Bottom Bracket issue on a new(ish) bike

Apeman14

Hi People,
I've been riding my newly bought carbon framed bike since June. I've been on 20+ weekend rides and done just over 750 miles in that time (data from my cycling app), and on the last two I noticed a grinding noise from the bottom bracket. My local repair shop said that it might be a bearing issue in the bracket, but also it could have been that there was a bit of looseness in the bracket, so he tightened them all up and told me to go back out and come back if it was still doing it.
After a short ride this morning the noise is still there and it would appear that it is a bearing issue in the bottom bracket. Before getting the inevitable repair done, I wondered whether this is something that I should take up with the company that I bought from? Is it normal to have this kind of thing happen after what is a (relatively) short time? Do bottom brackets often have such issues?
Your thoughts and advice would be appreciated.

p.s. I haven't mentioned the bike or the company as some people may respond about the brand rather than the issue - it is a well known brand/company though.

Many Thanks

dowtcha

I had the same issue with my first bike which was a gaint defy. The bottom bracket was a fsa mega exo and gaint would not replace it under warranty. The second bottom bracket lasted about another 200O miles and then failed. The third last 7000 and started to fail a couple a weeks ago. I bought the tools and swapped out the fsa cranks and bottom bracket and replaced it with shimano parts. shimano bb are roughly £10 verus the fsa costing £40. At the time gaint claimed bb are consumables. You don't mention what brand the bb is, if it's fsa I would say welcome to the club but I have just left.

Anonymous

Its a consumable, and if you have done 20+ weekend rides then it sounds about 6 months old.
I think that age of bike is more relevant than milage TBH.

How old is the bike? Is it an online company?

Its always worth questioning it with the seller, but I would try not to get wound up about it if they will not replace it FOC.

We have to accept that things are done on the cheap to keep costs down.
If its an online purchase then that makes it all the more just one of those things you accept in buying a bike that way.

Maybe be prepared to meet half way, rather than dig your heels in.

If you do pay to get it changed, it would be good to see if it can be replaced with a better quality one.
That way its an upgrade rather than an unwanted expense.

The best thing would be to learn how to change it yourself if its one of the easier types.
They sometimes just need cleaning and re greasing, so you could maintain it yourself rather than waiting until it fails.

iPete

As above.

If it's Hollowtech, buy the tool required, a new BB and learnt to re-fit yourself.
It's good to know how to do it when they get creaky as often a re-grease and re-fit sorts them out.
I'd hate to go to a shop every time the bike creaked.

diamonddog

Take it back to where you bought it as it should be in warranty if bought from a shop, although you could have voided it by taking it to your lbs.

Apeman14

Thank you for the responses so far. The bike is 5 months old and it is a Shimano Ultegra groupset /part (not that I have any clue whether they are more reliable than others), but I have been in touch with the company and am awaiting a response - I bought it online so may have to accept what they say in terms of replacement or repair. It's just that it does seem a short time for things like bearings to go - It's not as if I've been out on it 4 or 5 times a week and done 5000 miles... hence the question from those of you with more bike knowledge.
I'd like to get the tools and then have a go a replacing something like this myself, but just don't feel confident enough yet, always thinking I'd do more damage than repair. I'm sure there is an idiots guide on youtube, so maybe will pluck up the courage at some point, but at present just want to get back out on the road.


Thanks again, and just for info it is a Planet X pro carbon bought from the company on line with the full 6800 Ultegra groupset.

dj58

Fortunately for you the BB on your bike is a 68mm wide threaded BSA type, so will be an external type, probably a BB-RS500 to match the Shimano HT II RS500 crankset. If PX won't send you a replacement, just buy the tools and new BB and do the job yourself, Workshop forum and Youtube videos are your friends. You can upgrade the BB to a Ultegra spec SM-BBR60 while you are at it.

Wheelspinner

Hmm, you lot are odd. I'd be very unhappy if a *new* bike BB failed in that amount of time/mileage. 6 months and 750 miles is sod all, unless it was ridden 98% of the time in rain and/or mud, and even then it should be fine if even basic cleaning kept things tidy.

Yes they are a "consumable" but 750 miles?? Pfft that's a few weeks riding for some people...

sungod

^^^ this

the bb should last many times longer

it's straightforward to change one, if you want to diy offer planet x the option to send you a new bb *and* the adaptor for removing/fitting, it's their easiest/cheapest option by far, you'd be doing them a favour

iPete

Wouldn't exactly be pleased... but then I'd want to be riding the bike, not trying to send it back or dropping it off at the LBS to get fixed. It's a 15 minute job you can do at home.

