Water in bottom bracket?

"PatC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the funky
Centaur BB, and took it by the bike shop to have them break it loose.

When

Quoted message said:

they did, water poured out on the floor. I looked underneath the BB and

on

Quoted message said:

the chainstays, and there are no drain holes.

First, I avoid riding in the rain, but I occasionally get caught in it.
Next, it appears there are some decent size holes around the water bottle
mounts.

The bike has had about 2000 miles of opportunity to collect water, so how
did it get in? How should I get it out, and how should I keep it out?

PS - it's an all-aluminum frame, if you want to suggest drilling...

I would suggest drilling a small hole in the bb shell, and then plugging it
with a rubber plug or stopper, a good place to look for a plug would be an
auto parts store, Or even a home / harware store. It is definatley not good
to be storing water in your frame.

Ken

PatC said:

The bike has had about 2000 miles of opportunity to collect water, so how
did it get in? How should I get it out, and how should I keep it out?

It probably got in between the seat post and seat tube. Put a good coating
of grease on the seat post, and put some caulking in the cutout of the seat
tube. The grease will also prevent the seat post from getting "frozen" in
the frame.

Art Harris

Ken Marcet said:

"PatC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the funky
Centaur BB, and took it by the bike shop to have them break it loose.

When

Quoted message said:

they did, water poured out on the floor. I looked underneath the BB and

on

Quoted message said:

the chainstays, and there are no drain holes.

First, I avoid riding in the rain, but I occasionally get caught in it.
Next, it appears there are some decent size holes around the water bottle
mounts.

The bike has had about 2000 miles of opportunity to collect water, so how
did it get in? How should I get it out, and how should I keep it out?

PS - it's an all-aluminum frame, if you want to suggest drilling...

I would suggest drilling a small hole in the bb shell, and then plugging it
with a rubber plug or stopper, a good place to look for a plug would be an
auto parts store, Or even a home / harware store. It is definatley not good
to be storing water in your frame.

Ken

Why plug it? Gravity will do fine.

Lou
--
Posted by news://news.nb.nu

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 13:59:15 GMT, PatC <[email hidden]> may have

Quoted message said:

The bike has had about 2000 miles of opportunity to collect water, so how
did it get in?

Probably down the seat post, though very small amounts also could have
come past the headset and through the downtube if the headset is not
sealed and the head tube is open to the other tubes, which is usually
the case. Given the lack of ventilation and/or escape routes, the
water may have collected a few drops at a time, and even condensation
from temperature changes might have contributed if you live in a damp
climate.

Quoted message said:

How should I get it out, and how should I keep it out?

Assuming that your seatpost is not carbon, pull it out and thoroughly
grease the inside of the seat tube before reinserting the post; this
will help to seal the path against additional water intrusion. Then,
assuming that you've installed a sealed cartridge BB, drill a 1/8" or
larger hole in the bottom of the BB shell and just leave it open.
Many frames are supplied with such a hole present; it does not seem to
cause any problems. If you limit the amount of water coming in, and
allow that which intrudes to escape, the problem should be solved.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

PatC said:

I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the
funky Centaur BB, and took it by the bike shop to have them break it
loose. When they did, water poured out on the floor. I looked
underneath the BB and on the chainstays, and there are no drain holes.

First, I avoid riding in the rain, but I occasionally get caught in
it. Next, it appears there are some decent size holes around the
water bottle mounts.

The bike has had about 2000 miles of opportunity to collect water, so
how did it get in? How should I get it out, and how should I keep it
out?

PS - it's an all-aluminum frame, if you want to suggest drilling...

Drilling a hole at the bottom of the bottom bracket and greasing the seat
tube are both very good ideas.

Water can also accumulate via condensation; storing the bike in a cool
place, taking it to a warm environment and then returning to a cool place. A
hole in the bottom bracket and occasional removal of the seat for several
days when not using the bike will allow water to escape. Or you could keep
your bike in the house which may [censored] the wife, but you won't have
condensation problems! <grin>

"Lou Holtman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ken Marcet said:

"PatC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the

funky

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Centaur BB, and took it by the bike shop to have them break it loose.

When

Quoted message said:

they did, water poured out on the floor. I looked underneath the BB and

on

Quoted message said:

the chainstays, and there are no drain holes.

