External bearings

Sandy said:

And, can someone offer a grade, size and good manufacturer reference for the
bearings?

To revive this thread and zoom in on this question, I found this
manufacturer's site:

http://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/PROD/CeramicBallBearings/Kit7611

Again, the size of the bearing for FSA Mega Exo is 25mm x 37mm x 7mm,
identified as a 6805 cartridge.

Appropriate to use on any bike in which the bottom bracket might get
wet, the best cartridge choice would be 6805-2RS: the 2RS referring
to two rubber seals, one on each side of the cartridge, which may
easily be removed in order to clean and re-lube the bearings. In
contrast, a 6805-ZZ cartridge has two metal shields which cannot be
reinstalled if pried off, so that if moisture seeps into the bearings,
you've got an insurmountable problem. Other configurations, as you
can see, have metal seals with snap ring, a rubber or metal seal on
one side of the cartridge only, or no covers, which would not be
recommended.

As to the bearings themselves, there are a number of choices, the
higher the quality, the higher the price: Full ceramic, ceramic
bearings stainless enclosures ABEC 7 or ABEC 3; and chrome steel no
ABEC rating.

I'm assuming that the basic chrome steel covers/bearings @ $7.95/ea is
what you get OEM from FSA.

The question is whether or not it is cost effective to spend the extra
$$ on the higher quality bearings (bb, hub, headset): is there ANY
measurable increase in performance; if so how much; and where is the
line drawn? In the in-line speed skating world, where your feet
interface very directly with your wheels, the same debate prevails.

One thing seems fairly clear to me: it does NOT seem cost effective
to buy ANY bearings from a retailer who marks up the cost of what
anybody can buy directly from the manufacturer, simply by putting
their name on them (e.g. Phil Wood).

Sandy said:

Dans le message denews:[email hidden],
steve <[email hidden]> a réfléchi, et puis a déclaré :

Quoted message said:

On Jul 28, 8:27 am, Qui si parla Campagnolo <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Jul 28, 3:50 am, "Sandy" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Just to start someone counting, adding to anecdotal history.
> FSA SLK MegaExo - someone put marbles in the BB.
> Lasted less than 4000km.
> Since it's there, what is the best cure?
> Replacing the bearings in the casings, or replacing the cup-bearing
> assembly.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Phil Wood makes some great replacement bearings for these and other
external cups. Long lastingf, well made, unlike it seems the FSA
bearings.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> And, can someone offer a grade, size and good manufacturer
> reference for the bearings?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Thanks in advance.
> --
> Sandy
> Verneuil-sur-Seine
> *******

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> La vie, c'est comme une bicyclette,
> il faut avancer pour ne pas perdre l'équilibre.
> -- Einstein, A.- Hide quoted text -

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

- Show quoted text -

Quoted message said:

I'll second that. Phil will be your best choice when it comes to
durability. Make sure you keep the plastic covers since phil only
supplies the bearings.

Quoted message said:

steve

Thanks, both of you, but I wasn't aware that Phil made the bearings, or does
he?
He doesn't get them from a manufacturer?
Ordering from "Phil" may not be the ideal thing from where I sit.
Any other leads?
--
Bonne route !

Sandy
Verneuil-sur-Seine FR- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

is phil anti-gaul?

datakoll said:

Sandy said:

Dans le message denews:[email hidden],
steve <[email hidden]> a réfléchi, et puis a déclaré :

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On Jul 28, 8:27 am, Qui si parla Campagnolo <[email hidden]>
wrote:
> On Jul 28, 3:50 am, "Sandy" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> Just to start someone counting, adding to anecdotal history.
>> FSA SLK MegaExo - someone put marbles in the BB.
>> Lasted less than 4000km.
>> Since it's there, what is the best cure?
>> Replacing the bearings in the casings, or replacing the cup-bearing
>> assembly.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Phil Wood makes some great replacement bearings for these and other
> external cups. Long lastingf, well made, unlike it seems the FSA
> bearings.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> And, can someone offer a grade, size and good manufacturer
>> reference for the bearings?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> Thanks in advance.
>> --
>> Sandy
>> Verneuil-sur-Seine
>> *******

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> La vie, c'est comme une bicyclette,
>> il faut avancer pour ne pas perdre l'équilibre.
>> -- Einstein, A.- Hide quoted text -

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> - Show quoted text -

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'll second that. Phil will be your best choice when it comes to
durability. Make sure you keep the plastic covers since phil only
supplies the bearings.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

steve

Quoted message said:

Thanks, both of you, but I wasn't aware that Phil made the bearings, ordoes
he?
He doesn't get them from a manufacturer?
Ordering from "Phil" may not be the ideal thing from where I sit.
Any other leads?
--
Bonne route !

