Installation instructions
PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW, BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE REST OF THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS!
Let me start of by saying the following: Please, pretty please – DON’T rush through this because you want to ride your bike RIGHT NOW. Set aside a full hour (or more) to watch all the videos that are relevant to your particular bike, don’t skip through them, don’t ignore things that I say or ways I show you how to do something. Everything is there for a specific reason and no matter how competent of a mechanic you consider yourself to be – BELIEVE ME, you are not unless you’ve spent a large amount of time assembling gearboxes made of plastic. PLANET3 is a rather simple device and for the intended loads and use – it will work forever IF installed properly; but it requires a very precise gap between the two main parts which should NEVER be in contact. A rather large number of people who proclaim themselves to be qualified auto mechanics, electrical engineers, architects, bike mechanics (especially), car restaurateurs and airplane technicians – have gotten this wrong and required a replacement. Perform the “empty device test” and make sure everything is seated flush and perfectly parallel. If you do this, I guarantee you a SUPER NICE experience with your PLANET3 as I’ve had mine transferred from bike-to-bike on 3 bikes with more than 9300 km of trouble-free riding. It’s really not complicated, you just can’t be a heavy-handed Thor who’s used to working with a hammer and expect a miracle from a plastic device that doesn’t handle friction well.
Please note that 2021 Specialized Levo Comp has a CenterLock hub and will be listed below as a separate bike due to differences in PLANET3 design for its hub and brake rotor combination.
To deal with a rather specific and very rare problem of bolt-head eccentricity during tightening; there has been an update to the sun gear design of the PLANET3 in May 2020 and all of the devices were updated to the same 3-bolt design. The following video explains the differences and in it I show you two ways to install it; one of which is to press-fit the sun gear on top of the bolt heads – I’d ask you NOT to do this, but instead place the sun gear on top first and then drive the 3 provided bolts through it. This will ensure it’s flat against the rotor because users were known to leave it up in the air a bit at one of the bolt heads which can cause it to contact the ring gear during rotation. Also, if using a Shimano brake rotor – you have to remove their garbage interlocking washers so that there’s NOTHING on the surface of the rotor where the sun gear sits.
Even though I go into SOME DETAIL in the installation instructions videos above, I had to record a few short videos that I slapped together into one “diagnostics” video listed below because users seemed to have trouble with the installation depth of the ring gear. This was mostly because they chose to ignore my “gentle requests” regarding installation depth, but for some there were frame defects involved (weld at the rear dropout that joins the seat stay and the chain stay would be out of tolerance and in contact with the PLANET3 once the axle is tightened).
So, during your installation I’d kindly ask you to perform the “empty device” test as outlined at the end of the video and if there is NO scraping sounds of plastic on plastic – you’re good to go, your frame is not at risk, you have correctly gauged the installation depth of the ring gear and PLANET3 should never wear out. Also, the thing that I forgot to note in the videos is – it can all go wrong in the last step when you put the wheel back into the bike if you bang the PLANET3 ring gear against the frame/sensor/anywhere when you’re aiming the disc into the calipers. So, attention & gentleness – just like with moose meat and Swedish ladies.
If you hear the sound of the plastic of plastic scrape from the end of the diagnostics video where I push the ring gear with my finger against the sun gear – stop, take the rear wheel out of the bike, inspect the ring gear’s installation depth (pull it back a little and re-set) and check if the sun gear is flush against the rotor all around the circumference.
For the 2021 Specialized Levo Comp you start the installation with the general Levo Gen2 6-bolt video listed below and follow it up to the sensor carrier replacement (first step).
Because I’m currently too lazy busy to record a specific video for the 2021 Levo Comp, please follow the Creo SL video from the timecode below because the procedure is absolutely identical. Also, ignore all the “end cap replacement” talk. The Shimano FH-MT510-B hub that’s on the 2021 Levo Comp is compatible with the PLANET3 outright. Just make sure to wipe it clean of any grease with a paper towel and degreaser!
Even though I go into SOME DETAIL in the installation instructions videos above, it might still be a good idea to watch the “slapped together” “diagnostics” video listed below even though it’s for a 6-bolt design and not CenterLock. Just so you can be sure to avoid the common “ring gear installation depth” problem and make sure there are no drop-out defects on the frame itself (no scraping noise as you tighten the axle and spin the wheel).
