ZManT

Hello everyone -

I have a sealed cartridge BB (shimano, can't remember the model) that screws into the BB of my aluminum frame bike.

I don't have a torque wrench, so I have been snugging it up just until the rotation of the spindle gets a bit sticky.

Problem is, I get about 100 miles on the bike and the dang thing is loose again.

I have been lightly greasing the threads on both cups. Is there another approach I should be taking?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

ZManT

reptilezs

loosen the non drive side. tighten the drive side tight, firmly. it is almost impossible to strip it out. if you have a 6-7in ratchet put about 50lb of force on it. if you have a plastic non drive cup snug it up. metal one do the same as the drive side. grease everything

ZManT

Thanks reptilezs - so, no worry about how the spindle seems to be constricted a bit when I really snug down the drive side?

ultraman6970

A torque wrench is not necessary IMO, never needed it for the BB unless u are really like hulk. What I would do is to out teflon tape in the cups threads, that would keep them in place.

reptilezs

if you have binding or premature wear then i would consider facing and chasing the bb

rjc100

I would reccommend getting a torque wrench to insure it is correct., then ride it to verify it stays tight
I had a mechanic this summer put mine on after inspecting bottom bracket, and must not have torqued it correctly.
My next ride was on a multiday tour and at about 150 miles, the non drive side crank came right off. Luckly I was only spinning and just had to stop and take it off my cleat, then put back on, but do not take a chance with your crankset. Had I been placing pressure uphill or sprinting, I would have taken a fall.

gyozadude

I'm not sure if you caught Reptilz's first suggestion, which was -loosen- the non drive side. The key is to tighten the drive side first, and then use the non-drive side to adjust and then lock down. You shouldn't be constricting the spindle to the point that it doesn't move. The spindle should have no play plus a slightly amount of pre-load of you have a lock-ring that snugs against the non-drive cup and pulls out the cup a little.

zukahn1 

When putting adjusting a bottom bracket in a aluminium frame bike it can offten help if you use a small amount of locktite. While it makes it a little harder to undo adjust the bracket it can prevent it from losening or tighting under road wear damaging the aluminium threads which are much weaker than the steel threads on the bottom bracket.