XTR M950 / M952 Cranks, chainline, BB and chainrings
- Thread starter gtRTSdh
- Start date
Re:
Not sure if this helps with chain ring bolt conundrum, but pretty sure I've used what I thought were standard tec anno bolts on my m952 set up. Didn't even think about it so maybe I got lucky but they just worked. Also used middleburn chain ring bolts in the past without an issue.
There are some very thin brass washers that fit between the outer ring/spider and middle ring.
As someone else mentioned, there were some ac cranks that used the v1 xtr bb/spline, and the spider works with m95x cranks.
I've got a couple of other spiders aside from the mentioned middleburn and 5 arm Shimano options. One is a 110 bcd hershey racing, the other a 94 bcd one which may be middleburn, I'm Not 100% sure.
When I had a Klein, I recall finding there was a German company that did a press fit bb with v1 spline, but it was very very expensive.
Not sure if this helps with chain ring bolt conundrum, but pretty sure I've used what I thought were standard tec anno bolts on my m952 set up. Didn't even think about it so maybe I got lucky but they just worked. Also used middleburn chain ring bolts in the past without an issue.
There are some very thin brass washers that fit between the outer ring/spider and middle ring.
As someone else mentioned, there were some ac cranks that used the v1 xtr bb/spline, and the spider works with m95x cranks.
I've got a couple of other spiders aside from the mentioned middleburn and 5 arm Shimano options. One is a 110 bcd hershey racing, the other a 94 bcd one which may be middleburn, I'm Not 100% sure.
When I had a Klein, I recall finding there was a German company that did a press fit bb with v1 spline, but it was very very expensive.
Re:
What a brilliant thread! So much useful information! Thank you.
I have a question after recently taking a M950 crankset apart to clean and inspect.
The drive side retaining bolt had a plastic washer Just below the top cap, the other side did not - am I missing one and is it important if I am?
Also the drive side had two metal washers between the crank arm and the retaining bolt, again the other side did not - same question as above!
Pics here...
Any help appreciated!
What a brilliant thread! So much useful information! Thank you.
I have a question after recently taking a M950 crankset apart to clean and inspect.
The drive side retaining bolt had a plastic washer Just below the top cap, the other side did not - am I missing one and is it important if I am?
Also the drive side had two metal washers between the crank arm and the retaining bolt, again the other side did not - same question as above!
Pics here...
Any help appreciated!
That’s a really helpful write-up, thanks for putting it all together in one place. 
I’ve run both the 109 mm and 112 mm BBs on M952 and can confirm the same issue with tyre clearance when going wider than ~2.1″ — the 112 mm definitely helps a bit if you’re running modern rubber. Chainline still isn’t “perfect”, but it’s workable.
For chainrings, I’ve had decent luck with TA middle rings (though not cheap when you can find them), and Middleburn as you mentioned. The XT M750 spider option is probably the most practical long-term since it opens up standard compact 4-bolt rings, and the slight inward shift hasn’t caused me any real-world issues either.
One other note on the lockring — totally agree to go easy. I’ve seen more than one set of M95* arms scrapped from stripped threads. A dab of anti-seize and gentle torque goes a long way.
Great thread idea — should save a lot of hunting for folks piecing these cranks together.
I’ve run both the 109 mm and 112 mm BBs on M952 and can confirm the same issue with tyre clearance when going wider than ~2.1″ — the 112 mm definitely helps a bit if you’re running modern rubber. Chainline still isn’t “perfect”, but it’s workable.
For chainrings, I’ve had decent luck with TA middle rings (though not cheap when you can find them), and Middleburn as you mentioned. The XT M750 spider option is probably the most practical long-term since it opens up standard compact 4-bolt rings, and the slight inward shift hasn’t caused me any real-world issues either.
One other note on the lockring — totally agree to go easy. I’ve seen more than one set of M95* arms scrapped from stripped threads. A dab of anti-seize and gentle torque goes a long way.
Great thread idea — should save a lot of hunting for folks piecing these cranks together.
To add to the spider options, I have also acquired a long while ago a TA specialties 104 BCD spider which was designed to fit the m95x cranks. If it wasn't, it does as it has the same splines and isn't too thick like the Shimano LX and stx ones.
I did also have some 104bcd spiders a very long time ago that were after market for m95x cranks made by forge. I had black and silver.
I do have a question about the 11bcd rings.
The original middle ring is ramped and pinned. I have a nos outer m952 ring and a vgc inner, but no middle. Obviously 110bcd MTB rings have gone the way of the dodo, but road compact is 11bcd. Road rings are mostly double, so would an inner road ring shift ok up and down from the granny as they wouldn't be designed for that type of shifting. If not, road triple is a thing so any suggestions on a good middle ring that would not look out of place and work?
I ask only as I have an absolute mint set of m952 crank arms, could pass as nos but I suspect they've been mounted. I'd like to make them whole and use them on a build.
I did also have some 104bcd spiders a very long time ago that were after market for m95x cranks made by forge. I had black and silver.
I do have a question about the 11bcd rings.
The original middle ring is ramped and pinned. I have a nos outer m952 ring and a vgc inner, but no middle. Obviously 110bcd MTB rings have gone the way of the dodo, but road compact is 11bcd. Road rings are mostly double, so would an inner road ring shift ok up and down from the granny as they wouldn't be designed for that type of shifting. If not, road triple is a thing so any suggestions on a good middle ring that would not look out of place and work?
I ask only as I have an absolute mint set of m952 crank arms, could pass as nos but I suspect they've been mounted. I'd like to make them whole and use them on a build.
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