500 Miles on a Deore HollowTech 2 BB ???

Levi_501

After about 500 miles of commuting (London roads) my LH bearing is shot :shock:

I am pretty sure it was installed correctly, but failing after 500 miles seems a bit crap to me.

I will install my spare Deore XT version tonight and keep my eye on it.

Anyone else have similar ?

VWsurfbum

a bit more than 500 but mines failled!

snotty badger

Over 500 miles of Lake Disctict mud and still working fine for me!

itsnotaboutthebike

I used an xtr BB with the cranks I bought, lasted one season, LH also with mine bearing as rough as a bagers, now using Hope st.steel version, seems ok so far prob about 500 mi in, needs a lot more mud and dust abuse before real opinion can be given, still love XTR cranks though ;-)

R

fletch8928

less than 500 with a deore. I wa a hefty fat lad back then. Just got over the 1000 mark so far with all the snow and resulting mud on a slx, (assume its slx as the cranks are). and all is well. faith restoring in external. Oh and I am still a fat lad, just not as hefty.

Northwind

That's poor. I've had more than 500 out of mine without any signs of imminent death on the mtb never mind on a road bike.

Levi_501

Back from the garage fitted the XT BB, this one better last a bit longer, otherwise may have to try a Hope one or something.

The LH bearing was rough as guts

One thing that was slightly worrying, when I removed the cup, water ran out ???

Have to say I am a bit miffed at such a short time. I have always used Shimano BB (UN53 and UN54) and cannot ever rememebr wearing one out !

Northwind

Levi_501 wrote:

One thing that was slightly worrying, when I removed the cup, water ran out ???

Out of the cup or out of the shell? If there's water stuck in the frame it'll soak past the seals and give you grief for sure.

supersonic

Was the frame faced?

The Spiderman

There are 2 things that can seriously reduce external bb life.Shell always needs to be faced,and be very careful not to over tension the preload cap.
The preload cap should only be turned so as to remove slack,no more.

Levi_501

IIRC, the water was in the frame.

I think Trek 6 Series frames are faced at new.

I watched the Hope video several times; less is more, nip it up let it off then up.

Thanks for the comments guys.

supersonic

If you wasn't sure it was faced, then it it probably wasn't.

That was half the problem.

paulrockliffe

Bollocks it was. It's entirely because they are crap.

Radioactiveman

500 of road miles on a BB for offroad. I would take it back and ask for a warranty replacement at my LBS. That said my LBS know me well and know I dont pressure wash my bikes.

supersonic

paulrockliffe wrote:

Bollocks it was. It's entirely because they are crap.

Either post constructively, and with respect, or not at all.

If you don't face the frame is reduces the lifespan.

The Rookie

My old commuter was bought as a bare frame, Simano UN54 BB, I did 525 miles on it before pensioning it off, now the BB is in my daughters commuter.

500miles is very poor, but water getting in the bearings will kill them in short order.

As SS says 'unfaced' the external bearings will sit at an angle, both damaging the bearings due to the angle and often allowing water in, double whammy.

Simon

paulrockliffe

The external bearings will sit at whatever angle the thread has been cut at. Fortunately they're always cut parallel to each other. If the bearings are at an angle, then so are the cranks, so this isn't a problem. An unfaced BB, ie one with paint on it, will have a far better seal, assuming the thread angle is within a few degrees of where i should be, than the seal on the outside of the bottom bracket, so that isn't a problem either.

The fact is, hanging the bearings out there is a really bad idea, it's a trade-off between axle weight and bearing life.

rubins4

Are the bearings in these external BB's unreplaceable? Do shot bearings = new BB time?

Radioactiveman

No the bearings can be knocked out of the cups after removing the bearing shield. Dont know if I could be arsed seeing as it is only £15 for a new one.

weeksy59

I've just got less than 100miles out of

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tru ... s-ec009067

It's heading back to be replaced tomorrow.

I'll be throwing a bit more cash at it to get an improved one.

rubins4

Levi_501 wrote:

Have to say I am a bit miffed at such a short time. I have always used Shimano BB (UN53 and UN54) and cannot ever rememebr wearing one out !

I've just stuck a UN54 into a 456, its quite a chunky thing, certainly weighs some.

nicklouse

paulrockliffe wrote:

The external bearings will sit at whatever angle the thread has been cut at. Fortunately they're always cut parallel to each other. If the bearings are at an angle, then so are the cranks, so this isn't a problem. An unfaced BB, ie one with paint on it, will have a far better seal, assuming the thread angle is within a few degrees of where i should be, than the seal on the outside of the bottom bracket, so that isn't a problem either.

yer right.

sorry what a load of bollocks.

first do you know why a BB needs facing with an external bearing set up?

do you know why old internal BB needed the drive side BB face faced? (or in the odd case the non drive side!)

you obviously do not.

onto the next question does a new Frame need facing? if it has not been done then yes it does. Even a very expensive carbon road frame new last year can need it doing.

and yes often the makers hope that the faces are OK as they dont want to spend the time as it take too long and would add to the cost.

get it faced and use better bearings. sorted.

The Spiderman

weeksy59 wrote:

I've just got less than 100miles out of

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tru ... s-ec009067

It's heading back to be replaced tomorrow.

I'll be throwing a bit more cash at it to get an improved one.

Who installed it? Points to incorrect installation to me....

weeksy59

The Spiderman wrote:

weeksy59 wrote:

I've just got less than 100miles out of

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tru ... s-ec009067

It's heading back to be replaced tomorrow.

I'll be throwing a bit more cash at it to get an improved one.

Who installed it? Points to incorrect installation to me....

Shop where i got my replacement frame.

I've given the bike a good clean and will check it again tomorrow.

stubs

I would be most worried about the water coming out of the BB. The odd drop is understandable from condensation, but more than that means it is getting in from somewhere most likely through the seattube slot. Cut up an old inner tube slide it over seat tube fit post and clamp roll up the inner tube so it covers slot and clamp. It looks a bit manky but keeps the water and crud out.

bomberesque

4,000 km last year on my road touring bike with a shimano hone HT2 crank fitted (not sure the level of BB that comes with that) and still going

was your frame faced?
do you ever jet wash it? (sorry, but many people do....)
how did the bearing look when you took it out? if wet on the inside then there's likely to be your culprit; water in the BB shell will kill HT2 bearings dead in days

/Edit; Sorry hadn't read all the way through.

face frame (should be a few quid by a friendly LBS)
stop water getting inside the frame

joshtp

my truvative BB is shot after less than 9 months of fairly regular use in all weather. not bad, but not good... unfortunately i cant replace it yet as im lacking money... so i have to put up with the cracking and poping for a few more weeks.

jayson

All this chat bout knackered HT II bearing is not exactly filling me with confidence after recently fittin a m590 deore crankset with external bb cups.

Ive had XT external bb's in the past and they lasted an age but the new deore is a bit of anu unknown to me so far and u guys here are not making me any easier!!!

Heres hopin......

supersonic

Did you face the frame?

joshtp

supersonic wrote:

Did you face the frame?

what, me?
no, my frame isnt faced... bad i know.. but its the bb that came in the bike... im gonna get it faced before i fit the next one... which will be soon.

jayson

supersonic wrote:

Did you face the frame?

I had my frame faced yeh, figured if im gon do it i may aswell do it right.