Wheel issue and bottom bracket problem

rogerv78

Ok so I have a pair of reynolds assault carbon wheels I bought a couple of years ago and recently noticed that the rear one had a slight buckle in it, now I am fully confident in sorting this out so got my spoke key and started to adjust the spokes, when I got to 2 of them as I went to turn them they just completely broke off, so I now have 2 spokes without nipples to adjust, what's the best course of action? Can I just buy any nipples and how easy would it be to replace them ? Do I need new spokes (which they are bladed ) or is this more of a rebuild in a shop ??? Would like to try and sort without it costing the earth !!!

Right next problem is my bottom bracket, it's a shimano hollowtech ii bb r60, I replaced it a couple of years ago and recently I started hearing clicking noises so I took the crank off and turning the bearing on the non drove side you can feel it's very gritty unlike the other, it says on the casing DO NOT DISASSEMBLE, is this just a straight replacement or can I service it ? I'm still a bit confused that it has gone already considering they are supposed to last 100s of miles ?

Any advice on either of these would be appreciated

Thanks

shirley_basso

Shimano BB just replace they are quite cheap. Replace like with like. If it's a press fit (I think it is) you need a special tool so ask your bike shop to do so. Expect to pay 40 quid or so including the new BB itself.

As for the spokes - this shouldn't be too hard to replace or repair. You'll probably need to remove the tyre and tube and rim tape if there is some The tricky part will be replacing the nipple depending on how it's assembled. Some resources online will tell you the spoke length and brand it was which broke. Be warned though as if it's a well used wheel it could be time to replace them all.

If you know exactly what hub and rim you have this should be easy to find out. Otherwise you may have to remove an intact spoke and measure it.

Remember that drive side and non drive side are different lengths usually. Remember to re-lace them the same as they came off.

Nick Payne

Re the wheel, is it the spokes or nipples that broke? Your message doesn't make it clear. If it's the nipples, I'd replace all of them, as some of the other nipples are probably going the same way. That's what I did recently on a wheel that had been in storage for a considerable period, and a couple of the nipples had corroded and broken. I just bought a complete wheel's worth of nipples and replaced all of them.

keef66

Shimano press-fit BBs are not designed to be serviced or removed & reinstalled. Just tap out the old cups with a drift or suitably sized screwdriver. Support the BB shell when you're doing it.

You can press in the replacement using a specific tool, a headset press, or something homemade with threaded rod, nuts, washers and spacers. Use a suitably sized socket to ensure you're only pressing on the outer part of the bearing.

Mad_Malx

I don't think shimano hollowtech ii r60 is press fit.
Cheap and very simple to change with tool.
Agree should last longer but depends on weather use and probably random factors. I've had them last 5 years all weathers or 2.

keef66

Mad_Malx wrote:

I don't think shimano hollowtech ii r60 is press fit.
Cheap and very simple to change with tool.
Agree should last longer but depends on weather use and probably random factors. I've had them last 5 years all weathers or 2.

You're correct, BBR60 is the threaded Ultegra BB. I should learn to check before typing...

@ OP - Disregard all my waffle about press-fit. Just crack on with the normal Shimano BB tools. My first 105 HT2 BB lasted 3 years before it started clicking. Bearings were still smooth though. Replaced it with an Ultegra one just because CRC had them on sale for £11, and that was over 10 years ago. And it's on the winter bike. It does have full mudguards though.

If your bike keeps eating BBs maybe you're over-tightening the plastic preload cap? Alternatively your BB shell itself may need facing?

rogerv78

Yes thanks for the replies, yes it's the threaded bb so fairly easy to remove with the correct tools, which I have ! I just thought being the Ultegra version it would last longer ? I have taken it out cleaned and re packed with grease and see how it goes ? Surely you can't over tighten the plastic cap as it's only meant to be finger tight anyway ?

keef66

Some people do manage to over tighten them, but yes, finger tight with the little Shimano tool.

Did you prise out the seals and clean / repack the bearings, or just regreased the threads and reinstalled?

davebradswmb

rogerv78 wrote:

I just thought being the Ultegra version it would last longer ?

That's what I thought, but although it says Ultegra on it, they aren't charging Ultegra prices for it (around £20 or so) so to a degree I guess we shouldn't be surprised that they are a bit rubbish really. I too am a bit cheesed off with how quickly these BBs deteriorate and I was going to replace the current one on my winter bike with a Hope which is more like £80, but as it happens I'm upgrading my summer bike from Campagnolo Veloce to Record, and therefore the Veloce BB is going to find its way onto the winter bike.

Some people argue that you can buy 4 Ultegra BBs for the price of the Hope, and the Hope would therefore have to last a long time to recoup the outlay, but I find that the Ultegra BBs quickly develop clicks and groans and although they are still rideable for long after this I find it difficult to live with. Also you can change the bearings in the Hope, it will cost you much the same as an Ultegra BB for a pair.

keef66

Well with my sample of N=2 the Ultegra (6700) one is outlasting the 105 (5600) one by some margin. It could be entirely random variation. They are both the older, chunkier HT2 BB cups. Which again may mean nothing.

They claimed to have improved them in some way while retaining the same size bearings when the new ones were later introduced, but as usual, Shimano never spell out what if any the material differences are between the various models of BB.

I also have a factory fitted pressfit Shimano BB in my carbon bike. That too is coming up for 5 years and is still silky smooth. I'm expecting it to outlast me since it rarely goes out in the wet.

If I was commuting and getting through BBs in less than a year I might consider a Hope, but given how simple it is to remove a HT2 chainset and replace a BB I'll just continue to buy whichever Shimano is on offer at the time.