BikeNC

Yep, my BB is history! It has 1339 road miles and 287 trainer miles! I noticed last week that there was a popping, cracking sound when I turned the cranks. I thought it was interaction between my cleats and pedals, so I tightened them up. I still heard the same cracking sounds, so I put on my sneakers, and tried it with the same results. By then I figured it had to be the BB, so I removed the chain from the chain ring, and spun the pedals. I heard a grinding, roaring sound. Not good! I removed the non-drive side and removed the unsealed bearings, along with chunks of metal! The bearings were not dry, and had plenty of grease. I then removed the drive side, which is sealed. According to the bike spec sheet the BB is a semi-cartridge.

I was involved in a crash, a couple of months ago, that resulted in me and the bike at the bottom of a embankment. I wound up with a broken collar bone, and a few scraps and bruises, but the bike appeared to be OK, with the exception of the brifters and handle bars getting knocked out of line, and the rear wheel was slightly out of true. After a month of recovery, I got the doctor's OK to start training. I fixed the brifters, bars and the rear wheel, and bought a Nashbar fluid trainer to set the bike on. Everything was going fine until last week! I'm thinking that the bike may have suffered a catastrophic blow to the crank, that may have damaged the BB. After all, the impact was strong enough to break my left clavicle, and the damaged unsealed bearings were on the left side, of the bike.Coincidence?....I think not!

The damage was apparently too small to notice right away, but when I started training it probably became worse until I noticed it last week. All of this is just speculation, of course. Anyway, I ordered a Nashbar BB, because it was the closest size I could get to the original BB. The Nashbar has a 1mm shorter axle than the original. I think the BB is an odd size, because I can't find a 116mm axle, anywhere! The closest size anyone makes is 115mm. I hope the Nashbar brand performs & holds up OK. I guess time will tell.
Mike

HillRider

You might have the frame's bottom bracket shell checked by a bike shop for parallel faces, alignment and thread quality. It's possible your accident damaged the shell itself which led to the rapid bb bearing failure. If the shell was ovalized or otherwise distorted it will just ruin the new bb in short order.

BikeNC

Thanks, for the advice. Man!....I hope it's not that!
Mike

acorn_user

Just on a side not, the picture is of a Tange Seiki bottom bracket. Those are pretty good most of the time.

I_bRAD

How 'bout replacing the smashed cage and bearings from the non drive side with 11 1/4" balls?
I bet that'd do you fine for a lot less trouble

BikeNC

Really? I wasn't sure how the Tange compared to the other BBs.
Mike

erader

i had a cheap generic BB blow out on me on the first ride. everything just dumped out on one side of the BB.

i had a phil wood go out at 7k miles.

i've never had a problem with shimano cartridges, and i'll use one of those before anything else.

ed rader

BikeNC

Where can I get the 1/4" balls and cage? Also, how can I tell if the drive side is undamaged and suitable for reuse? Thanks,
Mike

I_bRAD

skip the cage. Get the ball bearings at your local bike repair shop. You'll need grease too. Or ask them to do it.

Bob Dopolina 

I doubt the crash was the source of the problem. You would have to have a catastrophic crash to damage a BB shell. I think you may be on the money though regarding the facing or alignment of the shell.

Most frame makes assume that the frame will be chased and faced by the shop that builds the bike. Factories NEVER chase and face BB's so any complete bike you buy could probably use it.

Even if the paint on the face of the shell is uneven or too thick, it can cause alignment issues. I would at least get this checked before you slap in a new BB, just in case.

Soil_Sampler

https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...TH-7420AL68116

BikeNC

Thanks guys, for the help. I'm a noobie, when it comes to bicycle mechanics
Mike

BikeNC

WOW! Thanks! I should have came to you guys before I ordered the Nashbar 68x115 BB
Mike