eccentric bb creaking... is this a problem?
 

i posted this in the mechanics forum and got no response:

so i'm new to this whole eccentric bb thing (or they're new to me), not sure if this is a problem or just a normal quirk. the frame is a gary fisher rig. i'm going on a longish multi-day ride at the end of the month and i want to make sure this thing is tip top. i only have maybe a few hundred miles on it.

anyway, when i'm pedaling hard out of the saddle, and especially when climbing, it creaks rather loudly with EVERY pedal stroke (right and left). i put a piece of tape going from the bb itself to the bb shell and slit it along the seam. it hasn't rotated at all in 50 miles or so, so i know it's in there solid. the way these things are secured in there i can easily imagine why it would creak, i'm just not sure if that's normal.

so it's not causing me any problems other than being noisy. should i be concerned and/or is there anything i can do about it?

...and while i'm here, i have a 3/32 chain and i want to bring some extras for a potential repair. the chain is a "KMC Z51 Rust Buster," and i'm thinking i should bring extra links and/or master links. what kind of master link can i buy that's compatible?

thanks

EBB's can be pretty *****y, especially wedge/expander type, like on the Rig and the 1FG for example. From what I understand, they tend to creak if you don't set them up right from the start. What does that entail? Anti-seize. Lots of it. You don't want any metal-metal contact except for the shell to the Eccentric. And keep it clean. Take it all apart, clean it, put it back together with fresh goo. The folks at the mtbr.com SS forum will definitely be able to help more.

AFA masterlinks, any 3/32" masterlink ought to be fine. I prefer the type with a clip that holds one side plate to the other, and the other sideplate has both pins permanently attached. All you need to take it off is a needlenose, which I have on my leatherman, which is always on me.

thank you sir.