Originally Posted by
catmandew52
Campag, you do come off as a bit over the top in your support for BB30.
You blame the owner/riders for their lack of understanding or mechanical ineptitude.
Maybe some of these owners with BB30 equipped bikes wouldn't know which end of an open end adjustable wrench is the working end. They must rely on the mechanics at the bike shops.
I don't know the skill level of every bike mechanic in my area let alone the contiguous 48 states.
I do know, that about the only thing they do have to when they uncrate a new bike, is to put the front wheel and handlebars on, screw in the pedals and check the brakes and shifters for proper function. The crankset is already in the frame from the factory.
So, from what I have read here and on other forums, why do some (not all) owners have creaking, crunching, noises and or bearing failures in the first 500 miles or less with a BB30 equipped bike.
External bearing bottoms brackets seem to be the current and probably future standard for most medium to high end bikes, as evidenced by the ever increasing number of different BB numbers.
Shimano has their version, Campy has theirs, Hollowtech and Gigapipe, whatever. By Xmas there will probably be another handful of alternatives available. I see very few complaints about other style/number bottom brackets and those usually have have to do with crankset compatability.
I do not know which of the three dealers in this area the Cannondale my co-worker wanted to swap for was purchased at. The newest one has only been around since 1998. I don't know if they offered or if the original owner even asked to have it sent back to Cannondale to have it looked at. I also don't know the time period involved in the six returns for the same problem. The owner told my co-worker (after the test ride) that everytime time he took it back, it was okay for awhile and then the noises would return. Apparently he was not in the least mechanically inclined and had to rely on the dealer. The point is, it should not be a recuring problem over a resonable time period or mileage. BB30 really has not been around that long if you want to look at bicycle history, and it doesn't seem to be getting general acceptence in many quarters(5 end users?). There probably would not be as many other/newer alternatives to BB30 if it was the be all, end all that you seem to believe it is.
Granted, there are many owners of bikes here on BF and on other forums who seem to have no problems at all and love the simplicity of BB30 and also self maintain. So, I guess my real question is, what percentage of BB30 equipped bikes that don't meet spec are the manfacturers shipping? It must be more than 10% or we would not have these recurring BB30 threads.
Also, if you really read the warranty for the BB30 that FSA offers, it appears that they exempt themselves from any responsibility if you so much as sneeze on it. Why?
In response to your question above...the simple answer has been and still is set up. I would say the no. of defective BB30 bonefide warranty issues is less than 1% if that...no different than other products out there...like guys who return their Ipod shuffle because they can't figure out how to program it which is harder than setting up a BB30 if you know what you are doing or have a technical background.
So where does the other 9% to use your 10% number which I believe is high come from?
Set up...both from the factory and if a bike shop were to install the crank....or misdiagnosed creaking...from pedals or chainrings or seat post etc.
I have been trying to think of an automotive analogy for BB30. Only thing I can come up with is...mechanical versus hydraullic lifters. Can the average guy who owned a solid lifter Corvette in the late 60's adjust them properly? Probably not. Is it hard? I never a problem. Do most performance guys appreciate solid lifters? Many do but some don't think the set up is worth the extra 1K RPM without valve float. Why do hydraullic lifters exist even though you can't turn the same RPM as you can with hydraullic lifters? Low servicablility and lesser degree noise. This maybe a bit of a clumsy analogy...by like solid lifters, BB30 is simple. As to defects?...what can be defective? Bores? With loctite that can sustain...not just a press or even a slip fit...but oversize or worn bores without issue. Bearings?...they are garden variety #6806 bearings and available in number of different grades and cheap. BB30 cranks have never been simplier...many with a one piece spindle. But just like solid lifters...if set up is too loose, they are going to make noise. So even though the motorcycle community embraces solid lifters for the added performance, motorcycle owners accept that periodic maintenance will be required for adjustment...although many sell their 4 valve Ducatis because of the expense and the complexity of removing cams etc exceeds many owners.
It just doesn't get any simplier than BB30. If a bike gets returned 6 times than the shop should go out of business without replacing the bike if purchased there. That either smacks of an incompetent shop...one that perhaps can't adjust a BB30 crank properly...or a shop that doesn't believe the owner that it makes noise after repeatedly returning it.