Truvativ ISIS BB setup

In article <[email hidden]>, Howard

Culley said:

Hi

I recently bought a new Kona Hoss mountain bike. This bike's fitted
with Truvativ 5D ISIS crank arms, and a Truvativ ISIS Bottom Bracket.

When winding the crank arms backwards, the movement feels somewhat
'sticky', is this the typical feel of a new BB of this style?? Do
these type of BB's have any kind of adjustment, or are they completely
sealed??

The Truvativ website seems quite ambiguous. There is some discussion
of adjustment on their FAQ's, but I can't see how the tool they
mention could be used to make adjustments when the BB is fitted into
the bike! Plus their online manuals don't show, or mention anything
about adjustment!

Any help would greatly appreciated.

Howard

AFAIK, all sealed cartridge BBs preclude (bearing) adjustments; though
some models--from Phil or RaceFace--allow latitude in how the BB is
positioned vis-a-vis the BB shell (i.e., chainline accommodation).

Assuming the chain has been removed from the chainrings, does play,
noise, roughness or an uneven aspect accompany this 'stickiness'? When
new my new Truvativ ISIS BB did exhibit some resistance (attributed to
the seals), but it was slight, and the crankset's spin was silky
smooth, if not entirely drag free. If you're unsure whether the
resistance is an effect of the (new) seals, remove the cranks and
rotate the BB spindle by hand--it should turn easily with NO roughness.

luke

Thanks for that Luke

No there is no roughness or play to the crank at all. If you were to
spin the crank backwards with the chain on the rings, you would get
about 1 complete rotation before it would come to a stop.

There does appear to be some kind of rubber seal visible, which may be
contrubuting to the stickiness if its all packed up with grease.

I tryied removing the crank arms to have a closer look, but got a bit
scared as an hugh amount of force applied resulted in no movement!

I reckon its a case of leaving it until it develops play, and replace
with something better.

Thanks again

Howard

Quoted message said:

AFAIK, all sealed cartridge BBs preclude (bearing) adjustments; though
some models--from Phil or RaceFace--allow latitude in how the BB is
positioned vis-a-vis the BB shell (i.e., chainline accommodation).

Assuming the chain has been removed from the chainrings, does play,
noise, roughness or an uneven aspect accompany this 'stickiness'? When
new my new Truvativ ISIS BB did exhibit some resistance (attributed to
the seals), but it was slight, and the crankset's spin was silky
smooth, if not entirely drag free. If you're unsure whether the
resistance is an effect of the (new) seals, remove the cranks and
rotate the BB spindle by hand--it should turn easily with NO roughness.

luke

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

Quoted message said:

Thanks for that Luke

No there is no roughness or play to the crank at all. If you were to
spin the crank backwards with the chain on the rings, you would get
about 1 complete rotation before it would come to a stop.

One rotation is fine. The derailleur pulleys and chain bends contribute the
most to chainline drag.

Shift to your small chainring, take the chain off and hold it out of the
way, and then rotate the crank. It should rotate for at least 2 or 3 full
revolutions before stopping

Quoted message said:

There does appear to be some kind of rubber seal visible, which may be
contrubuting to the stickiness if its all packed up with grease.

This is the "sealed" part of "sealed cartridge bearing."

Quoted message said:

I tryied removing the crank arms to have a closer look, but got a bit
scared as an hugh amount of force applied resulted in no movement!

You'll need a ISIS/Octalink crank puller, which it seems you probably don't
have,in addition to a 8mm hex wrench.

Quoted message said:

I reckon its a case of leaving it until it develops play, and replace
with something better.

ISIS bearings go rough in a few hundred miles, and then start to develop
play a while after that. Spending a lot on a bottom bracket probably is
wasted money.

Phil, Squid-in-Training

In article <[email hidden]>, Howard

Culley said:

Thanks for that Luke

No there is no roughness or play to the crank at all. If you were to
spin the crank backwards with the chain on the rings, you would get
about 1 complete rotation before it would come to a stop.

There does appear to be some kind of rubber seal visible, which may be
contrubuting to the stickiness if its all packed up with grease.

I tryied removing the crank arms to have a closer look, but got a bit
scared as an hugh amount of force applied resulted in no movement!

Ooops! Howard, do NOT remove the crankset without the appropriate
puller!!

Quoted message said:

I reckon its a case of leaving it until it develops play, and replace
with something better.

Thanks again

Howard

Assuming your new bike is courtesy of the local bike shop, here's what
I urge you to do: Stop in and have the wrench look it over. You'll be
none the poorer and a little wiser for having done so.

luke

In article <[email hidden]>, Phil,

Squid-in-Training said:

ISIS bearings go rough in a few hundred miles, and then start to develop
play a while after that. Spending a lot on a bottom bracket probably is
wasted money.

Phil, from your experience, what makes or models of BB offer the most
value (i.e., life)? Or are they pretty much equal?
luke

phil-<< You'll need a ISIS/Octalink crank puller, which it seems you probably
don't
have,in addition to a 8mm hex wrench. >><BR><BR>

Not really. All ISIS and some Octalink come with a plug to go into the BB
spindle end, then a normal crank puller or use a sawed off axle, into the
spindle with a crank bolt on the opposite end to push against.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

On 2 Feb 2005 13:18:25 -0800, [email hidden] (Howard Culley) may

have said:

Hi

I recently bought a new Kona Hoss mountain bike. This bike's fitted
with Truvativ 5D ISIS crank arms, and a Truvativ ISIS Bottom Bracket.

When winding the crank arms backwards, the movement feels somewhat
'sticky', is this the typical feel of a new BB of this style?? Do
these type of BB's have any kind of adjustment, or are they completely
sealed??

Pop the chain off and see if that "stickiness" goes away. I'm betting
that what you're feeling is the normal result of a chain that's
running on a pair of sprockets that aren't perfectly in line. (This
tends to be diminished as the components get a little wear on them.)

If the problem's still there with the chain off, but only in *one*
direction, you've got a real puzzler.

--
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.

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

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Phil,

Squid-in-Training said:

ISIS bearings go rough in a few hundred miles, and then start to develop
play a while after that. Spending a lot on a bottom bracket probably is
wasted money.

Phil, from your experience, what makes or models of BB offer the most
value (i.e., life)? Or are they pretty much equal?

I've used a RaceFace SRX OEM BB and a TruVativ OEM DH BB. I'm currently
using the TruVativ, and it's had about the same miles as the SRX, and
developing the exact same symptoms of wear. Granted, I don't really care
that it's rough, as long as it doesn't give me shifting issues, but I began
to have shifting issues with the SRX after the bearings developed play. If
I were to stay with ISIS (which I will for a while), I would get one of the
replaceable bearing types that would wear out every once in a while, but
replaceable bearings would be cheap, extending the life of the BB for
pennies on the dollar.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training