Quoted message said:

Sandy
Verneuil-sur-Seine FR- Hide quoted text -

Quoted message said:

- Show quoted text -

is phil anti-gaul?

Looking at their prices (e.g., bearings, grease, etc.), it's clear
they have quite a bit of gall.

Doug Taylor wrote:
<snip for clarity>

Quoted message said:

One thing seems fairly clear to me: it does NOT seem cost effective
to buy ANY bearings from a retailer who marks up the cost of what
anybody can buy directly from the manufacturer, simply by putting
their name on them (e.g. Phil Wood).

pw don't even do that!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38636024@N00/1076434093/

jim beam said:

Doug Taylor wrote:

<snip for clarity>

Quoted message said:

One thing seems fairly clear to me: it does NOT seem cost effective
to buy ANY bearings from a retailer who marks up the cost of what
anybody can buy directly from the manufacturer, simply by putting
their name on them (e.g. Phil Wood).

pw don't even do that!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38636024@N00/1076434093/

Hey, at least they re-package the marine grease and chainsaw oil in
cute 'lil Official Phil Green containers!

Ozark Bicycle said:

jim beam said:

Doug Taylor wrote:

<snip for clarity>

Quoted message said:

One thing seems fairly clear to me: it does NOT seem cost effective
to buy ANY bearings from a retailer who marks up the cost of what
anybody can buy directly from the manufacturer, simply by putting
their name on them (e.g. Phil Wood).

pw don't even do that!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38636024@N00/1076434093/

Hey, at least they re-package the marine grease and chainsaw oil in
cute 'lil Official Phil Green containers!

yeah, but

1. it's not like he's selling garbage - it's high quality.
2. bless his little cotton socks for identifying a niche in the market
and filling it.

jim beam said:

Ozark Bicycle said:

jim beam said:

Doug Taylor wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<snip for clarity>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> One thing seems fairly clear to me: it does NOT seem cost effective
> to buy ANY bearings from a retailer who marks up the cost of what
> anybody can buy directly from the manufacturer, simply by putting
> their name on them (e.g. Phil Wood).
pw don't even do that!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38636024@N00/1076434093/

Quoted message said:

Hey, at least they re-package the marine grease and chainsaw oil in
cute 'lil Official Phil Green containers!

yeah, but

1. it's not like he's selling garbage - it's high quality.

True, overpriced but good.

Quoted message said:

2. bless his little cotton socks for identifying a niche in the market
and filling it.-

Were the cotton socks green, too?

Doug Taylor said:

Quoted message said:

I think FSA was having some customer problems with crankarm loosening/
creaking even with a properly prepped ( to 68 mm) shell and thereby
decided to rev their install procedure. Your issue is binding of
bearings due to (IMO) too wide a bb shell, not just a crank that won't
stay tight.

I would like you to, if you would, get a decent set of calipers and
measure your bb shell. Bet it's over.

I read the FSA FAQ after reading this, and have to concede that this
sounds plausible. Doh!

I'll have to take those mofos off AGAIN and measure the freaking
thing. What pain in the ass!

Follow up:

Removed the cups (AGAIN); measured bb shell = 68 mm. So that was not
my problem.

This from the FSA website FAQ:

http://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?layout=tech&cid=79

Quoted post said:

Our Mega Exo crank/BB system utilizes two small washers that
fit over the bottom bracket spindle and sit between the crank arms and
the outer bearing face of the Mega Exo bottom bracket. There is one
for each crank arm. There are several reasons for these washers, which
include the reduction of noise as well as achieving correct bearing
adjustment.

Until December of 2004 FSA used a solid rubber O-Ring. Starting in
approx December of 2004 we started to use a rubber coated metal
washer/O-Ring. When using the new rubber coated metal washer the
‘metal side’ of the washer should face the crank arm. If necessary to
achieve correct bearing adjustment you may use two of these washers on
the left crank arm. When using two washers, they should be oriented
metal side to rubber side.

I purchased from FSA extra washers, and installed 1 on the right and 2
on the left crank arm. Voila! Crank bold tight, no more bearing
binding. It was that simple, and hard to believe that such a
miniscule adjustment could make such a difference. I also, however,
prepped the splines with Locktite 641 as recommended in the FSA
installation manual - it contributes to acheiving a firmly bound crank
with zero bearing binding.