bottom bracket issues
 

3 out of 4 singlespeed bicycles that I have needs bottom bracket replacements. These BBs were all new. Shimano UN-53. (All square tapered) I'm about 170lbs. Anyone else notice that you wear out bottom bracket faser by going singlespeed? I climb some hills on my singlespeeds. Not super steep, but hills that will force someone fit to break a sweet.

How many miles are you getting out of a BB?

500 max

This has got to be a joke.

chain too tight?

I got my first FG last year and killed my BB after 2 months, had the chain very tight at first.

Something is wrong. I would expect more than that with a BB on a department store bike. Are you installing them?

You are doing it wrong. You should be getting 5000 and then some.

i bet your chain tension is hella tight.

i did the same thing- i rigged up a fg with vert drop outs by filing them down a little, and i always rode with the chain tension rock solid. my chainring bolts kept coming loose, but the real problem was after a while i got this creak that wouldnt go away. i found out i had crushed at least half the bearings in the bb, because my chain was pulling on the thing with about 100 n/m of force.

500 is weak. I've been running a campy veloce BB for over a year, and it's a pretty cheap one. I ride about 50mi/week.

I'm going with those who cry chain tension.

Yes, I am running tight chains. I'll look into half links or just position the rear wheel a bit closer.

thanks for the input!

trackstar your signature is making me very anxious. NOT digging it.