First, I avoid riding in the rain, but I occasionally get caught in it.
Next, it appears there are some decent size holes around the water

bottle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

mounts.

The bike has had about 2000 miles of opportunity to collect water, so

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

did it get in? How should I get it out, and how should I keep it out?

PS - it's an all-aluminum frame, if you want to suggest drilling...

I would suggest drilling a small hole in the bb shell, and then plugging

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with a rubber plug or stopper, a good place to look for a plug would be

an

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

auto parts store, Or even a home / harware store. It is definatley not

good

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to be storing water in your frame.

Ken

Why plug it? Gravity will do fine.

Lou
--

Well yeah for draining, but you wouldn't want road grime and dust / dirt
getting up in there.

Quoted message said:

Posted by news://news.nb.nu

Ken Marcet said:

"Lou Holtman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ken Marcet said:

"PatC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

>I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the

funky

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>Centaur BB, and took it by the bike shop to have them break it loose.

When

>they did, water poured out on the floor. I looked underneath the BB and

on

>the chainstays, and there are no drain holes.
>
>First, I avoid riding in the rain, but I occasionally get caught in it.
>Next, it appears there are some decent size holes around the water

bottle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>mounts.
>
>The bike has had about 2000 miles of opportunity to collect water, so

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>did it get in? How should I get it out, and how should I keep it out?
>
>
>PS - it's an all-aluminum frame, if you want to suggest drilling...
>

I would suggest drilling a small hole in the bb shell, and then plugging

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with a rubber plug or stopper, a good place to look for a plug would be

an

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

auto parts store, Or even a home / harware store. It is definatley not

good

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to be storing water in your frame.

Ken

Why plug it? Gravity will do fine.

Lou
--

Well yeah for draining, but you wouldn't want road grime and dust / dirt
getting up in there.

That's no problem with a cartridge bottom bracket. Leave the hole open
so you can't forget to unplug it.

Lou
--
Posted by news://news.nb.nu

Dave Thompson said:

...
Water can also accumulate via condensation; storing the bike in a cool
place, taking it to a warm environment and then returning to a cool place. A
hole in the bottom bracket and occasional removal of the seat for several
days when not using the bike will allow water to escape. Or you could keep
your bike in the house which may [censored] the wife, but you won't have
condensation problems! <grin>

You could trade in your wife for a cycling compatible model.

--
Tom Sherman - Earth (Downstate Illinois, North of Forgottonia)

Quoted message said:

"PatC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]..

Quoted message said:

I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the funky
Centaur BB, and took it by the bike shop to have them break it loose.
When
they did, water poured out on the floor.

-snip-

Ken Marcet said:

I would suggest drilling a small hole in the bb shell, and then plugging it
with a rubber plug or stopper, a good place to look for a plug would be an
auto parts store, Or even a home / harware store. It is definatley not good
to be storing water in your frame.

What's the plug for?
A hole is sufficient.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"PatC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]..

Quoted message said:

I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the

funky

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Centaur BB, and took it by the bike shop to have them break it loose.
When
they did, water poured out on the floor.

-snip-

Ken Marcet said:

I would suggest drilling a small hole in the bb shell, and then plugging

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with a rubber plug or stopper, a good place to look for a plug would be

an

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

auto parts store, Or even a home / harware store. It is definatley not

good

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to be storing water in your frame.

What's the plug for?
A hole is sufficient.

Well I was thinking you might not want road grime / dust / dirt getting in
there, even with a sealed bb it might degrade the seals slightly quicker.

Quoted message said:

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

PatC said:

I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the

funky

Quoted message said:

Centaur BB

What's funky about a Centaur BB? T

Ken Marcet said:

"PatC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the funky
Centaur BB, and took it by the bike shop to have them break it loose.

When

Quoted message said:

they did, water poured out on the floor. I looked underneath the BB and

on

Quoted message said:

the chainstays, and there are no drain holes.

First, I avoid riding in the rain, but I occasionally get caught in it.
Next, it appears there are some decent size holes around the water bottle
mounts.

The bike has had about 2000 miles of opportunity to collect water, so how
did it get in? How should I get it out, and how should I keep it out?

PS - it's an all-aluminum frame, if you want to suggest drilling...

