Crunchy sound in my BB

[SteveC]

???As I was JRA in the BH today taking in the last of fall's warm turnarounds and trying to find the trail under that nice lush coating of freshly fallen leaves and thinking deep thoughts about how cool it is to be mountainbiking in NE in October allthewhile knowing that I have about 1.5 hours to enjoy the solitude before I gotta pickup the kiddies from their 1/2 day at public school but of course we'll have all afternoon to go ride together after that on our local trails too which of course is always FUN, when I noticed some certain crunchiness that seems to originate from my bottom bracket. Its not the crankset bolts or the splines being loose or the pedals and not even my old(er) bones creaking, but definitely a metal-on-metal crunchiness thats the only way I can describe it coming from inside the BB. Nothings loose and it doesnt seem to affect performance except that it could since it makes me take me take my eyes off the trail and look down to listen again and that could significantly affect MY performance.
Whatever. No big deal. Just let me know if you''ve experienced the same kind of symptoms, and what I should take to alleviate them
TIA
SteveC

[Tim]

Sounds like you're ready for a new BB. Once the bearings get crunchy they're pretty much toast.

Tim

[SteveC]

Sounds like you're ready for a new BB. Once the bearings get crunchy they're pretty much toast.

Tim

Jeez, BBs these days dont last long, do they.....? Its a Truvativ that came with my Ted Wojcik 2 years ago or was it 3..?.Oh well, at least I dont have any monthly payments on it....
SC

[nhiker]

Did you pull it every so often and clean and repack it in fresh grease? I redo mine every couple months or after a particularly wet ride. But on the other hand 3 years is probably some what typical a life span depending on the amount of riding you are doing. A typical mountainbike BB goes through hell.
Break it fix it ride it.
Good luck
NH

[SteveC]

Did you pull it every so often and clean and repack it in fresh grease?

I did recently reinstall it do rid myself of a creaking problem, but didnt realize I could service the bearings in these things....I'll try that first rather than waste any more time surfing for a replacement.......
Thanx
SC

[nhiker]

Did you pull it every so often and clean and repack it in fresh grease?

I did recently reinstall it do rid myself of a creaking problem, but didnt realize I could service the bearings in these things....I'll try that first rather than waste any more time surfing for a replacement.......
Thanx
SC


If it is a sealed unit you will not be able to service the bearings.

[SteveC]

Yup theres no way in. It spins fine but sounds real dry so I'm in the process of finding one at a shop somewhere or having my LBS order a new one. Nobody seems to keep ISIS in stock. Aint that wierd? ::)

[bike187]

it's most likely that it's you're bearings that are toasted. this is common on splined bb after heavy use. this is cause the bearings have to be smaller to accomodate a larger splindle. shimano answered this by putting the bearings outside the bb shell of the frame. cannondale aswered this by using their own system using a larger bb shell in their frames ( i know they had it on a road bike but not sure if it's on mtb's as well). it makes sense. that's why alot of bighit/bmx bikes come with american bb that use splined splindles and larger bb shells.isis manufactureer are supposed to be coming out with isis2 which uses larger bearings. i don't know if there will be a new frame bb shell standard or if they'll go like shimano andstick the bearing outside the frame's bb shell.

[SteveC]

I finally solved my BB problem. I ordered a new one from Daves Bike Infirmary in Milton and he got it in 1 1/2 days.!
Got the Truvativ Gigapipe I think which has 3 'sealed' cartridge bearings. Its better than the Sealex I had in there and looks cool too, 'cept nobody gets to see it ??? Oh well, anyhow I greased up that puppy and slid it in nice and easy ooh it feel nice now.......Only problem is I dont have a torque wrench for the BB tool. Anyone know where to get an all-around bike torque wrench? Seems that these days with all the expensive aluminum parts there's alot more reason to torque to spec........
Thanks all fer your help. C U on the trails
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[SteveC]

While Im here, in need to bump up my status as a 'newbie' and also ask if anyones familiar with a thingamajig that replaces the v-brake noodle and cuts down on that annoying friction that the noodle creates? Does it really work? Or is it like the silly 'Bassworm' of yesteryears that was supposed to help yer shifting?
SC