Riders of 7/8-speed hybrids, commuters and entry-level mountain bikes who need a reliable replacement triple crankset.
The Shimano Acera FC-M361 is a triple crankset for 7 and 8-speed drivetrains. This one has 170 mm arms and 42-32-22T chainrings, a wide spread that gives a low gear for climbing and a big ring for the flat.
It fits a square taper (JIS) bottom bracket, the common standard on entry-level mountain, hybrid and trekking bikes, and uses 104/64 mm BCD so the rings can be replaced individually. A chainguard on the outer ring helps keep trousers clean and protects the teeth.
If your old crank has worn, hooked teeth, a loose arm or a stripped pedal thread, this is the like-for-like swap on most bikes that came with Shimano 7 or 8-speed triple gearing.
42-32-22T triple
Wide gear range for hills and flats.
Square taper
Fits common JIS square taper bottom brackets.
Chainguard
Fitted to the outer ring.
Replaceable rings
104/64 mm BCD.
Crankset
Codes
Hyperdrive
Shimano's shaped chainring teeth and ramps help the chain move between rings under load.
Great for
Maybe not for
170 mm crank arms, square taper JIS spindle. Needs a square taper bottom bracket with the right spindle length for the chainline; bring your bike in if you're unsure. Uses 9/16 inch pedals.
Check your bottom bracket
Square taper cranks wear the taper if they've been ridden loose. Check the bottom bracket spins smoothly with no play before fitting new cranks, and replace it if it's rough.
Tighten and re-check
Tighten the crank bolts to Shimano's torque with a clean, lightly greased taper, then re-check them after the first ride or two, as square taper arms can settle in.
The world's biggest maker of bike components.
Shimano was founded in Sakai, Japan in 1921 and is now the world's largest maker of bicycle drivetrain and brake components. Acera is its dependable entry-level mountain bike group.
