Tiagra bottom bracket life

eccles
eccles Posts: 96
edited March 2012 in Workshop
I've had a tiagra external bottom bracket in my road bike since mid december 2011. I discovered this morning that one set of bearings are completely shot and the other set are on their way out. I've done roughly 1300 miles since fitting the BB and frankly I'm amazed that it's knackered already. I don't keep my bike scrupulously clean but I do give it a wash using a low power hose after every ride and I oil the chain and the cables. Has anyone else had a bottom bracket go this quickly or, on the other hand, am I expecting too much of a fairly cheap external bottom bracket over winter and does this happen quite often.

Comments

  • mcj78
    mcj78 Posts: 634
    Seems fairly common - I remember when the external BBs first came out loads of folk were complaining about the life-span of the cheaper shimano ones, mine started clicking after a couple of hundred (wet commuting) miles & after 1k or so later it now sounds like a rusty toolkit falling down a liftshaft :-/ still fairly smooth though...
    Moda Issimo
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  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    eccles wrote:
    I've had a tiagra external bottom bracket in my road bike since mid december 2011. I discovered this morning that one set of bearings are completely shot and the other set are on their way out. I've done roughly 1300 miles since fitting the BB and frankly I'm amazed that it's knackered already. I don't keep my bike scrupulously clean but I do give it a wash using a low power hose after every ride and I oil the chain and the cables. Has anyone else had a bottom bracket go this quickly or, on the other hand, am I expecting too much of a fairly cheap external bottom bracket over winter and does this happen quite often.
    was the BB shell faced? as alignment of the bearing is important.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
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  • eccles
    eccles Posts: 96
    I faced and chased the bottom bracket shell myself before I fitted the BB so it was definitely aligned properly. I'm pretty sure the only reason the BB wore out is the amount of riding I've done since fitting it. I'm just amazed that it could have worn out this quickly.
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    Shimano Hollowtech II BBs should last thousands of miles, I've never had an issue with them on alloy and carbon frames and I've never had the shell faced either.
    Maybe you had a dodgy one, just get an Ultegra one if you have doubts about quality, you can pick one up for less than £20
  • eccles
    eccles Posts: 96
    I'm sorely tempted to bite the bullet and go for a hope one. I can get it cheap through work and we've never had anyone come back for replacement bearings so they must last well. A good investment in the long run I suppose, even though the original cost is a bit high.
  • sandyballs
    sandyballs Posts: 577
    I have just taken out a Dura Ace 7900 that has done about 200 miles max, i can PM you pics and details if you are interested would want no more than a £10 posted, but would haggle.
  • eccles
    eccles Posts: 96
    Sorry mate, I've literally just bought a really cheap replacement one of someone else on this forum so I don't need one now. Thanks for the offer though :)

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