Bottom bracket life

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

Quoted message said:

Sums done later sugget that 6 monthsx 4 weeks x 5 days per week x 4
miles perday = 480 miles. No way sould a bottom bracket last only 480
miles, even if it is made from cheese,it's not fit for purpose. Let's
be generous and say he's done a thousand miles on it. Does the panel
think a sealed bottom bracket should only last 1000 miles?

Of course not. 5,000 miles/2 years (whichever comes first) minimum - and
that's being generous. (solo has 15,000 miles on it so far...)

cheers,
clive

Tim Hall said:

As the bike is 6 months old, I took it back to the shop to see about a
warranty replacement. They claimed the bottom bracket is a consumable
item. I was a little gobsmacked. I pointed out its main use is to
school and back, which is no more than 2 miles, probably only 1. They
wouldn't shift, saying that was 6 months almost continuous use. I
left.

I would Have Words with Specialized and/or their importers directly and
see what they have to say, and if that gets nowhere I'd Have Words with
your local council's consumer protection folk.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

In article <[email hidden]>, Tim Hall
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Just back off hols (Dordogne, since you ask,very nice too. Report of
Course Cycliste to follow).

Anyway, whilst away I road,inter alia, my sons Specialized Rockhopper
XC rigid. I think that's the right model - a 200 quid no suspension
MTB. It has a clonking noise and feel once per pedal revolution, which
occurs regardless of pedal type, so prime suspect is the bottom
bracket.

If it's a cup and cone bottom bracket it's quite likely that the ball
clips have broken up - just replace with loose balls and all should be
fine.

Quoted message said:

As the bike is 6 months old, I took it back to the shop to see about a
warranty replacement. They claimed the bottom bracket is a consumable
item. I was a little gobsmacked. I pointed out its main use is to
school and back, which is no more than 2 miles, probably only 1. They
wouldn't shift, saying that was 6 months almost continuous use. I
left.

Sounds like cowboys who need to be scalped - set Trading Standards on
them.

Tim Hall said:

Anyway, whilst away I road,inter alia, my sons Specialized Rockhopper
XC rigid. I think that's the right model - a 200 quid no suspension
MTB. It has a clonking noise and feel once per pedal revolution, which
occurs regardless of pedal type, so prime suspect is the bottom
bracket.

As the bike is 6 months old, I took it back to the shop to see about a
warranty replacement. They claimed the bottom bracket is a consumable
item.

That's a shocking attitude, is the shop part of a chain, or is there
someone else you can complain to?
Anyway, Trading Standards will have something to say.

--
Mike
Van Tuyl titanium Dura ace 10
Fausto Coppi aluminium Ultegra 10
Raleigh Record sprint mongrel
Huissoon project bike (in bits, natch)

On Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:05:20 +0100, Tim Hall
<[email hidden]> wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Following myself up, thanks everyone for the replies. I managed to
pop into an independent LBS this afternoon to get their opinion on the
expected life of a UN52. (At this stage I didn't know what was
fitted). They claimed at least 2-3 years, depending on use, dirt,
water, jumping etc etc.

Which is pretty much in line with what all you replied while I was
out.

Quoted message said:

I'll remove it later this afternoon to see the make and model.

Examination shows it to be a Truvativ LE SQ. This doesn't appear on
the Truvativ/Sram website, so presumably not in their current line up.

However, while removing it I found it was fairly loose (neither cup
required application of excessive welly to remove them). I refitted it
with appropriate amounts of torque (three white knuckles). The problem
seems to have gone away, but I will monitor it.

The attitude of the shop (Evans) still stank though.

Tim