My HTII and Mega Evo bbs die "early" too. I'm pretty convinced external bbs do not handle rain, wet dirt riding conditions nearly as well as square taper.

Square taper, after 6 hours in rain/mud/sand/rain/sand/sand/mud for a gravel race.


I did this 5 more times that year and then rode another 75 hours on the road in rain w/fenders. Broke the frame, moved the bb/crankset to a new frame and put another 5000 miles on it before I broke the crankarm and retired the still smooth square taper bb for an external bb crankset, which I now regret.

Meanwhile my mountain bike's HTII bbs start getting crunchy at 75-100 hours and my allroad mega evo bb needs replacement every 3000 miles.

But have no fear, I'm going to dig around in my dead parts box, pull out those HTII cups and tell them "HEY! cyccommute says you don't wear out any faster so get back on that bike and give me my money's worth!"