riding on a messed up BB
02-27-08, 05:43 PM
#1
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riding on a messed up BB
My bottom bracket started creaking - I have a race saturday and our local shops are pretty slow. It is (hopefully) just a need for a good repacking of the bearings.
Is this at all dangerous to ride on? I dont have the know-how or tools just yet to do it myself...
Is this at all dangerous to ride on? I dont have the know-how or tools just yet to do it myself...
02-27-08, 05:47 PM
#2
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how do you know it's your bottom bracket? creaking can be very elusive. sound travels oddly through the hollow tubing.
are your pedals lubricated?
chain?
is your headset at the right tightness?
do you have clamping points on the stem and handlebars greased?
there are like a billion and a half things that could be creaking besides your bb. or it may be your bb, in which case i have no idea since i've never removed mine either.
are your pedals lubricated?
chain?
is your headset at the right tightness?
do you have clamping points on the stem and handlebars greased?
there are like a billion and a half things that could be creaking besides your bb. or it may be your bb, in which case i have no idea since i've never removed mine either.
02-27-08, 05:49 PM
#3
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are you sure it's the bottom bracket? i had a creak that i swore was my BB and it turned out to be my rear hub. this is a good resource for tracking down creaks.
02-27-08, 06:09 PM
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yeah its something in the bottom brack or the cranks, pedals are lubed, the guy at the campus coop just didnt have the right took to take the cranks off and check the bracket. you can feel them rock ever so slightly as well...
02-27-08, 06:13 PM
#5
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what type of bb is it?
02-27-08, 09:47 PM
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its a hollow one, not ceramic, i dont know much about bb's though, or wrenching on my bike, but i am learning slowly...
02-27-08, 11:14 PM
#8
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I don't really see how you'd harm it by racing on it. It's not like it's under any more stress than it already is under in normal operating conditions.
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"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
02-28-08, 12:00 AM
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grind it into the ground. Also, it's really hard to say it's the BB. Unless you know for a fact there was no play before, then you can't say with certainty that that is where the noise is coming from. Also, don't waste your money on the tools to fix it. You'll be going outboard bearing soon anyways. Let the shop change it (if that's what you REALLY think it is)
02-28-08, 12:19 AM
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thanks, i think i might have them rebuild it for me anyway though, i cant afford new cranks and bb right now (i dont actually even know if i can use outboard or ceramics on my frame anyway) and would rather put the cash towards some lighter wheels that dont need to be trued every other ride...
02-28-08, 02:49 PM
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Your cranks are probably self extracting. If loose, a simple adjustment with the right allen key (generally 8mm) may well solve the problem. In any case it isn't rocket science so find a bud and look at the Park Tool website for a step-by-step. I'd be loathe to ride, much less race in that condition. Having said that I agree the Truvativ BB should be utterly killed and chucked.
02-28-08, 02:54 PM
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Check your cranks carefully. I had a problem i SWORE was my bottom bracket...turned out the left crank was cracked (only visible when the crank was removed).
02-28-08, 03:01 PM
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i had a creak that i thought was my bb.. but then i got schooled by my mechanic... it turned out to be my seat... every time i put down power.. my ass was creaking the seat...
02-28-08, 03:10 PM
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you shouldn't race any bike that has bad creaking sounds, nor should they really let you race one.
If you can not tell what is creaking yourself, I dont think you should race it out of respect for the others around you if something lets go and you cause a stack.
If you can not tell what is creaking yourself, I dont think you should race it out of respect for the others around you if something lets go and you cause a stack.
02-28-08, 03:43 PM
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02-28-08, 04:45 PM
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I have a Truvativ Ti ISIS BB, and about every 1,000 miles I get a cracking noise from the bottom bracket - the first time it was so bad I thought I cracked the frame. But all it needs is the crank and BB removed, clean the surfaces, regrease the surfaces and threads, and its good to go. Just my situation but perhaps it could be yours. And please, do this stuff yourself as its so easy and quick.
02-28-08, 06:23 PM
#19
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My guess its a sealed cartridge bb, which means no loose bearings and no repacking. Pop the cranks off, loosen the lock ring pull the unit out wipe out the shell grease a new one and pop it in. and adjust it Were talking about a half hour job at the most. My Lbs if you had a big ride this weekend or a race would do it while you waited.
02-28-08, 06:44 PM
#20
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tools needed: 8 mm hex, crank puller, BB tool = $30 if you buy park stuff, less if you get whatever they sell at performance or such. Is it worth it? it's up to you.
02-28-08, 07:51 PM
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Section 1J Bicycles, page 25
"1J2. Riders are responsible for their selection of
competition equipment and for taking reasonable precautions
to insure that its condition is adequate and safe for use in
competition.
(a) To maintain compliance with these regulations, the
equipment and uniform of one or more riders may be
examined at any time to discover the use of items which are
not allowed or which are obviously improperly adjusted,
insecurely fastened, or which may present a danger to the
rider(s). The chief referee shall prohibit the use of any such
items discovered during the examination."
