PF30 BB maintenance
ChrisSelkirk
Posts: 7
I have a PF30 bottom bracket in a Boardman CX team frame. Three months after purchase I was getting a clunking noise from the bottom bracket so took it back to Halfords for repair. They advised that the PF30 BB bearings require regular greasing. I have been unable to find any procedure for this in the internet. Can anyone provide the method for this re-greasing, or tell me whether this is really required?
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Comments
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Just Youtube PF30/bb30
It's difficult to assess what state your bearings are in... perhaps only 3 months old, your crank may only need a nipping up.
Generally PF30/bb30 is the same for road or mtb... get some fresh bearings... bash out the old ones... press in the new ones. stick the cranks back in and away you go... ok there are some subtle differences but nothing major.
You need a couple of specialist tools... or your own diy versions... a bit of patience... a decent workstand etc
sounds like Halfords took one look.. didnt understand how to do the job, went ooo needs greasin mate and handed the bike back??
As always, best to do it yourself, do it proper.0 -
I recently refurbed my BB30. New bearings and regrease. They were starting to get a bit noisy. The thing that surprised me most of all is the amount of dirt that can get washed behind the bearings from being flicked up through the cabling holes. Not all but a lot of PF30/BB30 bikes have a small slot underneath the BB where dirt can so easily get in.
Anyway. Removed and pressed in new bearings - 5 minute job with removal tool and a press. Bike is smooth and quite again. It is the first time I have had to change bearings out and I put that down to the 2 weeks of solid wet riding I did on it in March. Before that I never had a problem over 2 years.0 -
PF30 normally has a sort of tube extension that shields the bearings from water/mud that gets into the BB area, so not as much of a problem as for BB30 (I have both).
I'm surprised that you are having problems after only 3 months, I know it depends on usage and conditions, but even so. I think I would be pressing Halfords on this, after all a CX is supposed to be a cyclo cross bike, so really should be able to cope with a bit of rain.
It is a good idea when installing them to use waterproof grease under and around the seal that fits between the crank and the actual bearing, helps keep some of the water/mud out. Other than that I'm not sure there is much you can do, the bearings themselves normally have a seal built into them so it is not easy to get grease into the actual bearing without removing that, perhaps it would help but I've never bothered trying. I have PF30 on my summer bike (so only the occasional wet usage) and so far have 5000 miles on the original BB.
The PF30 BB can produce creaks etc. in some frames not because of a problem with the bearings but due to slight movements within the frame. I know that Cervelo recommend the use of loctite to fix this in the BBright BB (which uses a PF30 variant):
http://bbright.net/BBrightTM-Press-Fit-Instructions.pdf
but no idea if this is your problem, or a recommended solution for a Boardman bike. I've not had any issue (so far) on my R5 and so have not had to try it.0 -
Thanks for your replies. They confirmed my feelings that the "mechanic" at Halfords didn't know what he was talking about. I asked them to repair the BB under warranty which they have done, therefore admitting that the fault was with the bottom bracket or their fitting of the same, not with my lack of maintenance. I would not normally allow Halfords to work on my bike and only took it their as it was under warranty. The experience has just reinforced my low opinion.0