So, during your installation I’d kindly ask you to perform the “empty device” test as outlined at the end of the video and if there is NO scraping sounds of plastic on plastic – you’re good to go, your frame is not at risk, you have correctly gauged the installation depth of the ring gear and PLANET3 should never wear out. Also, the thing that I forgot to note in the videos is – it can all go wrong in the last step when you put the wheel back into the bike if you bang the PLANET3 ring gear against the frame/sensor/anywhere when you’re aiming the disc into the calipers. So, attention & gentleness – just like with moose meat and Swedish ladies.
If you hear the sound of the plastic of plastic scrape from the end of the diagnostics video where I push the ring gear with my finger against the sun gear – stop, take the rear wheel out of the bike, inspect the ring gear’s installation depth (pull it back a little and re-set) and check if the sun gear is flush against the rotor all around the circumference.
If you have ordered a dual planet configuration (two planets inside the device means half the ratio and half the speed increase) please watch the following video for a reference on what to do.
Creo SL features a CenterLock hub with a corresponding PLANET3 design. It should be noted that PLANET3 for the Creo SL is not compatible with 6-bolt hubs due to size restrictions imposed by the frame geometry. This just means that those who plan to upgrade their wheelset – should stick with a CenterLock hub preferably made by DT Swiss.
If you have ordered a dual planet configuration (two planets inside the device means half the ratio and half the speed increase) please watch the following video for a reference on what to do.
It seems that the Creo SL suffers from some phantom electrical issues in 3-4% of bikes out there. What does this mean? Most Creo’s when fitted with a PLANET3 – work beautifully, but 3-4% of the time the speed sensor cable is either too insensitive or at the verge of death even from new. I’ve explained in more detail in the video below, along with what exactly you can do to test/confirm this situation.
The problem is – it will still work with the stock magnet configuration for a while after it starts to have intermittent problems with the PLANET3. But then it will stop working even with the stock magnet (which is just stronger and still able to trigger the failing sensor’s reed switch for a whole). However, 100% of the time when the problematic cable was replaced (be it the battery-to-motor lead, TCU lead or speed sensor) – PLANET3 went back to working perfectly. Basically, as hard it is to hear this – it’s a bike problem and not a PLANET3 problem. If PLANET3 works once, it works always as it’s rather simple and unless all the internals are crushed and melted – there’s nothing in it that “fails for no apparent reason” (which can’t be said for electronics :p).
If you have a Specialized Vado, Como, Levo HT, Levo Gen1 or Kenevo Gen1 – you will not need a replacement sensor carrier and your PLANET3 will arrive without one. Your sensor is located in the dropout itself in its designated location and cannot be relocated; however, your PLANET3 device is also larger in diameter and takes this into account. Simply skip the first step of the video installation instructions (sensor carrier replacement) and continue with the hub part of the installation. Also, if you have a Shimano brake rotor on the bike – please remove all of their interlocking washers that are under the bolt heads. The upper surface of the rotor has to be clean of everything!
To deal with a rather specific and very rare problem of bolt-head eccentricity during tightening; there has been an update to the sun gear design of the PLANET3 in May 2020 and all of the devices were updated to the same 3-bolt design. The following video explains the differences and in it I show you two ways to install it; one of which is to press-fit the sun gear on top of the bolt heads – I’d ask you NOT to do this, but instead place the sun gear on top first and then drive the 3 provided bolts through it. This will ensure it’s flat against the rotor because users were known to leave it up in the air a bit at one of the bolt heads which can cause it to contact the ring gear during rotation.
Even though I go into SOME DETAIL in the installation instructions videos above, I had to record a few short videos that I slapped together into one “diagnostics” video listed below because users seemed to have trouble with the installation depth of the ring gear. This was mostly because they chose to ignore my “gentle requests” regarding installation depth, but for some there were frame defects involved (weld at the rear dropout that joins the seat stay and the chain stay would be out of tolerance and in contact with the PLANET3 once the axle is tightened).
So, during your installation I’d kindly ask you to perform the “empty device” test as outlined at the end of the video and if there is NO scraping sounds of plastic on plastic – you’re good to go, your frame is not at risk, you have correctly gauged the installation depth of the ring gear and PLANET3 should never wear out. Also, the thing that I forgot to note in the videos is – it can all go wrong in the last step when you put the wheel back into the bike if you bang the PLANET3 ring gear against the frame/sensor/anywhere when you’re aiming the disc into the calipers. So, attention & gentleness – just like with moose meat and Swedish ladies.
If you hear the sound of the plastic of plastic scrape from the end of the diagnostics video where I push the ring gear with my finger against the sun gear – stop, take the rear wheel out of the bike, inspect the ring gear’s installation depth (pull it back a little and re-set) and check if the sun gear is flush against the rotor all around the circumference.