You'll probably spend more money at the LBS or in petrol or postage than just doing it. Ultegra BB for £10 + p&p:
https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-ul ... 62947.html

Then add £10-30 for tools which you'll then have to repeat the job. Might even want to buy the tools first and re-fit what's on there. If you can get a free BB for future use posted over, then great.

edit: here you go..video on changing a BSA bb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPX8Hv3Pjk0 and a general video on creaks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEiIFbIklJg

simon_masterson

It shouldn't fail in that timescale, but you may as well use the opportunity to get a decent one anyway. The tools aren't that expensive, and it's not a very hard job to do.

Anonymous

It probably just needs cleaning and refitting.
If so, nothing has 'failed'.

Citizens advice will probably tell you it should work for 7 years or some such rubbish.

The other thing is that a lot of people (and I am not saying the OP is such a person) will lie through their teeth about how much use something has had.

john1967

Just because you can do a diy job doesn't mean you should.if you do you will definitely void any warranty.If you bought a brand new car and the clutch started slipping after 5 months i wouldn't advice you to buy some tools and a haynes manual and change the clutch yourself.You have consumer rights.You have a contract with the seller.Your bike must be fit for purpose and last a reasonable amount of time.If it is less than 6 months old PX must prove it wasn't faulty when you bought it.Do not let them of the hook.

Anonymous

Name and shame ......

iPete

Changing a Shimano BB is the car equivalent of changing the window wipers. By all means ask for some free wipers but do the work yourself instead of sending it to a garage.

Name and shame? it says further up and as he hasn't even contacted them yet, I'm not sure there is anything to get uppity about..

Anonymous

DALESMAN999 wrote:

Name and shame ......

Nice 5th post

thistle_

Apeman14 wrote:

I noticed a grinding noise from the bottom bracket.

Grinding noise or creaking under load?

If it's creaking the like others have said take the old one out clean and regrease the threads and put it back in and it often solves the problem.

If it's grinding take your chain off and spin the cranks. They should spin around a few times before stopping. If not then you probably need a new bottom bracket.

Anonymous

john1967 wrote:

Just because you can do a diy job doesn't mean you should.if you do you will definitely void any warranty.If you bought a brand new car and the clutch started slipping after 5 months i wouldn't advice you to buy some tools and a haynes manual and change the clutch yourself.You have consumer rights.You have a contract with the seller.Your bike must be fit for purpose and last a reasonable amount of time.If it is less than 6 months old PX must prove it wasn't faulty when you bought it.Do not let them of the hook.

The warranty is already voided technically as the bike has been to LBS.

If you buy a bike online to save money then grow some balls and deal with this type of issue rather than banging on about consumer rights.

A BB is worn down by use and its a consumable part. 6 months is long enough to wear it out.
Saying you only used it twice (or whatever) does not hold much water IMO.

Re Planet X (or online warranty issues generally). Are you meant to return the bike to them for all work for fear of voiding the warranty?

I think the OP should have emailed them before taking to a shop or asking for advice on here.
Then it may have been sorted by them and he would have had a written record if they advised him to have it change elsewhere.

I guess the only problem now is if the frame is damaged in any way thats not 100% obviously due to manufacture.

Thats pretty unlikely and its been tightened now, so just see what PX say now and get it cleaned or replaced with Ultra spec one and get out and ride it!

Anonymous

thistle (MBNW) wrote:

Apeman14 wrote:

I noticed a grinding noise from the bottom bracket.

Grinding noise or creaking under load?

If it's creaking the like others have said take the old one out clean and regrease the threads and put it back in and it often solves the problem.

If it's grinding take your chain off and spin the cranks. They should spin around a few times before stopping. If not then you probably need a new bottom bracket.

Would the LBS tightening the crank have stopped a faulty BB grinding temporarily?
If its gone its gone I would have thought.

LBS would have been better to have cleaned and regressed it.
A good start to a possible new customer relationship perhaps, rather than a fob off tighten up.

Apeman14

Thanks again for all comments.
I have been back to Planet X and there response is as follows:

"Noises from a bike at this point can be commonplace at this point in it's lifespan, especially if it has not been serviced before. They are normally caused as parts start to 'settle' and sometimes need tightening up. The sounds that you are experiencing may not be limited to the bottom bracket as carbon frames are very good at transmitting sounds from place to place.

I would recommend getting the bike inspected and serviced by a local bike shop. Alternatively we can get the bike back for an inspection. This can be done by either dropping the bike off at our showroom in Sheffield (http://www.planetx.co.uk/stores) or give us a call on 01709 38 66 66 and we can arrange a courier to collect a boxed bike for £25."

This sounds a bit of a cop out by PX, although I do understand they have to at least ask a few questions to avoid anyone and everyone trying to blag a free part or repair. The bike is currently with my LBS - the mechanic there is pretty good and is going to look at the bracket with a view to replacing it if needs. I don't see the point of sending it to PX at my own expense, but will consider sending them the replaced bottom bracket back to them if it's damaged to make the point that it's not actually just "a bit of noise"

I guess it's down to what the mechanic finds out....