In this article I will review the Kogel Bearings Shimano Crank Arm Fixing Bolt, or as Shimano calls it the crank arm cap or pre-load cap. Default Shimano uses plastic versions of this component Y0N500025. For the Dura Ace 9000 cranks I’ve exchanged it with a grey anodized Wheelsmfg FIX-BOLT-1 from 6061 aluminum. The Kogel Bearings Crank Arm Fixing Bolt will go on the Deore XT M8100 Hollowtech II crank arm (with 4iiii power meter).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key features Kogel Bearings Shimano Crank Arm Fixing Bolt
On the Kogel Bearings product page you can read:
Looking for another opportunity to increase the durability of your drivetrain and customize the look of your Shimano crankset? Kogel’s Shimano crank arm fixing bolt is here to help keep the crank arm bolts from backing out. Made from the T6061-T6 aluminum alloy, our Shimano fixing bolt adjusts the side load on the bearings and holds the arm in place while you tighten up the crank cinch bolts to the proper torque spec.
Choosing the Correct Length
Kogel offers two lengths of preload bolts. Check your existing bolt to verify size.
- Short: compatible with current generation Hollowtech II off road cranksets (GRX, XT, SLX) AND newer Dura-Ace R9200 and Ultegra R8100 cranksets
- Long: compatible with all other Shimano Hollowtech II road cranksets including Dura Ace R9100, Ultegra R8000 and 105 R7000. Previous generations might have used the short version, like early productions of the Dura Ace 9000 crank sets. But that was corrected later on….
I’m using the short version of the Shimano Crank Arm Fixing Bolt with a Shimano Deore XT M8100 crankset on the Scott Scale 925 mountain bike, as well as on the Shimano GRX RX820 crankset on the Canyon Grizl CF SL 8 1by gravel bike.
While there are other and probably even lighter versions available of aluminum and titanium pre-load caps, the important requirement for me is that all can be used with a single tool like the Park Tool BBT-10.2 Adjusting Cap tool or the RISK cap removal tool for Shimano Hollowtech II cranks. A similar approach like having all power meters and heart rate monitors powered by a CR2032 coin cell battery.
When tightening the aluminum fixing bolt, it feels more robust, quality and durable compared to the plastic look and feel that comes by default with the cranksets. Furthermore I really like the quality like the little bearing (part of the logo) laser edged into the surface of the crank arm fixing bolt.
Installation Kogel Bearings Crank Arm Fixing Bolt
Installation is very very easy, but let’s have a look at a couple of reminders, as described below.
- Apply Morgan Blue Aquaproof Paste onto the Kogel Bearings crank arm fixing bolt;
- Hand-tighten the Kogel Bearing Crank Arm Fixing Bolt;
- Use the Shimano II Crank Arm Bolt Tool TL-FC16, Park Tool BBT-10.2 Adjusting Cap tool to tighten to the sweet spot for preload;
- Make sure the Y1GE98050 Protection Plate is in place, and tighten the 5 mm hex bolts of the Hollowtech II crank arm;
- Use a torque wrench like the Stahlwille Manoskop 730N/2 Mechanical Torque Wrench 2-20 Nm and tighten the bolts to specification;
Thread the fixing bolt into the crank arm, adjust it until all the lateral play in the crank arm and spindle has disappeared. Back off the bolt a quarter or half turn to make sure there is no sideload on the bottom bracket bearings.
Please note there is also a Kogel Bearings branded version available of the Aquaproof paste (as I’ve mentioned in the review).
Concluding thoughts and wrap-up
The price point of the Kogel Bearings Shimano Crank Arm Fixing Bolt is around € 20,00 which is not cheap (and double the price of the discontinued Wheelsmfg FIX-BOLT-1 for Shimano Dura Ace 9000). However if you run an expensive ceramic bearing bottom bracket and want to add some additional quality to your bike, than the price point is fair enough.
I’m using the short version of the Shimano Crank Arm Fixing Bolt with a Shimano Deore XT M8100 crankset on the Scott Scale 925 mountain bike, as well as on the Shimano GRX RX820 crankset on the Canyon Grizl CF SL 8 1by gravel bike.
Kogel Bearings is in the same price league as Enduro Bearings and Ceramicspeed when it comes to bottom brackets, but the quality and durability of good ceramic bearings will pay off. Kogel Bearings has a lot of cool products in their portfolio and the our heritage page shows Ard Kessels (founder) did run a bike shop in Belgium. Kogel Bearings also supports the Lidl-Trek cycling team, as well as Trek Factory XC mountain bike team.
- Would you choose the Kogel Bearings Shimano Crank Arm Fixing Bolt ?
- Are you using any other Kogel Bearings products?
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