Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 49 total)
  • **** Bottom Brackets. AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
  • binners
    Full Member

    Surely to Christ it isn’t beyond the wit and wisdom of some manufacturer to produce a **** bottom bracket that doesn’t **** lunch itself after a few months. Normally for no apparent reason whatsoever.

    We can discount isis as a sick joke obviously, but I’ve tried the lot, Apart from the ridiculously expensive stuff, and a few months is the most I can get out of one.

    I’ve recently resorted to a Howitzer Bottom Bracket, paired with some Holzfeller cranks. I thought, wrongly as it turns out, that seeing as its a **** enormous piece of Cromoly with the the biggest ****-off external bearings known to man, and it weighs the same as the rest of the bike, that it might at least make a passable attempt at longevity. But alas no.

    Its just let go with an almighty CRUNCH while leisurely pootling down the road. Its now flapping around like a maxi-dress in a typhoon! And sounds like 10 skeletons having an orgy in a biscuit tin!! The frame was faced properly at the LBS when it was fitted so its not that. I **** well give up!

    Is there anything out there that actually works? Its costing me a **** fortune. And Its driving me up the **** wall.

    I suspect I’m going to be pointed in towards the door marked ‘very expensive’

    trailmonkey
    Full Member

    my howitzer lasted for ages. you’ve obviously spazzed yours up.

    timbur
    Free Member

    Blimey. Have you got legs like Roberto Carlos?

    Learn to spin a bit more?

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    stcolin
    Free Member

    I feel your frustration. After renewing my GXP cups on my Meta about 3 months ago, I thought that would be me for another 18 months or so. No, they shat themselves about 2 weeks ago. Now on Shimano externals. Lets hope they fare better.

    molgrips
    Free Member

    I don’t have this problem…. btw the best one I found was Arcos, also available in ceramic. Are you doing something wrong maybe?

    PJM1974
    Free Member

    Top ranting effort!

    I think many of us share that particular pain, especially those who’ve used bottom brackets manufactured by a certain well known recently reanimated Canadian brand.

    JonR
    Free Member

    Blimey. Have you got legs like Roberto Carlos?

    Learn to spin a bit more?

    My guess is half of stw will not get this referrence.

    Why not get a hope one where you can change your own barings and buy in a job lot of them?

    turtleheading
    Free Member

    High five for the rant!

    professorfaceplant
    Free Member

    I’ve been havin’ massive trouble with mine, 3 times they’ve gone back, not sure pushfit BB’s are that great. I got told by the mechaic that water had got in and brought in dirt with it which grinds away the seals which is what let go.

    i suspect that a combo of degreaser then GT85 spray is probably eating away at the factory sealants causing the BB to fail,

    my advice would be to clean the BB with a damp sponge, keep pressure washers and hoses well away and don’t coat in GT85, WD40, etc and be careful when degreasing the chain and chain rings

    good luck,

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    Binners, this won’t help at all, but that’s why I’ll tell you anyway; my super-lightweight Ti axled ISIS BB is still working after 8 years or so. Recently seemed a bit worn, bit of play in it, so I packed it with grease and it’s fine. Should be able to get 10 years out of it I reckon.

    Worst is, I’m younger, better looking and a better rider than you. 😐

    Sorry mate, but that’s how it is. For you, life’s crap. Hey ho…

    Console yourself by torturing Hora. That’ll make you feel better. 🙂

    tomaso
    Free Member

    Hope ones can just have the cartridge bearings swapped out for a few quid for steel ones. A guy I ride with has ceramic Hope BB and its lasted 18 months and he is a big lad.

    molgrips
    Free Member

    Elf, a slip of a boy such as yourself can’t generate enough torque to trouble even an ISIS BB – this is no help to those of us better endowed in the muscle department.

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    Mol my power-to-weight ratio is phenomenal. But then so are my bike skilz dem. I float over things, rather than just crash through them with all the grace and finesse of a hippopotamus on Ketamine.

    Binners doesn’t want to hear this, but he needs to.

    RealMan
    Free Member

    User error?

    willyboy
    Free Member

    You lot wanna get upgrading – everyone knows that the the future is square taper 😀

    richc
    Free Member

    just buy an acros, yes they are £70 but they have a 2 year warranty as seem to just go on and on.

    Buy cheap, buy twice (or 4 or 5 times with BB’s)

    aracer
    Free Member

    Binners, this won’t help at all, but that’s why I’ll tell you anyway; my super-lightweight Ti axled ISIS BB is still working after 8 years or so. Recently seemed a bit worn, bit of play in it, so I packed it with grease and it’s fine. Should be able to get 10 years out of it I reckon

    Pah – I’ve had my lightweight cromo axle ISIS BB for 16 years and it’s still going strong. Clearly I’m a far better rider than you.

