[Review] Odyssey 41 Thermal Cranks

[ectolo]

Article from BMX-Zone.com, http://www.bmx-zone.com/en-article-id-141.html

41 Thermal Crank Review:

This crank came with my complete diamond back, along with some other very good parts. I have been riding it for only about one month, but so far it has taking a considerable beating. In the learning stage of getting feebles down over the last month the left crank arms has been continiously hitting off rough concrete ledges and walls, with nothing more to show that a scratch or two, and when looking more closely at it, it seems to beonly the pain wearing away.

The ball bearings feel smooth, and it crank flips very well (or would do so if i had the ability to land them). Im a pretty hefty rider aswell, wieghing in at about 90 odd kilograms, or about 12stone and im pretty found of big drops, which the bearings have had no problem whatso ever withstanding.

The fact that the crank comes lhd ready is also a big plus factor for me, i grind on the rhs and so often hit my sprocket/ chain quite often. With my birthday approaching i plan to get a new 13tooth lhd odd. freewheel and remover a total of £23 delivered, instead of having to dish out £40 for a new arm like some other cranks out there.


People quite often say "the left arm comes lose too easily" this is slightly true but not to extent that others exagurate. When riding street the most i evr have to tighten it is once, maybe twice a day if im riding hard, an if you dont have allen keys out with you simply tightening it with you two thumbs will suffice for 2-3 hours, and for 5-10 secs tightening who is complaining?

The crank is also isnt too heavy at

2.8 pounds, i'm lead to believe the popular alternative the powerbite is heavier? And for someone who is already heavy and ot a bit of strength behind them, wieght isnt too big an issue (within reason).

Basically this crank has alot going for it, the life garauntee on the arms, the severe strength, the smoothness of the bearings and the overall general quality.

Due to the reasons above i would give this crank 9.9/10 (lost the 0.1 for those lazy people who cba to tighten an arm every so often...)

GET IT!

Costs: about $149 USD

[emilydickinson]

Really nice review. I disagree with you wholly though. I've been on these since about December. The bolts come loose constantly (and it's been getting worse) which leads to destroying the spindles. I have cracked one arm at the bolt, and one at the pedal sleeve. Yes, they are guaranteed for life, but they still cracked in less than a 8 months. Not good. I have also repaired several other people's cranks who have blown up the spindle. I think this is a porrly designed product, they should have pinchbolts, and for your money you're better off with Powerbites or Profiles.

[nutsgeezer]

not sure what your take on this is emily, but a mate of mine (who is a qualified cnc technician or something) says that the stress pinchbolts on steel cranks create is too high, and thats why they arent so popular.

[ndL]

Try to put alittle cotton on the thread, and then tighten the bolt. or just put alittle paper on thread it also works!

[MCHardmanUK]

I was always lead to believe that aving a pinch bolt welded onto the cranks would create a major stress point along the pinch bolt welds, meaning the cranks would most likely break there.

[ectolo]

thanx for the feedback, my arm already stays reasonably tight i wil try the cotton, got some q-tips in me bath room jus rip a bit of em, oh and congats emily by the way on member of the month forgot to reply to the thread in general chat, it seems alot that crank is different i am yet to see 3-4 reviews on the same product match yet, so maybe it is jus the luck of the draw aswell

[emilydickinson]

Nuts, you friend is right in the theoretical engineering realm, and this holds true for many other types of bike, but those bike aren't repeatetly loaded across the spindle, and the main load goes direct to the spindle, which is where problems occur (ie you jump so much you strip the arm off the spindle and ruin the arm and the crank). Basically a pinch bolt does two things 1. It creates a force holding the crank on the spindle, allowing it to 'squeeze' onto the spindle, as oppose to just resting there, that is in the opposite direction of the crank bolt holding the spindle.2. It also give you more of a chance to refine the spindle design, because you anctually apply force on the spindle mechanically through a fastener. Michael Hardman:your point makes sence, but most pinch bolts are drilled in/machined in, and even so the fastener would collapse before the weld or arm taking the load that way.

[dkrider5005]

yea i bought this Crank a month or so ago.. i am a big fan of oddessy products.. u could tell if u saw my bike. and over all, i really like the crank. AND yes the left arm does come loose every now ad then.. but i ride dirt and carry a allen key in my pocket. but the bigg thing that pisssed me off about this product was how effin hard it was to put on my bike. it took me a good 3 hours. but now that its on. i think it works great. tho the logo "41 thermal" on the sides was gone in a matter of 2 or 3 days. it is prolly my best pick for a crank
YES
GET IT.

[mastercoryd]

my left arm gets loose veryy easily i have to tigthen it eveyr hour !! but immma try lock tighting the shit out of them that should work the real problem is when i tigthen my bolt that attaches my sprocket to the crankarm if i tigthen that and put my cranks together when i spin it its appears HUGELY bent even though the sprockets brand new, i have to put a spacer on the outside of the sprocket around the spidnle whole between the sprocket and the crankarm then tighten the other one and its still not perfect but i deal with it, the thing i dont like about that is that their brand new cranks (at the time ive had them now for a few months)and i have to rig em up i like everything the right way


Any1 know how to solve that problem ? please tell me

[Raf]

I constantly battled the same problem....mate that i ride with from a local bike shop suggested we used some blue loctite on the thread of the bolts...never came loose yet and then would be coming on 10months now..a little bit of loctite and ull never have that problem again..

