Procedure

Apply a light grease

to the spindle.

Pass the spindle through the bottom bracket

from the drive side, threading the chain onto the chainrings as it goes.

Slide the non-drive crank arm onto the spindle splines.

Note the orientation — the crank arm should be 180° opposite the drive arm.

Hand-thread the preload cap

until snug. This is **not** a structural bolt — its only job is to remove play from the bearings. **Tighten only enough to remove play** (typically 0.5–1 Nm — finger-tight). Over-tightening preloads the bearings and they'll wear quickly.

Engage the safety tab

into the spindle groove.

Tighten the two pinch bolts

in alternating sequence to **12–14 Nm**.

Check for play

by grabbing the crank arms and rocking side to side. If you feel play, slightly tighten the preload cap and re-do the pinch bolts. If the bearings feel rough or notchy, back off the preload. ---

Apply a light grease to the spindle.
Pass the spindle through the bottom bracket from the drive side, threading the chain onto the chainrings as it goes.
Slide the non-drive crank arm onto the spindle splines. Note the orientation — the crank arm should be 180° opposite the drive arm.
Hand-thread the preload cap until snug. This is not a structural bolt — its only job is to remove play from the bearings. Tighten only enough to remove play (typically 0.5–1 Nm — finger-tight). Over-tightening preloads the bearings and they’ll wear quickly.
Engage the safety tab into the spindle groove.
Tighten the two pinch bolts in alternating sequence to 12–14 Nm.
Check for play by grabbing the crank arms and rocking side to side. If you feel play, slightly tighten the preload cap and re-do the pinch bolts. If the bearings feel rough or notchy, back off the preload.

Crankset Installation — Hollowtech II

Tools