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JJ XTR singlespeed homebrew mod

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#21 ·
I am looking to do the same in the future for my 2x9 set up. My I am also including a plan to expand the bolt pattern from the 102 to 104 so I can use standard rings. Was going to do it soon until I found a Truvativ Carbon Stylo GXP set for $100 without the bottom bracket that I did not need.

G
 
Discussion starter · #22 ·
Mallanaga said:
i've been wondering for a while... and now that i've seen so many people do it, i have to ask.

why!?

why not just get yourselves a nice SS crank?

i'm rather new... lemme think though. can you use a larger array of crank gears this way? easier to swap them out? just to have something uber custom?
Click to expand...
I had the XTR crank sitting around collecting dust. I figured I might as well make a project out of it.
 
Discussion starter · #23 ·
gstahl said:
My version of the same:

Crank:
Image


Complete Bike (have a Boone ring on order now for about 7 month we'll see if they ever produce it).

I used steel wool and sand paper to take of the finish (I read about the oven cleaner trick but did not want to go through that). A buffing wheel and some time seemed to clean up the part nicely (also I did not remove the rubber O rings, do not think oven cleaner would be nice to these if you went that direction a remove/re-install would be required).

First ride everything is awesome.
Click to expand...
Wow. Nice job. Looks alot better then mine. Did you use a Dremel?
 
#24 ·
DC_MTB said:
Wow. Nice job. Looks alot better then mine. Did you use a Dremel?
Click to expand...
Dremel, file and sand paper. I follow the curve of the bolt "buckets" (so to speak so it was reasonably easy to get the ends to look nice. Other the only thing I did was use a caliper to get the depths (or heights) at the end of the arms equal. I polished with metal polish and a hand drill (with a buffing wheel of course).
 
#27 ·
DC_MTB said:
I had the XTR crank sitting around collecting dust. I figured I might as well make a project out of it.
Click to expand...
It's a fine testament to the quality of Shimano cranks that someone would want to do this. However, I can't help but think that eBay would have been a better solution.

I can guess that when Mr. Whirly finally ships, this kinda thing should come to a stop. I couldn't fathom anyone doing this to a M970 crank. Those are works of art.

Image
 
#29 ·
willtsmith_nwi said:
It's a fine testament to the quality of Shimano cranks that someone would want to do this. However, I can't help but think that eBay would have been a better solution.

I can guess that when Mr. Whirly finally ships, this kinda thing should come to a stop. I couldn't fathom anyone doing this to a M970 crank. Those are works of art.

Image
Click to expand...
No they're not.
 
#30 ·
Single speed fundamentalism knows no limits!

Butchering XTR cranks for the sake of single speed purity!

I admit the Jeff Jones product did look very refined. You can be sure he did not use a dremel tool and a file.
 
#34 ·
gticlay said:
I have to disagree with WillTSmith - I think the newest generation of XTR crank is fugly. Besides, making them into SS is pretty cool and it is not butchering. It's just a bike crank.
Click to expand...
Well, those others weren't 970s, so no problem. The old XTR had a unique bolt pattern and soft rings. So, recycling is probably a good use. Everybody's home brews look great.

The finish on the 970 is a different concept I believe is inspired by the desire for black, plus the penchant for black cranks to be polished silver by your heel. I think that pattern of making the flat of the crank silver with a recessed, black XTR will keep that crank looking the way it does for quite a long time.

Of course, if you don't like black cranks ... I'm sure you hate them. But I'm sure they could be polished silver.
 
#35 ·
Here are mine. Didn't round the edges. Might do that yet.

Image


Image


I've since put a blackspire ring on there. I was going crazy with the metal polish and then thought why bother they are just going to get messed up. On rainy sundays I get out the buffing wheel and make them shiney. :)
 
#38 ·
I used a synthetic "wire wheel" that had an abrasive coating applied to the bristles chucked in a drill - it's designed to remove paint from metal. Then I used a cloth buffing wheel and polishing compound. A file and wet sandpaper was used on any scratches after the abrasive wheel and before the buffing wheel.
 
#39 ·
OK...got mine done.....Gstahl (?) gave me some pointers :thumbsup: ......i was worried about all the cutting and grinding....that part actually turned out surprisingly well......but i got lazy and tried a lye-rich bath that pitted the holy heck outta my cranks......spent FOREVER sanding and polishing......but overall, I'm happy :)
 

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Discussion starter · #40 ·
nice

CHUM said:
OK...got mine done.....Gstahl (?) gave me some pointers :thumbsup: ......i was worried about all the cutting and grinding....that part actually turned out surprisingly well......but i got lazy and tried a lye-rich bath that pitted the holy heck outta my cranks......spent FOREVER sanding and polishing......but overall, I'm happy :)
Click to expand...
looks nice.

Got any more pictures? It's hard to see in that lighting.
 
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GFisher2001
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