[DirtyBuster]

you say that the left crank arm loosen easily... change it with the right crank arm so it wont hahah....
:wall: dumb joke... srry

[mastercoryd]

i was fed with my 41 thermals even after using locktight, cuz my sprocket didnt align good and when i spun it it appeared bent, so i traded my friend for his profile's the bolt idea is much better and they machined it right so when i tighten the bolt that pulls it into the crankarm it ligns up with the other whole too after i traded my friend, he said he had to file down the area where the sprocket bolt that pulls it into threads into so it was aligned, and i dont like rigging my partsl ike that, he said he had to do it like a quarter of an inch, i like the profiles better

[b8m1x9]

im trying the blue locktight on the bolts, and if that fails the spindle, if that fails, wombats or RNC cranks.

[mastercoryd]

you say that the left crank arm loosen easily... change it with the right crank arm so it wont hahah....
eusa_wall.gif dumb joke... srry

haha lol i just got that after the 4th time reading that post lol i thught u were saying thate because of reverse thread at first lol

[Shanus]

i like these cranks alot but then again i had shitty 1 pc before. the spindle coming loose is not a problem you just tighten it.

[MCHardmanUK]

I had wobbly Profile arms and some red locktight has solved everything, I can hit the cranks as much as I like now and they stay tight.

If nothing works go buy aradyte you will never be getting your cranks off though.

[b8m1x9]

im trying the blue locktight on the bolts, and if that fails the spindle, if that fails, wombats or RNC cranks.
loc tight really helps.

[americanethics]

I tried blue and it still came loose. I just ordered some profiles. Hope it doesn't happen with them

[MAX POWER]

loc-tite, anyone?

i mean, if you use the blue...your shit won't come loose, right?

[social]

I use the low strength red and that crap never comes lose. And yes on the tube it says in bold "LOW STRENGTH"

[ReptoN]

my left arm gets loose veryy easily i have to tigthen it eveyr hour !! but immma try lock tighting the shit out of them that should work the real problem is when i tigthen my bolt that attaches my sprocket to the crankarm if i tigthen that and put my cranks together when i spin it its appears HUGELY bent even though the sprockets brand new, i have to put a spacer on the outside of the sprocket around the spidnle whole between the sprocket and the crankarm then tighten the other one and its still not perfect but i deal with it, the thing i dont like about that is that their brand new cranks (at the time ive had them now for a few months)and i have to rig em up i like everything the right way
Any1 know how to solve that problem ? please tell me

I've got the exact same problem, it pissed me right off ! I did the same as you and used one of the small spacers on the outside of the sprocket and it sits a lot better...... but shit man, that shouldnt have to be done.

I emailed the UK distributer and they said to send the arm back to them for a replacement, but I havn't got around to it as i'd have no bike for a week or more ! :roll:

[ReptoN]

also used lock tite on the bolts and they stay nice and tight :) Good cranks though other than that

[plywoodhoods4lyf]

I really wish I could wallride. And then do a barspin out of it. Yeah.

[somelamekid]

Woah..people talking science! *scared*

[plywoodhoods4lyf]

Now here we go dropping science,
Dropping it all over.
Like bumpin around town,
While your in your Range Rover.
Expanding the horizons,
And expanding the parameters.
Expanding the rhymes,
Of sucka MC amatuers.
And like Isaac Newton,
I'm scientific easy.
Like Ben Franklin with the kite,
Getting over with the key

[heyitzalan]

those are pretty sweet.

[Matrix]

The cranks blow...stay away.

They come loose if you sneeze and they only have a warranty on the arms...what a waste. Many better sets out.

[shaun191]

just get profiles ther the best or maby hollowbites

[Mikey0515]

yeah...i have the same problem with the bolts...it doesnt bother me much..i super glue/ locktight it and it usually stays for a while.but ive had thenm for a while...1 replaced spindle and now my arms are bent so im getting those replaced too...i love the warranty:D

[HarosRGay]

Dont use red loctite ever! I had to cut a stem appart because of red loctite, its INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH and guys who use it normal have big ass wrenches and not allen keys! So be careful!

[Mikey0515]

even if i use lock tight it comes loose after a few months....but if i have to take it off ill use my socket wrench with a homemade allen and a long pvc pipe as a breaker bar:D ...then it comes right off!

[ParkLife]

I was always lead to believe that aving a pinch bolt welded onto the cranks would create a major stress point along the pinch bolt welds, meaning the cranks would most likely break there.

Yeah.
I would actually trust non PB's over ones that had them...mind you....

I have had my stock Felt Cranks for over 2 years and they have not missed a beat. and I am by all means not a soft rider.