Please excuse the audio problems in the video. Also, in the video I press-fit the sun gear on top of the bolt heads – I’d ask you NOT to do this, but instead place the sun gear on top first and then drive the 3 provided bolts through it. This will ensure it’s flat against the rotor because users were known to leave it up in the air a bit at one of the bolt heads which can cause it to contact the ring gear during rotation.
Even though I go into SOME DETAIL in the installation instructions video above, I had to record a few short videos that I slapped together into one “diagnostics” video listed below because users seemed to have trouble with the installation depth of the ring gear. This was mostly because they chose to ignore my “gentle requests” regarding installation depth, but for some there were frame defects involved (weld at the rear dropout that joins the seat stay and the chain stay would be out of tolerance and in contact with the PLANET3 once the axle is tightened).
So, during your installation I’d kindly ask you to perform the “empty device” test as outlined at the end of the video and if there is NO scraping sounds of plastic on plastic – you’re good to go, your frame is not at risk, you have correctly gauged the installation depth of the ring gear and PLANET3 should never wear out. Also, the thing that I forgot to note in the videos is – it can all go wrong in the last step when you put the wheel back into the bike if you bang the PLANET3 ring gear against the frame/sensor/anywhere when you’re aiming the disc into the calipers. So, attention & gentleness – just like with moose meat and Swedish ladies.
If you hear the sound of the plastic of plastic scrape from the end of the diagnostics video where I push the ring gear with my finger against the sun gear – stop, take the rear wheel out of the bike, inspect the ring gear’s installation depth (pull it back a little and re-set) and check if the sun gear is flush against the rotor all around the circumference.
Some lower spec models (A50 and A70) come equipped with Shimano CenterLock hubs. Specifically, the FH-MT400-B (which requires an end cap replacement as shown in the video) and FH-MT510-B (on an Instinct BC Edition) which is outright compatible without a need for an end cap replacement.
Even though I go into SOME DETAIL in the installation instructions videos above, it might still be a good idea to watch the slapped-together “diagnostics” video listed below even though it’s for a 6-bolt design and not CenterLock. Just so you can be sure to avoid the common “ring gear installation depth” problem and make sure there are no drop-out defects on the frame itself (no scraping noise as you tighten the axle and spin the wheel).
So, during your installation I’d kindly ask you to perform the “empty device” test as outlined at the end of the video and if there is NO scraping sounds of plastic on plastic – you’re good to go, your frame is not at risk, you have correctly gauged the installation depth of the ring gear and PLANET3 should never wear out. Also, the thing that I forgot to note in the videos is – it can all go wrong in the last step when you put the wheel back into the bike if you bang the PLANET3 ring gear against the frame/sensor/anywhere when you’re aiming the disc into the calipers. So, attention & gentleness – just like with moose meat and Swedish ladies.
If you hear the sound of the plastic of plastic scrape from the end of the diagnostics video where I push the ring gear with my finger against the sun gear – stop, take the rear wheel out of the bike, inspect the ring gear’s installation depth (pull it back a little and re-set) and check if the sun gear is flush against the rotor all around the circumference.
I’m sorry Giant owners, I haven’t recorded a video with your bikes because the procedure is identical for the Rocky Mountain and Giant in almost all aspects. So, you’ll make due with the RM installation instructions and please excuse the poor audio. Also, for the Giant a dual planet configuration is mandatory and the device will ship as such (you can read about why in the Giant blog post). Be careful to remove the external position checking magnets after verifying that the internal ones are at 180° exactly.
One difference to note is the eTracker boost hub. It requires a replacement end cap which relocates the wrench flats out of the way of the PLANET3 ring gear. You will receive this with your PLANET3 if you have selected an eTracker hub in the product configuration. As far as the replacement goes, you’ll need two 17 mm cone wrenches to remove the original and replace with the one I send (if the braking side is the one to come loose first). If the drive side becomes loose instead, then it’s a bit of a hassle: cassette tool and chain whip are needed, remove the cassette, remove the drive side end cap, get a 12 mm allen key (rather huge), stick it in the axle, then remove the braking side end cap, use Loctite to re-fit and tighten the drive side while holding the other side with the aforementioned 12 mm allen, then finally fit the braking side replacement end cap that I’ll send – also Loctite on the threads. Torque to use is like this: tighten until snug, then another 30°.
Even though I go into SOME DETAIL in the installation instructions video above, I had to record a few short videos that I slapped together into one “diagnostics” video listed below because users seemed to have trouble with the installation depth of the ring gear. This was mostly because they chose to ignore my “gentle requests” regarding installation depth, but for some there were frame defects involved (weld at the rear dropout that joins the seat stay and the chain stay would be out of tolerance and in contact with the PLANET3 once the axle is tightened).
