Originally Posted by
HillRider
Shimano's Dura Ace Octalink bb was indeed an adjustable cup-and-cone design in a cartridge-like shell and required routine maintanance, unlike the Ultegra and 105 versions.
This was a fairly cheap square taper one, it certainly wasn't Dura-Ace....
OP, the fact that the play remains when the cartridge is in the frame with no cranks, but disappears when the cartridge is removed, would tend to suggest it's the installation of the BB that's at fault. I'm not sure quite how though...