[CMcMahon]

I've been rocking the 41 Thermal cranks for almost three years now, over two frames (an '04 Stricker and a '06 LAF), without any real issues. I originally had problems with the bolts coming loose, but replacing them with normal 3/8" 24tpi hex bolts from the hardware store fixed those problems. Aside from when I took my bike apart in March or April to get it repainted, I don't think that I've had to mess with the crank bolts a single time since.

They've taken a ton of abuse, too, to the point where the cap on the right arm's pedalboss has holes grinded into it on both sides; I don't expect them to last much longer, but Chris from Odyssey already assured me that they'd warranty them when they finally die. Not that it matters, since I'll probaby just move on to Wombolts once they're dead.

[ectolo]

It is always interesting to see how different riders experience different issues with parts. I believe the words "manufacturing tolerance" could be the reason for this. With high grade aircraft parts they often work with tolerances to 0.001 inches, with bmx parts it most like 0.01 inches or about 2.5 mm. it would explain a lot of peoples comments

[Scottehrm]

good review...

[symphoclari]

anyone ever experience the flex of the odyssey crank arms causing the chainstay to dent?

[Charles]

Nuts, you friend is right in the theoretical engineering realm, and this holds true for many other types of bike, but those bike aren't repeatetly loaded across the spindle, and the main load goes direct to the spindle, which is where problems occur (ie you jump so much you strip the arm off the spindle and ruin the arm and the crank). Basically a pinch bolt does two things 1. It creates a force holding the crank on the spindle, allowing it to 'squeeze' onto the spindle, as oppose to just resting there, that is in the opposite direction of the crank bolt holding the spindle.2. It also give you more of a chance to refine the spindle design, because you anctually apply force on the spindle mechanically through a fastener. Michael Hardman:your point makes sence, but most pinch bolts are drilled in/machined in, and even so the fastener would collapse before the weld or arm taking the load that way.

Lol, I miss emily.

[shadow1952]

i had one and it sucked i love odyssey but ot that crank it went to hell on me in about 3 months right now i have the profile for about 4 months and no problems i plan on trying the wombolt cranks asap

[happycatbasket]

I got a pair of these a few months ago expecting my current set of no-names to break. I haven't put them on yet, as I haven't needed to, but I have playeda round with them for a bit.

How easy are these guys supposed to slide onto the spindle? I'm comming from a MTB background, so all the old isis and other bbs/cranks I've used have been very easy to get on and off. AS of yet, I haven't been able to take one of these arms and force them onto the spindle.

These are fresh from the box. I haven't done anything and I don't want to start hammering on parts unless I know they're going on my bike.

[sentaafEQpovar]

locktite

[jaredmi]

I agree with Michael Hardman. These and pinch bolt cranks are not the best design. Look at the automobile field, they use a 'fine' spline on engine and transmission outputs and on axle splines. A profile style crank is the way to go.

[ollie r]

an easy way of solving the loosening of cranks is to buy a frame with a euro bottom bracket

i havent had to tighten my cranks once in 11 months

[Dylan]

yea i bought this Crank a month or so ago.. i am a big fan of oddessy products.. u could tell if u saw my bike. and over all, i really like the crank. AND yes the left arm does come loose every now ad then.. but i ride dirt and carry a allen key in my pocket. but the bigg thing that pisssed me off about this product was how effin hard it was to put on my bike. it took me a good 3 hours. but now that its on. i think it works great. tho the logo "41 thermal" on the sides was gone in a matter of 2 or 3 days. it is prolly my best pick for a crank
YES
GET IT.

Na,h this isn't good enough to tell people to get it, it would be annoying having to stop to tighten the bolt, what if your ragging it and it comes off then the crnak arm comes off, you'll be in alot of pain.

[Dylan]

an easy way of solving the loosening of cranks is to buy a frame with a euro bottom bracket

i havent had to tighten my cranks once in 11 months

Not actually easy is it? considering you have to pay out an exta few hundred to run these cranks.

[bmx rider david]

yea my *** thermals have same problems left bolt comes loose daily the sproket dont bolt on square so it f%$ks my sproket and my spindle bent. and they look yuk

now im gettin wombolts or flys :)

[ectolo]

like a said before manufacturing tolerances will account for some peoples cranks coming loose more easily than others, i still feel however that even if you had to tighten these once an hour with an allen key they are worth runnin

[SeanO]

I've been rocking the 41 Thermal cranks for almost three years now, over two frames (an '04 Stricker and a '06 LAF), without any real issues. I originally had problems with the bolts coming loose, but replacing them with normal 3/8" 24tpi hex bolts from the hardware store fixed those problems. Aside from when I took my bike apart in March or April to get it repainted, I don't think that I've had to mess with the crank bolts a single time since.

They've taken a ton of abuse, too, to the point where the cap on the right arm's pedalboss has holes grinded into it on both sides; I don't expect them to last much longer, but Chris from Odyssey already assured me that they'd warranty them when they finally die. Not that it matters, since I'll probaby just move on to Wombolts once they're dead.

Ask Ody if they'll work a deal to swap the old ones for Wombolts and pay the difference. Ody takes care of us. Although, I'd say you more than got your monies worth out of those 41 Thermals.