Whats the difference

[Ollytron]

What is the difference between M950, M951 and M952 cranks?
I know the year is different and the M952 is for a 9 speed cassette.
Are they all the same shade of gray?
Why do some look black in pics?
Most of my group set is M950 so would like a set of cranks to match.

 

[drystonepaul]

This is really Ben FluffyChicken's chosen specialist subject, but I'll take a stab at it.

As far as I can tell, the main differences between M950 and M951 are a very subtle change to the chainrings. So subtle as to be all but unnoticable. The crank arms are identical I think. Same shade of XTR grey and the same Octalink V1 splines.

The M952 chainset has completely different 9 speed chainrings. They are a tiny bit narrower and look different to the M950 and M951 style rings.
The M952 was also available with a 5 arm spider. So there were FC M952-4 and FC-M952-5 variations to choose from. There was a DH version too.

Again though, the crank arms were the same colour and shape as previous versions. They also still had the shallow splined Octalink V1 bottom bracket fitting.

Some cranks look darker in photos due to the vagaries of photography, lighting conditions and computer screen variations.

EDIT: Along with the M952 groupset, the 5 arm version was also available with the M950 and M951 groupsets. The DH version was first available with the M951 group.

Have a look here: --> http://www.mombat.org/Shimano.htm

 

[FluffyChicken]

What is the difference between M950, M951 and M952 cranks?
I know the year is different and the M952 is for a 9 speed cassette.
Are they all the same shade of gray?
Why do some look black in pics?
Most of my group set is M950 so would like a set of cranks to match.

They are all the dark grey, they just fade to pale grey (ok some special silver edition)

9 speed rings and a slight adjustment to the arms for added strength.

 

[Ollytron]

Thats some good info cheers.
As I have a m950 cassette and rear mech i can get away with a m951 crank, which opens up a load more options for my build which is good because the m950 don't come up in good condition very often.
As i suspected the m952 was a bigger leap in design.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Don't think you'll really tell the difference in the arms,
Here's the integrated sprider 4 arm version being compared
Other than the rings (and I think the 5 arm spider is probably if buying 5 arm and fiting your own ring) it's a bit thicker around the pedal hole.

M951 I have no idea but looking at this it looks to my eyes the same as the 952
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... fac0a5fc83

 

[Ollytron]

ooooo loving the M950 pic, don't supose its for sale !

The big ring on the M952 has cut outs on the end of the 4 branches.

 

[FluffyChicken]

not mine, random google images pictures
and the cranny rings are a fraction different around the bolts.

But I class all that as part of the rings.

 

[ishaw]

I may have some m950 cranks going spare. Let me check. Remind me if if don't get back to you though.