Bottom Bracket Dead?

Canis Lupus

Hey,

No experience with BBs. I'm touring, pedal has had some play last couple of weeks but mostly last few days when I've been in mountainous areas (has 10,000km on it now). Didn't notice anything else but today got on the bike to leave hotel and noticed pedals weren't turning right and were stiff and the drive side has unscrewed a bit (see pic).

Is the BB dead? Or is it as simple as retightening it or will it just loosen again? (I just need to get around 300km more out of it).

Cheers.

gman2k

If you are stuck, a removal and regreasing may get you out of a spot, but with that sort of mileage, and judging by the muck your riding through it's probably knackered!

07Lapierre

Its "Donald Ducked"!!!

Canis Lupus

Just realised I've also left my fuel bottle in the taxi that brought me back to my hostel so no more cooking... I'm taking it as a sign, home from Accra for a break.... I apparently show up at 9am tomorrow and I might get a bus.... gotta love Africa.....

cheers guys.

seamus

If you have the time and the tools, take the crankset out, ram a whole pile of grease in the bearings, screw it back in and you'll easily squeeze another 300km out of it.

victorcarrera

I wouldn't ride it like that. There is a high risk you will damage both the BB threads and worse the frame threads ( if they are not damaged already). It is not necessarily beyond use but may be locking because the drive side bearing is now out of alignment with the non drive side.
In any case you will probably need more than a multitool to remove the crank bolts and then check the threads and torque both sides of the BB to 35-50 Nm.
I think the reason this happens is that that type of BB is normally installed with short handled spanner rather than a torque wrench resulting in insufficient torque.

TopCat01

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Just realised I've also left my fuel bottle in the taxi that brought me back to my hostel so no more cooking... I'm taking it as a sign, home from Accra for a break.... I apparently show up at 9am tomorrow and I might get a bus.... gotta love Africa.....

cheers guys.

Off Topic, but I was looking at the photo of the BB, and was just thinking how much the red muck reminded me of a trip I took with a few mates last year to, of all places, Ghana!

How long you been there?

I'm sure you will get a bus, but I'm also pretty sure it won't be at 9! :rolleyes:

petethedrummer

I worked in Kumasi, Ghana for a month a few years ago. Great place. Seemed very safe and the locals were very friendly.

It was there I developed my love for Guiness FES.

TopCat01

Oh no, not a fan of the Guinness out there at all.

We started in Accra, then up to Kumasi via Koforidua, then down to Cape Coast, and back to Accra (2 weeks). Great country, and as you say, felt very safe. And biking is a great way to see the place and really take it all in.

petethedrummer

The Guinness is an acquired taste and you can't expect it to be anything like our Guinness. Completely different drink. But at 7.5% you can't go wrong. The Gordon Spark was a nice livener (more of a lady's drink).

I was working the Guinness Brewery on a new Guinness extra smooth. Unfortunately I didn't get to tour around as I was up to my eyeballs the whole time. Would love to go back.

Did you get to Rosie and Ryan's Irish Pub in Kumasi?

Canis Lupus

TopCat01 wrote: »

Off Topic, but I was looking at the photo of the BB, and was just thinking how much the red muck reminded me of a trip I took with a few mates last year to, of all places, Ghana!

How long you been there?

I'm sure you will get a bus, but I'm also pretty sure it won't be at 9! :rolleyes:

Been in Ghana... 2ish weeks it's nice but burnt out with Africa atm, W Africa (at least the countries I've been through) is flat and boring to cycle. Looking forwards to getting to London for a break (and a bike service.... getting from Heathrow with a banjaxed bike is gonna be expensive unless by the grace of FSM I find a replacement BB in Accra although unlikely....) then off somewhere else exotic.

Mycroft H

Cup and cone BBs would be my choice for touring, unless I have a Phil woods sealed unit. The old style ones are practically indestructible.

gman2k

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Been in Ghana... 2ish weeks it's nice but burnt out with Africa atm, W Africa (at least the countries I've been through) is flat and boring to cycle. Looking forwards to getting to London for a break (and a bike service.... getting from Heathrow with a banjaxed bike is gonna be expensive unless by the grace of FSM I find a replacement BB in Accra although unlikely....) then off somewhere else exotic.

how long would it take/ cost to get one fed-exed to you?