BB Smoothness

Andrew

Time to get a new bottom bracket (or at least regrease and repack if it's user serviceable). If you
turn the bottom bracket and you feel binding (like metal on metal) it's time for maintenance.

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

Quoted message said:

I removed my cranks because of a long term creaking noise that appeared

when

Quoted message said:

powering up out of the saddle. First time i do this Then i found out that the BB when turned by
hand, is harsh, like the bearings were worn, while when turning it with one crank arm it is totaly
smooth. is this normal? or should i go to get a new one? thanks

Andrew said:

I removed my cranks because of a long term creaking noise that appeared when powering up out of
the saddle. First time i do this Then i found out that the BB when turned by hand, is harsh, like
the bearings were worn, while when turning it with one crank arm it is totaly smooth. is this
normal? or should i go to get a new one? thanks

definitely rb.tech question. Since I'm burning bandwidth answering this...

Creak could be seatpost, if non-carbon try wiping it clean and then applying a uniform coat of
grease (doesn't have to be heavy) to post and replace.

reat from BB is usually the retaining ring threads aren't greased. If they're dry I get creak that
would make Barnabus Collins shiver.

BB when worn usually has play, if it wobbles (assuming you have the retaining rings in snug) even a
bit it could be worn. Tyically I get a growle and pinging from out of round bearings when it's time
for a new BB. Rough sounds like either the cones are too tight (binding the bearings) or you have
wear. Though you'd feel the same thing turning one or the other. Sure your pedal bearings aren't
dry or worn?

Andrew said:

I removed my cranks because of a long term creaking noise that appeared when powering up out of
the saddle. First time i do this Then i found out that the BB when turned by hand, is harsh, like
the bearings were worn,

You may just be feeling the normal roughness of the bearings. No bearings are perfectly smooth and
any (normal) preload exagerates the effect.

If it's a cartridge type and it's binding severely, re-facing the bb shell may help. This will
enable the cups to fit paralel. Just loosening the lockring a little will help in the meantime.

Quoted message said:

while when turning it with one crank arm it is totaly smooth.

The length and momentum of the crank just makes it *feel* smoother. It's really the same.

Quoted message said:

or should i go to get a new one?

The BB is probably ok and won't need changing unless it's a very well used or poorly
maintained old one.

~PB

I've replaced many a BB. You can have play or slippage or grinding or vibration you can feel in your
feet or just just take your pick of strange sounds coming from your BB. REPLACE IT. Its easy and
cheap,buy the BB of your liking and do it.

Fire up MTB 03