    69er
    Free Member

    I use Royce. Never had a problem. Don’t jump much though 😯

    portlyone
    Full Member

    Got an XTR BB from Rose for £20 recently.

    bluebird
    Free Member

    WOW! Trashing a Howitzer in 3 months is impressive.

    You’re not cleaning you BB with loads of degreaser and a high pressure hose on a regular basis are you?

    binners
    Full Member

    I float over things, rather than just crash through them with all the grace and finesse of a hippopotamus on Ketamine.

    I can float over things too Fred. A bit like the Hindenburg

    binners
    Full Member

    Bluebird. I rarely clean my bike. So overdosing on GT85 definitely isn’t the issue. Perhaps being caked in mud 24/7 might be though. Hmmmmmmmmmm

    Elfinsafety
    Free Member

    Pah – I’ve had my lightweight cromo axle ISIS BB for 16 years and it’s still going strong. Clearly I’m a far better rider than you.

    🙁

    I think the facts speak for themselves. I bow down to your superior greatness…

    Or I would, had ISIS actually been around that long. 😉

    aracer
    Free Member

    It’s a little known fact that I invented ISIS and Chris King stole the idea from me a few years later.

    binners
    Full Member

    It was you who invented ISIS? I feel a lynch mob coming on. Grab your pitchforks folks!!!

    D0NK
    Full Member

    richc – Member

    just buy an acros, yes they are £70 but they have a 2 year warranty as seem to just go on and onAny limitations to the warranty and has anyone used it? £70 is a LOT for bearings but 2yr warranty I’d be tempted to have a go on my SS slop slurry and winter bike. Oh and does 2 year warranty means 2 years form me dropping £70 or 2yrs per BB? ie if the first one fails after 1 year do I get another 2 years on the second or just 1 more year?

    Junkyard
    Free Member

    And sounds like 10 skeletons having an orgy in a biscuit tin!!

    PMSL proper loud laugh Superb
    No suggestions tbh I am nowt but a slip of a lad and i reckon on 12 mths absolute tops and rarely get that they are rubbish. About to get an expensive one then go back to square taper if it does not work

    TooTall
    Free Member

    I’m a lumbering oaf with no finesse on a bike. I’m baffled by your BB failures. Please tell me what I am doing wrong and help me biff more parts so I too can rant!

    grum
    Free Member

    Hope here – new bearings aren’t that much, haven’t needed any yet.

    Could it be to do with the threads on your frame being wonky/not faced or something?

    D0NK
    Full Member

    OP said already faced, what frame binners?

    Can’t find where to even buy acros, balfa the distributors appear to have had a server meltdown – or are out of business, anyone know? Or which shops stock acros?

    _tom_
    Free Member

    Isis isn’t that bad, the one I had lasted ages and I’m quite lazy with maintenance.

    binners
    Full Member

    Its an Intense 5.5 Frame. Its been faced and properly fitted. I’ve just ordered another Howitzer BB. No choice really. If I go with anything other than a Howitzer then I’ll have to junk the cranks. And thy’re nearly bloody new.

    65 effing quid!!! I’m going to sit in the corner and sulk for the rest of the afternoon. Harumph! ;(

    molgrips
    Free Member

    Cyclopedia in Cardiff 🙂

    richc
    Free Member

    Acros would be your best bet for the warranty questions, I’ve had one 18 months and its been faultless so I don’t know about the warranty.

    Prior to the Acros BB, I was changing them every 3 months, as was a mate who has also switched, and never looked back.

    TuckerUK
    Free Member

    Surely to Christ it isn’t beyond the wit and wisdom of some manufacturer to produce a **** bottom bracket that doesn’t **** lunch itself after a few months. Normally for no apparent reason whatsoever.

    My old square taper Shimano XT is over 10 year old and on my sons bike now, it’s third home.

    coolhandluke
    Free Member

    My external BB’s needed replacing (again) and I needed new chain rings too really so I went and bought a Middleburn crank and rings and shimano square taper BB.

    Much happier. its dead smooth too.

    captain-slow
    Free Member

    Got fed up of Raceface ones falling apart after 6-9 months and bought Superstar (there I’ve said it!) Aerozine HTII 2 years ago. Forgotten it is there, which is the best recommendation I can make for a BB

    fivespot
    Free Member

    What you need is a BB that can be re-lubed, with a protective disc to help keep crap out too 8)

    Xylene
    Free Member

    I thought my bike was getting harder to ride up hills in Feb/March. After putting it away and not being able to go out on it due to impending baby etc it sat for about 8 weeks.

    I went out to use it and thought it felt even harder to pedal than before. ON examining it, I found that the bottom bracket was only allowing the pedals to turn if i had my full weight on them.

    ROsebike sorted me out with an xtr one. Hopefully it will last another year or so as well.

Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 49 total)

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