3 bottom brackets in 3 years... WHY?

gailm61

I have a Ridgeback Panorama. I have had to replace the bottom bracket yearly despite not completing nearly the required mileage RE needing a replacement. What could be wrong with the bike? or whatever ?

I am not technically minded tbh. . . .any ideas gratefully recieved

Gail

benpinnick

Do you own a jet wash?

njee20

There is no required mileage, I've killed BB bearings in no time at all! One of those things

cooldad

I blame Wiggle.
Doesn't seem fair to give a proper cruddie answer.

agentsammo

never mind 3 in a year, my bike went through3 of them in the 1st 4 weeks of owning it, turns out they were slightly to big for the frame and halfords didn't realise. Now i'm on my fourth one in 3 years, also been through 3 cranks and chainsets, also worn away one rear cassette and knackered a front gear mech and been through 8 pairs of brake cables and gear cables, buckled 2 sets of wheels (front and back) and had to have a wheel rebuild aswell on the back because of 5broken spokes.

All this without going near a trail or rough ground, just my daily commute to work which is only 13 miles round trip over a path

my bike is a carrera vulcan disc 2009, never buying a bike from halfords again, poor service and rude staff

cooldad

Diddums. Nice whinge.
Seeing as the components are common to millions of bikes, I suggest you are rubbish at maintenance.
Or something.

benpinnick

How can a BB be a bit too big for a frame? Its either 68 or 73. Not really any variance in that regard, and 5mm seems more than a bit.

nicklouse

sounds like a idiot is looking after the bike.

njee20

How can a BB be a bit too big for a frame? Its either 68 or 73. Not really any variance in that regard, and 5mm seems more than a bit.

BB30? If the shell is slightly too small you may crush the bearings.

nicklouse

njee20 wrote:

How can a BB be a bit too big for a frame? Its either 68 or 73. Not really any variance in that regard, and 5mm seems more than a bit.

BB30? If the shell is slightly too small you may crush the bearings.

but as this is the crudcatcher and there has been little info provided stop pretending this is the Tech/Workshop area

benpinnick

njee20 wrote:

How can a BB be a bit too big for a frame? Its either 68 or 73. Not really any variance in that regard, and 5mm seems more than a bit.

BB30? If the shell is slightly too small you may crush the bearings.

njee, Its a 4 year old Carrera Vulcan.... None of your fancy XC whippet stuff round those parts

Northwind

That Ridgeback comes with a UN54 according to the webz, which to be fair ought to last for ages with the sort of use that bike's designed for, and is a self contained unit so can't really be fitted wrong or anything like that. Square taper's not what it used to be but still, they last pretty well. How many miles in your 3 years?

agentsammo wrote:

never mind 3 in a year, my bike went through3 of them in the 1st 4 weeks of owning it, turns out they were slightly to big for the frame and halfords didn't realise.

Er, yeah, total bollocks.

Anonymous

Never had a BB need replacement, even though I thought maybe it was about time yet it didn't need it (and then I proceeded to forget utterly the thread direction and seized it on solid, still fine though).

And that's GXP which everyone slates as being rubbish. Perfectly fine if you fit them right (err, read the instructions, 10 minute job, dead easy). Oh, and I don't face frames either :P (arguably GXP doesn't need it but that's a matter of somewhat heated debate opinion. Frankly the fact I've not needed to replace a BB in 4 years says something).

Clank

Anonymous

Good point.

stubs

3 BBs in 3 years I wish mine lasted that long. My Canyon has an XT BB in that is getting a bit rumbly, I will try and get a couple more rides out of it. Basically I consider a BB a disposable item and if I get a year out of a £30 BB I am a happy bunny. All depends on where you ride I suppose if your pedalling through ankle deep gritty Pennine sludge regulary no bearing is going to last very long.

njee20

njee, Its a 4 year old Carrera Vulcan.... None of your fancy XC whippet stuff round those parts

Ah, yes, didn't read that, was thinking Boardman or sommat!

but as this is the crudcatcher and there has been little info provided stop pretending this is the Tech/Workshop area

A sterling point!

YeehaaMcgee

Clank wrote:

Some of us just prefer the CC for advice, I guess. Plus, it's deemed acceptable to give advice, coupled with the kind of insult salvo that leads to permanent mental scarring.

Gazlar

gailm61 wrote:

I have a Ridgeback Panorama. I have had to replace the bottom bracket yearly despite not completing nearly the required mileage RE needing a replacement. What could be wrong with the bike? or whatever ?

I am not technically minded tbh. . . .any ideas gratefully recieved

Gail

I'm not technically minded either but i'm always happy to inspect a young lady's bottom bracket for unnecessary damage.

In fact I have a friend who's girlfriends bottom bracket gets smashed apart every year, usually around his birthday.

welcome to the crudcatcher gail, its a dark, sorrowful place with more innuendo than a weekend with Bruno Tonioni

YeehaaMcgee

GAZLAR!!!
Glad you're back, where the hell have you been?

Gazlar

ive been on my jollys in a field in devon. Although I did find a mini DH, 4x and northshore course with a total wipeout assault course (unfortunately I had no bike with me but it is going to be the venue for my mates stag do I'm arranging)

YeehaaMcgee

did you remember to bury all the bodies in the field?

Gazlar

i buried most of all the bodies in the field