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Help! Changing the bearings on a Wheels mfg bottom bracket (BB86/92) and the rubber O-ring that sits between the inner and outer tube has snapped. I couldn't find any online, plenty of dust seals and spacers, but no O-rings. Or places that have had them but are out of stock.
I measured the snapped one as best I could and bought a couple of different sizes from a bearing supplier. 24mm OD, 2mm & 1.5mm cross section. Annoyingly, the 1.5mm is too small (tubes rattle) and the 2mm too big (tubes won't fit together)! They don't sell an in-between size.
I went to my LBS (Pearce Cycles) who were really helpful. They had a rummage through all their O rings but couldn't find the right size. They reckon because it's US made, it's some weird imperial size. Any ideas where I can get one?
Put the broken o ring back on with the split at the bottom, single wrap of ptfe tape, to hold it in place, bit of grease smeared around it, and refit it.
Expensive to solve a single issue but handy to have in reserve for other o ring related disasters:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/arctic-hayes-imperial-o-ring-selection-box-225-pcs/4874j
Thanks, both viable options. It does fit back together with the broken ring and a bit of grease. I hadn't thought of PTFE tape. I'll have a closer look at the sizes on that Screwfix selection box to see if one might fit. It'd be a pisser to buy it and then find none fit!
I've got that selection box, if you find one that's the right size I'm happy to send it over.
Could it be the '24mm ID Outer Silicone Seal' listed in their service kit which unfortunately doesn't give all the dimensions? The items listed do all appear to be metric sizes though
https://wheelsmfg.com/products/bottom-bracket-parts/seals-orings/bottom-bracket-service-kit.html
Can't find a clearer shot of the box lid, that may have the details
or there is a
7/8"x1/16" O-Ring
in the kit but that is notably smaller than 24mm (about 22.225 x 1.5875)
I’ve got that selection box, if you find one that’s the right size I’m happy to send it over.
That's a really kind offer thanks 👍 Tbh though I can't work out which one might fit!
Could it be the ’24mm ID Outer Silicone Seal’ listed in their service kit
Maybe? But I can't find one in stock anywhere and as you say, without the other dimension I can't source one elsewhere. Sub-optimal, but I've put it back together with the broken O-ring and a load of grease. It does it's job of providing a friction fit between the inner and outer tubes. I'll keep an eye out for one for the next time I change the bearings.
Contact Wheels Manufacturing directly, usually very good or Freewheel/Madison, the UK distributor, usually excellent!
Have you got a local hardware shop? They'll have a massive selection box of o rings below the counter and will find the one that fits if you take the bits of BB in.
Does this help dude?
There's a list of o-rings on there.
^ well done, I think you’ve nailed it 👍
There's usually spares in box no.
I have a spares though might only be for spacers :/
I'd happily send one though mines for bsa threaded 30mm.
RM, good find. That tells me exactly what size I need. Perfect, thanks mate 👍
dartdude cheers for the offer, but now I know the exact size, I should be able to order one.
No worries bud. Glad to help.
😎😎
Inbox me if needed and I'll rummage in the goodies box next to me 😉