Knackered bottom bracket - need help picking a replacement

curium
curium Posts: 815
edited May 2010 in Workshop
My Specialized Tricross Comp Bottom Bracket is sounding distinctly fucked after 1500 miles and 10 months service.

According to this page listing the specs on Evan's cycles, the bottom bracket is a "Sealed cartridge, square taper, 68mm x 103mm".

I've looked on Wiggle and Chain Reaction Cycles but they don't seem to do this BB in 68 x 103mm.

Here are some photos:

4520494130_619600f187.jpg

4519857715_13583cd39e.jpg

Can anyone advise on a suitable Bottom Bracket that will fit and hopefully prove more durable than the existing unit. I'd rather not have to change my cranks.

Also can you advise on the necessary tools required to replace the BB. I've had my eye on getting this bicycle specific toolkit but if I only need 1 specialist tool for this job (I have spanners, allen keys, etc in my general toolbox) then I can put that purchase off till I'm a bit more flush

Cheers!

Comments

  • ynyswen24
    ynyswen24 Posts: 703
    Looks like the Shimano Cartridge Bottom Bracket fitting/removal tool is the one you'll need to get that out, your local bike shop should have one for you. They should be able to source a suitable 68-103 BB to match.
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    I just needed to remove an Octalink BB, so I could install a Hollowtech II.
    Rather than buy tools for removing a BB that I'll never use again, I went to LBS and asked him to just loosen them until hand tight... £2, sorted.
    I have the HT 2 tools. :wink:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    you need standard tools, but tbh, i'd get your lbs to do this one, as it is going to be a pain to source the BB as madison no longer list that size as available so you'll have to find a different manufacturer for your square taper :cry:
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,570
    103 mm bottom brackets are readily available. The Sugino 103 mm bb is a good choice, good quality with sealed bearings.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Well I have failed to find any affordable 103mm BB's online. There's a few available if you want to spend over £50. Found quite a few threads from pre 2009 Spesh Langster owners complaining about the lack of 103mm replacement BBs.

    Could you make do with a 68 x 107? They seem to be freely / cheaply available (eg Shimano UN54). It would move your chainline just 2mm to the right, so you might have to fine tune the front mech.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,570
    Never heard of Google?

    http://www.italian-solutions.co.uk/prod ... tid=161595

    http://www.velodromeshop.org.uk/index.p ... uct&id=833

    http://www.outspokencycles.co.uk/bottom ... acket.html (out of stock at the moment though).
  • curium
    curium Posts: 815
    hopper1 wrote:
    I just needed to remove an Octalink BB, so I could install a Hollowtech II.
    Rather than buy tools for removing a BB that I'll never use again, I went to LBS and asked him to just loosen them until hand tight... £2, sorted.
    I have the HT 2 tools. :wink:
    What is a Hollowtech? Is it better than what I currently have? Would I need to replace my crank to fit one?

    Is the 103mm BB an out-moded design? I would of thought Specialized would fit fairly standard parts to their bikes.

    Should I just buy any 103mm square taper BB I can find or will some last longer than others?

    Cheers for the help!
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Hollowtech II uses outboard bearings but the axle is an integral part of the chainset, so you'd need to replace the whole thing.

    Can you be completely sure your existing BB is 103mm? That length axle seems to be listed under track bikes in the links andyp posted above. I'd have thought you'd need a longer axle with a double chainset??

    (I did Google for 68x103 bottom bracket and found nobody selling one in stock / under £50)

    If the Sugino BB is intended just for track bikes, will the seals be sufficiently weatherproof??
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    103mm is the spindle length for the Tricross Single.

    According to this the geared Tricross has a 113mm spindle.
    More problems but still living....
  • Wheelspinner
    Wheelspinner Posts: 6,710
    What about this one? Looks like a damned close match for your requirements?


    http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Tifosi-Carbon-Campagnolo-Fit-Bottom-Bracket-102mm-ENG-/360253059136?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item53e0c17040
    Open One+ BMC TE29 Seven 622SL On One Scandal Cervelo RS
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    That's what I was thinking. Loks like you have 2 chainrings from the 1st photo.

    Which is good news since 68x113 is easy / cheap to come by.

    Get a crank extractor and a shimano BB tool and whip the thing out. It may have a readable label on it giving the size, alternatively, measure the axle.
  • curium
    curium Posts: 815
    keef66 wrote:
    That's what I was thinking. Loks like you have 2 chainrings from the 1st photo.

    Which is good news since 68x113 is easy / cheap to come by.

    Get a crank extractor and a shimano BB tool and whip the thing out. It may have a readable label on it giving the size, alternatively, measure the axle.

    I have a triple chainring. Do you think that the BB would be the same as a double?

    I'd rather have the replacement ready to fit before removing the existing BB which is why I've not just removed it and measured but I guess if that's the only way to be sure...

    You'd think that the correct spec would be easily available on the net.

    Cheers for your help guys!
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    May well be an even longer spindle for a triple.
  • curium
    curium Posts: 815
    edited May 2010
    You'll never believe this. I've resolved my BB problems.

    After I ordered a new BB, crank-puller and BB-remover tool, I got the drive side crank off and immediately i notice how now the BB is turning fine with no apparent roughness. So i put the drive-side crank bank on and once again i detect the roughness that led to me posting.

    Turns out that there is a little, black ring of plastic around the tube which sticks out just above the inner ring. I guess the purpose is to stop the chain coming off the inside chain-ring. Anyway this some how managed to slip down the tube and was rubbing against the chain ring.

    I only noticed once I had got the drive-side crank off and gave the spindle a spin.

    I feel such a plonker but thought I'd post so that others with similar symptoms can check to see if this is an issue for them.

    For future reference the BB on the 2009 specialized Tricross Triple is 68x118mm
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    That's a Deda dog fang, and is indeed designed to stop the chain dropping off the inner chainring. Set it up with just 1mm clearance when the chain is on the inner ring.

    At least now you're properly equipped to replace the BB if you ever do wear it out!

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