So, during your installation I’d kindly ask you to perform the “empty device” test as outlined at the end of the video and if there is NO scraping sounds of plastic on plastic – you’re good to go, your frame is not at risk, you have correctly gauged the installation depth of the ring gear and PLANET3 should never wear out. Also, the thing that I forgot to note in the videos is – it can all go wrong in the last step when you put the wheel back into the bike if you bang the PLANET3 ring gear against the frame/sensor/anywhere when you’re aiming the disc into the calipers. So, attention & gentleness – just like with moose meat and Swedish ladies.
If you hear the sound of the plastic of plastic scrape from the end of the diagnostics video where I push the ring gear with my finger against the sun gear – stop, take the rear wheel out of the bike, inspect the ring gear’s installation depth (pull it back a little and re-set) and check if the sun gear is flush against the rotor all around the circumference.
I’m sorry Giant owners, I haven’t recorded a video with your bikes because the procedure is identical for the Rocky Mountain and Giant in almost all aspects. So, you’ll make due with the RM installation instructions and please excuse the poor audio. Also, for the Giant a dual planet configuration is mandatory and the device will ship as such (you can read about why in the Giant blog post). Be careful to remove the external position checking magnets after verifying that the internal ones are at 180° exactly.
Also, ignore all the “end cap replacement” talk at the start of the video! The Shimano FH-MT510-B hub that’s on the 2020 Trance E+ 2 Pro; and the FH-MT410-B that’s on the 2021 Trance X E+ 2 and 3 are both compatible with the PLANET3 outright. Just make sure to wipe it clean of any grease with a paper towel and degreaser!
Even though I go into SOME DETAIL in the installation instructions videos above, it might still be a good idea to watch the slapped-together “diagnostics” video listed below even though it’s for a 6-bolt design and not CenterLock. Just so you can be sure to avoid the common “ring gear installation depth” problem and make sure there are no drop-out defects on the frame itself (no scraping noise as you tighten the axle and spin the wheel).
So, during your installation I’d kindly ask you to perform the “empty device” test as outlined at the end of the video and if there is NO scraping sounds of plastic on plastic – you’re good to go, your frame is not at risk, you have correctly gauged the installation depth of the ring gear and PLANET3 should never wear out. Also, the thing that I forgot to note in the videos is – it can all go wrong in the last step when you put the wheel back into the bike if you bang the PLANET3 ring gear against the frame/sensor/anywhere when you’re aiming the disc into the calipers. So, attention & gentleness – just like with moose meat and Swedish ladies.
If you hear the sound of the plastic of plastic scrape from the end of the diagnostics video where I push the ring gear with my finger against the sun gear – stop, take the rear wheel out of the bike, inspect the ring gear’s installation depth (pull it back a little and re-set) and check if the sun gear is flush against the rotor all around the circumference.
If you have selected a Hope Pro4 hub during your product configuration, you will receive a CNC machined replacement end cap that ensures compatibility with the PLANET3.
The replacement procedure is rather simple. The original should pull off just with fingers, but sometimes the o-ring that holds it in place can be a bit stuck on there. If that’s the case, you can either use a plastic rod (10 mm diameter) to punch it out from the other side by catching the edge OR just wrap some leather or an old innertube around the end cap and use pliers. Just be careful not to damage it and DON’T use a cloth or something like that. The steel pliers will push the fibers aside and you’ll scratch it up. The replacement I sent has the same o-ring and has been pre-greased for your pleasure, it should go on smoothly with a push of a thumb.
If you have selected a Hope Floating brake rotor during your product configuration, you will receive a special (thinner) version of the PLANET3 which also says “hope” on the ring gear (cover). It’s CRUCIAL that you pay attention to the gap between the ring gear and the sun gear according to the diagnostics video (and installation instructions video) listed above because this device is even more sensitive to the squeezing of the planet since it’s 0,50mm thinner than the regular version.
Also, with your PLANET3 you will receive an adapter as pictured above which is NOT to be used with the Hope Floating rotor – it is there in case you switch to any other “regular” rotor on the market and you simply place it between the rotor and the sun gear. It provides 0,6 mm extra height so the sun gear can clear the bolt heads. The design relies on the recessed holes on the Hope Floating rotor spider to decrease the thickness even further, but if used on a flat one-piece rotor, the bolt heads would protrude above the top surface of the sun gear resulting in immediate destruction of the planet as it goes around.