Karldar

I'm swapping BB's on my bikes(so I can swap cranksets) and the BB-UN52 on my FS was a breeze to uninstall, but I also have a BB-M950 on my HT that almost broke my arm getting it out! I had to use an old handlebar for extra leverage to get the left side loosened. I installed the M950 myself(several years ago) using the provided tool and(I believe) Finish Line Bicycle Grease(thick white stuff) on the threads. When I finally got it out today, which is the first time I've touched it since the initial install, the grease was a dark gray and fairly thin with some gunk in the threads. I suppose I should've checked/lubed the BB at regular intervals? Was the Finish Line a good choice for lubing the threads?

Also, it smelled like something dead/decaying was in there. Kinda like fecal matter or sewage, too. No evidence of that in the BB, tho--that I could see. I've ridden in some rough/nasty stuff over the years, but there didn't seem to be any water in the BB. Any ideas/experience with this? Could it be the grease or was I just lucky enough to get a stinkbomb this time?

sydney

Dead frogs. A BB drain hole is good to have. The Finish line stuff is good. waterproof marine bearing brease may be better. Time, conditions and the rotting frogs were likely the bigger issues rather than type of grease.

Karldar

Well, you were right about the frogs. I knew that smell was familiar.... Actually, that Finish Line doesn't smell freshtastic anyway, so sitting in the BB for several years probably didn't help.

As far as the tightness issue, I found the problem. The 2nd/3rd thread on the right side of the BB is a bit wider/flatter than the rest, almost like it's been cross-threaded at that one section, causing the part to bind in the threads. It's been so long since it was installed, I can't remember whether it was as much of a ***** to put in the first time or not. I double-checked the HT to see if the threads were fudged, but they're fine. The other BB screws right in. So how did one thread get messed up? And how can I get it fixed? Would an LBS have a die that big? Does anyone even make dies for BB's? I'm sure that I could find one that would work, but I've no idea how much it would cost.