New ST BB - is this normal?

jimothy78
jimothy78 Posts: 1,407
edited November 2012 in MTB workshop & tech
Hi all,

just received a new square taper bottom bracket, and don't have any past experience to tell me if this is normal.

Basically, the spindle turns within the body, but there's a lot of resistance - so much so that it stops rotating as soon as I let go. Now I know that once fitted and under load I'm probably not going to notice this, and it may well free up a bit once broken in, but just wondered if it was normal for them to start out this stiff?

thanks in advance,
Jim

Comments

  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Normal, and a good thing.
  • Ouija
    Ouija Posts: 1,386
    Chunkers1980 wrote:
    Normal, and a good thing.

    +1

    If it started out to easy to turn it would only get looser as your rode it, giving a very short lifespan. The fact that it's stiff to start with means it probably remain on the 'main sequence' of being just right before it wears out.
  • jimothy78
    jimothy78 Posts: 1,407
    Lovely, thanks for the reassurance, both of you.
  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    As long as it's smooth, then it's fine. Greased bearings won't just spin on their own, but they shouldn't feel "gritty".
    My photos

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