Bottom bracket replaced after 7 months

Jabel

As per the title is this normal on a new bike (bought Nov '13 Cube Peleton Race) that has about 4,000kms on it? Just left it in for my 'free' service to be told bottom bracket was gone. It was making a clicking sound before the service but is now actually worse since I got it back and is slipping badly when I put pressure out of the saddle. Also after a 'freewheel' it sometimes doesn't find the gear it was in and I find myself pedaling air, quite dangerous that at speed!
Forgive me if I haven't explained this properly but all advice welcome.
It's going back to the shop today but just thought I'd ask on here.

Cheers
J

Lumen

You seem to be conflating three distinct issues:

1. Clicking bottom bracket.
2. Slipping gears.
3. "Pedalling air" (chain coming off chainring?)

Probably best to wait and see what the shop says.

Anyway, modern bottom brackets don't last very long. This is caused by engineering for lightness and stiffness at the expense of reliability.

Jabel

Lumen wrote: »

You seem to be conflating three distinct issues:

1. Clicking bottom bracket.
2. Slipping gears.
3. "Pedalling air" (chain coming off chainring?)

Probably best to wait and see what the shop says.

Anyway, modern bottom brackets don't last very long. This is caused by engineering for lightness and stiffness at the expense of reliability.

Cheers Lumen,
2. I honestly don't think or feel like the gears are slipping, clunking or clicking seems to be coming from bottom bracket (though I could be wrong)
3. When I say pedalling air, I mean there seems to be no resistance whatsoever when I attempt to pedal again after freewheeling, and no I'm not going at a very fast speed and just spinning to catch up, it's a strange one, never experienced it before

tunney

Jabel wrote: »

As per the title is this normal on a new bike (bought Nov '13 Cube Peleton Race) that has about 4,000kms on it? Just left it in for my 'free' service to be told bottom bracket was gone. It was making a clicking sound before the service but is now actually worse since I got it back and is slipping badly when I put pressure out of the saddle. Also after a 'freewheel' it sometimes doesn't find the gear it was in and I find myself pedaling air, quite dangerous that at speed!
Forgive me if I haven't explained this properly but all advice welcome.
It's going back to the shop today but just thought I'd ask on here.

Cheers
J

Bottom bracket will not cause slipping gears, it will not cause freewheeling issues.

Think about what a bottom bracket does and you will understand why its not possible.

The freewheeling issue is related, I suspect, to your freehub being gone, more specifically the springs that force the teeth to re-engage.

The slipping gears could be many things.

How did you clean your bike?

superlav

3. When I say pedalling air, I mean there seems to be no resistance whatsoever when I attempt to pedal again after freewheeling, and no I'm not going at a very fast speed and just spinning to catch up, it's a strange one, never experienced it before

I suspect what you're describing here is the freehub on your rear wheel not engaging. Shouldn't fail after 7 months, they can be replaced and occasionally repaired. Should be covered by warranty.

have a look at some results of this quick search

Jabel

Thanks guys, I had never heard of a freehub but that sounds exactly like the problem I'm having and completely
separate from the clicking/clunking coming from the BB. This freehub issue was never there before the service.

stripeypaint

Unless you mentioned it prior to dropping in the bike the clicking may not have been fully taken care of.
Free Services are usually just to accommodate for cable stretching and safeguarding the initial build.
Especially suring busier times ie the summer, these types of jobs wont be handled too meticulously as its not generating any further profit. People often forget bike shops are actually business's and not charity organizations.
In Irish conditions 4000km would not be premature BB wear, 'Lumen's point hit the nail on the head.
Hopefully its sorted anyway, DM me if its still giving you trouble

No Pants

I had the bottom bracket replaced on my Cube Agree SL at the 4,200km mark.

Zen0

I have about 10,000km on my current bottom bracket. Admittedly I'm relatively light and tend to spin rather than grind. I'd imagine a lot depends on your weight and pedalling style. Tell me you don't clean your bike with a power hose. The bottom bracket and the freewheel pawls both going so soon seems like a big coincidence.

nilhg

I changed mine a couple of weeks ago, almost 19,000km on it, the drive side bearing seemed to be still OK, the other one had lost its seal one side and was running a bit dry and noisey, can't really complain about that, Ultegra on an Alu Trek.