I would suggest drilling a small hole in the bb shell, and then plugging it
with a rubber plug or stopper, a good place to look for a plug would be an
auto parts store, Or even a home / harware store. It is definatley not good
to be storing water in your frame.

Ken

Drill the hole and leave it open.

Ken Marcet said:

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"PatC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]..
>I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the

funky

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>Centaur BB, and took it by the bike shop to have them break it loose.
> When
>they did, water poured out on the floor.

-snip-

Ken Marcet said:

I would suggest drilling a small hole in the bb shell, and then plugging

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with a rubber plug or stopper, a good place to look for a plug would be

an

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

auto parts store, Or even a home / harware store. It is definatley not

good

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to be storing water in your frame.

What's the plug for?
A hole is sufficient.

Well I was thinking you might not want road grime / dust / dirt getting in
there, even with a sealed bb it might degrade the seals slightly quicker.

Apparently that's a nonissue. Traditionally the artisan builders have cut a
rectangular window or taken the opportunity to do something interesting like
playing card suits or letters.

Ron

41 said:

PatC said:

I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the

funky

Quoted message said:

Centaur BB

What's funky about a Centaur BB? T

Apparently it has cooties. There's a lot of negative buzz about it that strikes
me as received lore and exaggeration.

Ron

Tom Sherman said:

Dave Thompson said:

...
Water can also accumulate via condensation; storing the bike in a
cool place, taking it to a warm environment and then returning to a
cool place. A hole in the bottom bracket and occasional removal of
the seat for several days when not using the bike will allow water
to escape. Or you could keep your bike in the house which may [censored]
off the wife, but you won't have condensation problems! <grin>

You could trade in your wife for a cycling compatible model.

Luckily, my wife is my riding partner so there are no problems there. She's
the kind that dogs me, pretty much regularly, about getting out and going
for a ride. I hate it when that happens!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

PatC wrote:
I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the
funky Centaur BB

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On 21 Mar 2005 03:14:13 -0800, "41" <[email hidden]> wrote:
What's funky about a Centaur BB? T

RonSonic said:

Apparently it has cooties. There's a lot of negative buzz about it that strikes
me as received lore and exaggeration.

It's a well designed piece recombining existing proven
Campagnolo bits. Perhaps someone's uninspired by the color
or some other small aesthetic point ?

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

PatC said:

I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the funky
Centaur BB, and took it by the bike shop to have them break it loose. When
they did, water poured out on the floor. I looked underneath the BB and on
the chainstays, and there are no drain holes.

The holes you see on some bikes, on the stays, are not drain holes,
either. They are there to let heated air out during welding/brazing,
which would othewise ruin the weld/brazing.

Quoted message said:

First, I avoid riding in the rain, but I occasionally get caught in it.
Next, it appears there are some decent size holes around the water
bottle mounts.

The water is most likely getting in around the seatpost collar. A lot of
water splashes up there in the rain. Grease the seatpost well before you
re-insert it.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | "It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster." --Greg LeMond
_`\(,_ |
(_)/ (_) |

Dave Thompson said:

Drilling a hole at the bottom of the bottom bracket

Drilling a hole in the bottom of the bottom bracket always strikes me like
Curly Joe drilling a hole in the bottom of a boat to let the water out.

Quoted message said:

and greasing the seat
tube are both very good ideas.

Water can also accumulate via condensation; storing the bike in a cool
place, taking it to a warm environment and then returning to a cool
place.

Uh, no. There is about 2 liters of air inside the tubes of a bike. How
much water do you think is in that air? It is a very, very small amount.
The air also circulates very poorly, so you don't exchange much warm air
for cold air in the process you describe. There is essentially no water
getting in that way.

Water may condense on the outside of the bike if it is cooler than the
air, but in that process a large volume of air circulates past the cold
metal, giving up water as it passes.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Enron's slogan: Respect, Communication, Integrity, and
_`\(,_ | Excellence.
(_)/ (_) |

"41" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:1111403653.615439.189490
@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:

Quoted message said:

PatC said:

I recently replaced my Capy Centaur 53/39 with a compact. I had the

funky

Quoted message said:

Centaur BB

What's funky about a Centaur BB? T

Sorry - I've been out of town for a while. It was the one with the teeth
on the outside, which requires a special tool, that doesn't fit any modern
Campy BB's.