Where the heck am I going wrong with BBs? I made the mistake of putting an SSC on my Santa Cruz Superlight last year - it lasted 1.5 rides. I've said on here before, that I'd rather it had been one ride, as at least I wouldn't have had it fall apart mid ride on the second.
Prior to that, ever since I'd run HTII BBs, I'd run RaceFace ones - and got through two in about 3 years riding in the Peak. I thought that 2 in 3 years was a bit rich to be honest, so this time around, I plumped for a Hope one, expecting similar sealing performance to that from their hubs - which are the absolute dogs B's in my opinion.
My LBS (who I believe are top, top mechanics) fitted the Hope Stainless BB for me (removing any potential for ham fisted home mechanic related problems), but after one ride I went back in as it was grinding and bone dry. They stripped and regreased it for me, but now, no more than 4 or 5 rides later, it's creaking more than my knees, so I took it apart last night and water poured out. The bearings feel slack and it makes a low rumbling noise.
Should I be stripping it after every ride? Are the bearings serviceable? Should I be greasing it a lot? What am I *not getting*? I thought they had labyrinth seals (sp?) to stop this happening? I've never, ever, ever, touched the hubs on my three pairs of wheels that get used all the time - XC, Pro II and Pro III SP - but the BB really doesn't seem that hot.
I know that HTII has many, many problems, but I thought a Hope would be so much better than anything else. If I'm not doing anything wrong - and I accept that I may be - what are my options for BBs? I've got a Shimano Square Taper on the singlespeed with the Middleburn cranks that's working ok, but I can't face the prospect of buying a whole new chainset AND sodding BB....
<and chill>
PS: I've never put a pressure washer anywhere near the bike, never used any rocks on it and don't habitually ride through streams - before anyone asks. 🙂
External BB's seem to be hydrophilic. One of my bikes is only used in dry weather, probably sees 200 miles a year, and the BB is dead after one wet ride. I'm still only half way through the original chain! This is not progress, IMHO. Another bike has ISIS, is three years old and has done maybe 2000 miles no problem; also have a 1998 bike wwith square taper BB still as good as new after God knows how many miles in all weathers. You do the math (as they say).
Your BB fills up with the water that gets into your frame via the seatpost and the headset. The answer is to drill a hole in the BB to let the water out. Trek and Scott roadbikes have holes for this purpose...
crikey - MemberYour BB fills up with the water that gets into your frame via the seatpost and the headset. The answer is to drill a hole in the BB to let the water out. Trek and Scott roadbikes have holes for this purpose...
That's just what our old friend at SSC said to me - but I'm just not 100% about it as being the cause. I'm not a massive fan of riding in the rain - especially off road, and have the seat tube / post area packed full of grease (the Pace stuff). I do take the post out fairly frequently and there's no evidence of the grease getting washed down inside the tube.
I hear what you say, and am aware of certain brands having the holes - and other people 'retro fitting' them to their frames, but isn't it more likely that the seals on the BB just aren't all that? If so, why on earth not? The water poured out when I took the first BB cup out last night. When I wash the bike, I use the hose on it, but pretty gently, and not directly at sensitive parts of the frame - I use the Muc Off stuff, so it doesn't need any force to wash the mud off.
umm water will go anywhere you put it force or no force.
Frames cannot generate water; it's getting in from outside, either from riding or washing...
Hose washing / bb full of water - spot the link - it probably is getting in thru the frame / seat post
hmmm - I guess it's not exactly degree level physics then, is it? 😳
So ok - if that's the problem, is it shagging the bearings from the inside / out?
And how does every other b*gger wash their bike then...?! 😐
When you've washed the bike off, remove the seat post and turn the bike upside down, this allows any water thats collected inside the frame, however it's got in, to drain out. I always leave mine upside down overnight once washed.
HTH
Carl
Drill a drain hole in the BB, and be concious when you are washing it.
i never wash mine.
i wit til the crap dries then brush it off.
i never seem to have to replace bb's, bearings etc and i ride at least twice a week all weathers.
It all seems so obvious now... 😳 I'll give it a try at the weekend. Thanks for the advice.
Can I resurrect the bearings - or is it new bearings time / new BB time? Is there supposed to be any side to side play in the race (I mean front to back as you look at the BB in situ, side on).
Defo need the hole drilled in the BB shell. I changed the BB on a friend's Superlight and you should have seen the crap in there. I drilled a 4mm hole and now everything is much freer draining.