in increased the torque to 45 ft.lb. It took 3 rides. I’ve just upped it again to 48ft.lb and let the loctite in for 5 days before ride. I’ve just did my first ride this morning. I’ll keep updating.

 

[Andrie]

I did a research and the hub is ISIS hub which are the same for Bosch and Yamaha. I have a Giant with Yamaha motor that has been great. I might just get the Praxis which what comes on the Giant to give it a try.

 

[RA Expressions]

It happens every ride, we almost lost the bolt today...arm fall off completely. My LBS replaced it and torqued it to spec with thread lock. I'll have to update when I ride next (Saturday). So Praxis is compatible with this motor (Bosch)? Outside of this issue, the bike is amazing.
Thank you for posting, please update with your experience with your torque specs.

 

[Doomanic]

By riding it with a loose crank you will have inadvertently damaged the female ISIS spline on the crank arm making it more likely to come loose again. The damage allows lateral movement of the crank arm on the axle and it’s this movement that is causing the crank bolt to come undone. Unfortunately, this movement is likely to invisible to the naked eye, especially when the bolt is first tightened and unless the damage is extensive it is unlikely to be visible upon inspection of the crank arm. The only long term solution is replacing the crank arm and ensuring it is tightened up to the correct torque setting but it may prove difficult to get done under warranty as the damage is very hard to verify.

 

[RA Expressions]

By riding it with a loose crank you will have inadvertently damaged the female ISIS spline on the crank arm making it more likely to come loose again. The damage allows lateral movement of the crank arm on the axle and it’s this movement that is causing the crank bolt to come undone. Unfortunately, this movement is likely to invisible to the naked eye, especially when the bolt is first tightened and unless the damage is extensive it is unlikely to be visible upon inspection of the crank arm. The only long term solution is replacing the crank arm and ensuring it is tightened up to the correct torque setting but it may prove difficult to get done under warranty as the damage is very hard to verify.

If the spline is damaged, then i would need to replace the entire crank set...correct? Would you know of any sets compatible with the Bosch CX Gen 4 motor? Or is that irrelevant? I'm new to emtb and would really like to resolve this as this bike is amazing and would like this issue fixed.
Thank you for your response.

 

[Doomanic]

My first action would be to get the shop to try and warranty the crank arm, no matter how difficult to prove.

Other than the original equipment crank arms I'm afraid I don't know of any specific for the Bosch motor, sorry.

Make sure the bolt is torqued to the correct setting. On my Trek the bolt is marked 38-42Nm (28-31ft lbs)

 

[Andrie]

The crank arm is anodized aluminum. Any wear is pretty easily seen as the anodized coating will be replaced by bare aluminum. Mine still looks great regardless of me running it with loose bolt.

There are a lot of crank arm that fits the Bosch motor. Depending on frame manufacturer, you might have to watch out for the qfactor.

Like I mentioned, Praxis makes a bargain priced one. Hope makes a premium priced one. There are quite a bit other brands that make crank arm for Bosch motor.

 

[Doomanic]

Any wear is pretty easily seen as the anodized coating will be replaced by bare aluminum.

The splines are not anodised on my e13 cranks.

 

[Andrie]

That is very interesting as mine is anodized

 

[Andrie]

It loosened up again today during the 3rd ride. I’m fed up but want to get to the bottom of it. I took out the crank and swapped it with the crank on my Giant.

Some observation, the crank that kept loosened up definitely damaged. It came off way easy. The other side I have to use crank puller.

The one on the Giant is even tighter. Hard to take off and hard to put onto the Bosch on the Orbea.

I’m not riding tomorrow but will on weekdays. Will keep you guys updated

 

[Doomanic]

That is very interesting as mine is anodized

Just to clarify; my e13 crank arms are anodised but not on the spline fitting. That fitting will have a very tight manufacturing tolerance and will almost certainly be made with a broaching tool as the final operation because the thickness of the anodising is difficult to keep constant.

 

[Andrie]

Thanks Dom. Mine is definitely anodized, I assume it is done after broaching. This time I can see the bare aluminum on the splines. I even wash them and cleaned them to make sure. I also checked the other side that still tight and have no problem and it is also anodized. Very interesting that there are differences.

 

[RA Expressions]

So, took my bike to LBS and they torqued the crank down to specs. I've taken it on 3 rides since and it's holding together. Going on a longer ride tomorrow to really test it. Hopefully stays together. I may purchase new drive train (cranks, chain ring, rear cassette, and chain anyway. Any suggestion on brand.

 

[oldboy]

I feel you pain ? mine has started doing the same. I have to stop ever 10 -15 mins to tighten back up. Going to take it back to the shop and see what they can do, so fustrating!!!!!!

 

[Andrie]

I’ve replaced mine with Praxis and so far so good. I’ve been riding it for total of 5 days, which is the longest I’ve ever ride without the e-thirteen coming loose.

 

[jake--d]

Mines happened a lot. So sick of it.
Going to call the shop tomorrow
This is a warranty issue isn’t it?

 

[Mau]

Hi guys, same bike, same problem with the left one, twice and the second time lost the screw. Buyng this screw no more problems:

Coppia bulloni pedivelle Bosch in alluminio ML558 3G FSA Ricambi Tras

Coppia bulloni pedivelle Bosch in alluminio ML558 3G Ricambi Trasmissione, Bulloni Pedivelle, Prezzo 4.1EUR FSA Codice 421579580 4710243898970

www.ridewill.it

The bike is super