Originally Posted by
FBinNY
+1, your efforts to save money by doing your own work is costing you dough. When you have chronic problems that others don't have, it's time for a second opinion, preferably from an expert who has it in his hands, rather than from a forum where people don't and have to speculate.
In your shoes, I ask around and track down the local mechanic with a reputation for solving problems (not someone who just keeps replacing parts). You'll know you're on the right track when he gives you an explanation of the actual problem, and fixes it without replacing the BB, or shows you a field stripped BB indicating the exact damage that warranted replacement.
I have been to multiple shops. I travel for business and bring my bike, so I almost never go to the same LBS twice. The first time the BB started clunking, I took it to a LBS in the area. It was more than a noise, the cranks were popping in and out and traveling side to side as I pedaled. The bike was almost not ridable. The first LBS I went to about this problem told me it was the BB without even looking at it. So, I took it elsewhere. The 2nd place tightened down my cranks and told me that if the noise continued it was the BB. I then had to travel. The 3rd place I brought it to took it apart and said, "Yup. It's the BB." They showed me the BB and how it would barely spin with grinding noises.
That 3rd shop arraigned for Fuji to pay for it under warranty which was great. Two months later, it started again. I happened to be back in the city where I bought it, so I took it back to the original LBS. They said it would be two weeks before they could get me in, so I bought the tools and OEM part and did it myself. The BB was trashed. It wouldn't spin right.
Now this one (#3) is doing the same thing as the previous two. Technically the bike is still under warranty, but only technically. Every time I go to or call a Fuji dealer, they tell me to take it back to the place where I bought it. Fuji is of no help. They told me that they do not deal with customers directly and that I had to go through a LBS.
Nice.
So, according to Fuji, I have to drive 800 miles to drop off my bike, drive 800 miles back home and go back again in two weeks to pick it up.
This is what I am trying to avoid:
RK