After reading some threads on here a while back regarding how crap HT2 BB's are, I thought I'd try a little experiment:
I reset my odometer last time I had one fitted.
All rides since then have been muddy and gritty, but this last BB has recently given up after a mere 250 miles. 
Anyone managed less?
Shimano BB, never jetwashed, if that makes any difference.
I killed a standartd shimano one in about the same time dude... replaced with a hoep one thats still fine after over 1500 miles.
i did for a Race Face one in two weeks, not happy
Aye, old Raceface ones were magic, it was like they were supplied with used bearings.
Shimano Deore's not very durable, used in bad conditions I only got maybe 400 miles out of one of those. SLX/XT is a different story though and lasts long enough that I have no idea how long they last really.
Riding in the Peaks - 6 weeks for a deore HT2 bb. on the flipside i got 18 months out of an XT HT2 bb, just took it out every few rides, wiped the crap off and it lasted ages.
Try returning it as not fit for purpose. that what I would do. Why anyone puts up with that as acceptable is beyond me
FSA Megaexo, lasted probably 200 miles tops before it seized - double o-ring seals my arse.
1 week in the alps, doing about 60 miles a day. I think the earlier ones were terrible but they seem to have improved. I also pack a load of grease in mine every couple of months which seems to work.
I did an FSA BB in about the same mileage (250 on a CX frame) ,as I stupidly thought it was good quality ,so I didn't take it apart and pack it with grease . Full Speed Ahead my Rrrs 
Edit > Benman ,It was also a Megaexo 
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It was the cheaper Deore one, always used XT before this and that's what I've gone for again this time.
Can't remember the last time I changed the square taper BB on the tourer, but it's a good few ears ago now.
Sorry, but that's got to be shite installation.
Sorry, but that's got to be shite installation design 
On a faced frame I got through an old style Raceface BB in a month/about 8 winter rides, albeit a mix of muddy/sand/slop. Been using BETD, send them your BB and it comes back with new bearings fitted, very pleased 
http://www.mountainbikecomponents.co.uk/items.asp?CategoryID=237&Name=Hollowtech+II+bearing+upgrade
Bit worried now ! Just had a new Race Face X type land on the mat, about to replace the Shimano HT2 which was OE on my Trance and done maybe 2000 miles, including last winter in all sorts of mud and clart on our local stuff.
Just couldn't afford a Hope one right now.
Anyone else not happy with X type ?
Not got a torque wrench and concerned about not overloading the bearings. Just how much do I ease back from tight, even if I borrow a T.wrench ?
Truvativ thingy that came with Noir cranks: fitted new the day before the Kielder100. Non drive side siezed solid & driveside full of grit by the finish line.
Quality. 
Superstar one seized solid after one wet ride.
Had a couple of Deores that have been in a year or more now. Bit gritty but I can live with that.
Jetwashes kill bearings. Amazed at those outside Swinnertons blasting away after a ride. That machine must earn them more in repairs, than it costs them to run.
1 week on a Shimano HT2 but that was down to mechanical ineptitude on my part.
I wonder how many HT2 bearing failures are actually down to over tensioning the preload.............
Corectly tensioned the latest one has been good for 3 years.
As to correct tensioning.If you haven`t a torque wrench think of it like a headset.You are only aiming to take up the slack,no more.
Have you tried putting your cranks less tight 
Hundreds of sloppy miles singlespeeding on my HT2 XT BB and still going strong
Thanks J.G.G !
on raceface you need the crank to bottom out at the end of the splines on a raceface crank, but it is just removing slack if youve got a shimano crank.
My first RF X-type BB died after 4 hours of riding 
. Replacement has lasted about 18 months, and I have a few bearings lined up to rebuild them if/when they finally die.
Shimano Deore BB with Race face cranks - still going after 1000+ muddy and grotty miles.
Superstar BB - 8 rides, the 'sister' BB in another bike lasted 6 rides, aprently it was my fault for installing them both incorectly, can't see how, so it's now his fault that I wont buy anything off the thieving ginger twatcrab ever again.
His loss.
I managed one weekend trip to wales, did cyb and llandegla then one trip to the peaks on a deore ht2
to be fair both were very wet, the peaks one was hub deep in places as you can just about see
bb was totally seized by the time i got home
my pro2s were absolutely fine however!
Not a HTII but an FSA Platinum Pro DH ISIS BB once managed to develop play in less than half a mile (from the quarry at innerleithen to the bottom fireroad), didn't even pedal it much. Superstar's ISIS BB is the only ISIS BB that's ever lasted me any notable amount of time
I also use cheapie Deore HTII BBs with Saints on DH bike and hardtail and they last me years. jetwashing and all.
just stripping down a frame and rebuilding onto something new and glorious in end decided to buy a new XT HT BB rather than take out the old one - checked and has done 3000miles+ and is running fine - cx stylee so some road miles - but ride a lot on tracks and in all weathers - have a jet wash but rarely use and then i keep it away from bearings
edit torque wrench user here - not for all stuff but def when fitting BB's
I don't have anything constructive to add but I had to congratulate TINAS on the insult twatcrab.
What I can say is if you think your BB is knackered and making a clicking noise check it is not actually your pedal 
I full expected it to be the Raceface BB I was using to be on the way out after hearing some of the stories on here. It is actually still going strong.
I killed a Race Face BB in less than six months during summer 2006 - the driest in some time. I fitted an XT replacement which clocked the full twelve months which I followed with a no-name cheapie bought of the internet for £15 (Superstar?). I took it off my bike two years and about 2500 miles later!
My Raceface cranks themselves died thanks to the spline interface fretting, so the best thing you can do is put anything Raceface fitted to your bike that might have axles or bearings into a large skip and buy something else instead.
XT one - 3 rides, prob no more than 60 miles. One side seized solid.
Frame had been faced so no issues there. Similar story with other Shimano external BB's, though others prob averaged about 200-300 miles before the excess play did my head in. Maybe it's Peak district mud that Shimano don't like.
Hope Stainless is on 500ish miles... and super smooth.
I have a Shimano Ultegra in the road bike which has seen mainly dry miles, and that is on about 600-700 miles. Still smooth.
Hmm, the XT one in my good bike has been in there over a year at least. Took it out to clean and regrease at the weekend, drive side was smooth as. NDS a little rough. Both repacked with grease prior to the winter slop getting in there.
My SS one lasted about half a dozen winter rides before seizing. Cups live on with new bearings, so not entirely a loss. In its defence, it was the first one I'd ever fitted / used so may have overtightened the preload. Plus i tend to pack them with grease before using, even brand new ones.
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