Convert Shimano XTR M952 Cranks to Single Speed?

Can Shimano XTR M952 Cranks be converted to single speed use? I've been looking them over and it is difficult to tell for sure if there is a spindle to mount a single speed ring to after removing the 3 ramped/pinned rings.

Even if it can be done, would I be better off just buying a single speed specific crankset?

Eric

 

yes you can, you just can't use a spindle-mounted ring like on BMX-style cranks.

gotta use the 4-bolt 104mm BCD chainring, just get a single-speed specific one (taller, wider, stronger teeth and unramped).

btw, I was looking at the shimano website, and I don't see the m952 cranks. the closest is m951 deore cranks :shrug:

 

Hey Eric

They make awesome SS cranks because they are spiderless and the ring will always be centered. Problem is not too many people make rings for them so check with path. I remember seeing a couple of them at path a while back.

I would rock those cranks any day as they are just as good as any SS specific cranks out there.:bang: Only reason some cranks are SS specific is they are all spiderless and will only accept spiderless SS rings.

 

Thank you for the info. I will check out BCD. The 952s are a few years old, but are still a really nice crankset... and they have a nice retro feel and look for the ss.

Eric

 

The M952 are spiderless and will NOT accept any 104 rings.

There are companies make SS rings for those cranks and simply replace the large spiderless big ring.

 

I've got a pair of those cranks with worn chainrings and was thinking of doing the same thing. If I remember correctly Shimano actually made a downhill specific ring for them and some companies did make aftermarket rings for them. I've looked online for them a bit and haven't had any luck finding anything, if you have better luck let me know.

 

yeah, just saw your marketplace post. just assumed they had a spider :?:

duke knows best i suppose

 

Haha.....of course I know the best.

You can purchase a spider for those cranks but they are harder to find than ghosts and counter productive as spiderless rings are the best for SS.

Give Tani or Brian at path a call, if they can't find it then they don't make them anymore.

 

Middleburn makes XTR spiders.

http://www.middleburn.co.uk/spiders_xc.php

Dean

 

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it seems that Lee knows better than duke :lol:

just remembered, I've got an XTR BB that'll work with those if you need it. it's the 112.5mm one, ti spindle, brand new. I've got no use for it, as it obviously doesn't work with my old XT cranks :?:

 

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well, it's a BB-M952 112.5mm sealed cartridge BB.

it looks ti, but I suppose it might be steel. the magnet I have sitting here attracts it, so I guess it must be. I was told it was ti when I got it so :?:

did anyone ever tell you that you know WAYYY too much about bike parts Lee? :lol:

 

It doesn't matter if it originally come with spider or not all the M952 are the spiderless interface for SS style rings.

Although they might be hard to find but the spiderless or SS style rings are the best for SS applications as the ring is always perfectly centered.

Plus I remember seeing Eric's bike and it didn't have the spider.

 

i will look later, but I think I have the spider for those cranks. Its yours if I find it. I ran those on my ss and jumper back in the day. I will let you know.

 

Thank you all for the great info so far.

I did some research online and it looks like the Middleburn spindle would be a good way to go. I had planned to part out the bike that these cranks are on and possibly keep the cranks for this, but now it looks like the bike might sell complete, as is. We'll see...

If I do end up parting out the bike, I'll probably keep the cranks and bb and do this conversion. I've always liked the feel and looks of those 952 cranks.

Eric