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OK - got a frame with cranks fitted (Raceface XC Evolve) that I've subsequently built up and to begin with the cranks span freely no problems. Three rides later (the last one admittedly fairly wet but nothing out of the ordinary) and the cranks are stiff as ****. They refuse to spin backwards for instance. The wheels spin absolutely fine so I have concluded the cranks are what's stiff, you can feel resistance when turning.
I'm more than prepared to take them to bits, grease and re-assemble however it seems incredible they they have deteriorated from fully functioning so quickly after such little mileage.
Has anyone experienced anything similar and is there anything I should look out for? Thanks in advance.
RF are known for being pretty poopy for durability of BB bearings... 🙁 If they are new, can you not warranty them?
RF external BB cranks require the washers etc are all correct. Have you measured your BB shell, checked you have all the right spacers in the right places etc. And they're tightened to spec (which it *tight* IIRC).
Not new, I bought the frame with the cranks already fitted off someone on eBay - all is fine apart from that, it wasn't a shady deal or anything! Well, as far as I know 😯
Spacers all seem to be there: two on drive side, one on the other...
If a thorough clean doesn't do the trick does it sound like new BB reqd then?? And if so, are they HT2 or is RF proprietary in any way?
If it was running free to start with then it's probably the bearings shot. Shimano BBs swap straight over with the same tools, but for Race Face chainsets it's worth getting the BB shell faced so it's not over it's official size(even by fractions of a mm)as this can preload the bearings and destroy them in no time.
Interesting, cheers. I've ordered a cheap HT2/RF compatible BB (from SSC) to swap over and will investigate the facing bit too with a view to a long(er) term solution.