Originally Posted by
TimothyH
Repair and maintenance are not the same thing.
In this situation there is nothing to fix because nothing is broken. Replacing a bottom bracket in this case is maintenance, not repair. It isn't semantics. Proper maintenance reduces the risk of needing repair and often prevents downtime.
Depending on cost and how much you value time, it might make sense to replace the bottom bracket now rather than having to pull it apart a second time. A worse case scenario is that the bottom bracket with 61k miles fails and leaves you stuck on the road or leaves you without a bike for a period of time.
If it is a $25 threaded bottom bracket then I would perform proactive maintenance without thinking twice, slap a new one in and be done with it. If it is a more expensive part and involved process, requires expensive tools such as bearing presses or expensive services from an LBS then make a judgement call.
Either way, 61,000 is a lot of miles for a bottom bracket. Personally, I value time and not getting stuck and would replace a BB with 61k.
-Tim-
Um, no. The bearings used today will last a lot longer than that. They are much more likely to be damaged by doing "repair" than by just riding them. Overtightening, undertightening, tapping them out, tapping them in, not seating properly are all much worse for bearings than spinning the pedals. If they are smooth there is no reason at all to replace them.