Juan More Time

I would guess a 2013 cube would have a press fit bottom bracket. The bearings probably still have plenty of life left in them. These new fangled press fit/ BB30 type bottom brackets are notorious for creaking. Your local shop will just remove the B/B bearings and refit them with loctite 641 bearing fit. The only proven solution to shut up the squeaking is a praxis works bottom bracket. These have an internal threaded portion the clamps securely into the B/B shell.

ednwireland

hollowtech bb changed twice since 2009 (avg 3-4000 km a year)

although one bike shop owner i know last year said he had to replace a load last year after the hot weather when people were sprayng tar remover on there bikes

like lumen says modern bb arent built for reliability

NeedMoreGears

I replaced my bottom bracket at 15,000km due to clicking. The freehub went soon after - it had been giving trouble for a while at that stage (slipping). I was a bit disappointed based on comparing how durable bikes were when I was a kid ; then I remembered I probably wasn't averaging 150km/week back then.

The real pain was I didn't have the tools/ability to do the job myself (press fit BB and I couldn't really see what was going on with the freehub) - first time a bike of mine had been in a shop for donkey's years.

07Lapierre

Same Hollotech BB since 2006. Average 5000klm per year on this bike.

It'll probably fail next week!

BailMeOut

I am on my third in 18 months and just 4,000kms. Is there a much better quality bearing set that just lasts longer? I'd be happy to pay 2 or 3 times the price if they lasted 2 or 3 times longer.

Jabel

In answer to the question of whether I mentioned the creaking prior to service? YES
Bike was due back to me yesterday and I rang to see what the verdict was only to find
a staff member who was 'just in' and knew nothing about it. Promised to ring me back
which they didn't so I rang this morning to be told 'yeah it was your chain'!
My chain says I? What about the clicking and freewheeling issue I returned it for?
It's ready for you to collect they said.
So I'll head over this afternoon to see but am seriously unimpressed and thinking
dark thoughts of a Michael Douglas - Falling Down nature...

ford2600

BailMeOut wrote: »

I am on my third in 18 months and just 4,000kms. Is there a much better quality bearing set that just lasts longer? I'd be happy to pay 2 or 3 times the price if they lasted 2 or 3 times longer.

Are they being fitted correctly? No high pressure water or degreaser getting in?

If you want to spend here you go
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/chris-king-bottom-bracket-road/rp-prod33554

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/hope-road-stainless-steel-bottom-bracket/rp-prod27626

RainyDay

No Pants wrote: »

I had the bottom bracket replaced on my Cube Agree SL at the 4,200km mark.

How much did it cost to replace, if you don't mind me asking?

No Pants

RainyDay wrote: »

How much did it cost to replace, if you don't mind me asking?

About €30 - €35 for the part I think, small enough that it wasn't burned into my memory. Labour was free as I bought the bike there in January 2012. I was surprised by that.

CramCycle

07Lapierre wrote: »

Same Hollotech BB since 2006. Average 5000klm per year on this bike.

It'll probably fail next week!

My first hollowtech BB lasted about 20,000km and in hindsight now, I am not convinced anything was wrong with it when I changed it as the cassette, chainrings and chain needed changing shortly after.

SuperSean

Jabel wrote: »

Also after a 'freewheel' it sometimes doesn't find the gear it was in and I find myself pedaling air, quite dangerous that at speed!

I have also had this issue and it turned out the be the freehub on the wheel itself. For awhile I thought it was the cahin / chainring cos they were worn down but even after replacing them it was still happening. I had to get replacement wheels, I opted for them cos I didn't have that expensive of wheels on my bike at the time and the cost of repairing the Freehub is pretty expensive as the wheel has to be totally rebuilt.

I'd defo bring it into a shop to get the wheel looked at though, its seriously dangerous to be out on it when its like that. I nearly killed myself after I freewheeled for a few seconds to then standing up pedaling.

GTDolanator

Hope do a very very good BB that works on shimano cranksets.ive had one now for a good few years,its been on three bikes and used to use it whilst couriering and ita still as smooth as the day i got it.best 80 ive ever spent on a bike part

Jabel

OP here, Just a not-so-quick update on the issues raised above and others that have appeared subsequently. As I mentioned in my last post I went over to collect the bike on a Friday afternoon as it was 'ready' only to find it still on the bike stand looking anything other than ready. I was then told the rear wheel bearings were gone and they had no replacements. Bearings were due in Monday morning and so off I went again and returned Mon or Tues eve to collect bike. They tried to charge me for the chain and after a lot of complaining and the intervention of the manager they let it drop as a gesture of good will. I took the bike home and cycled the next couple of days and the back wheel then developed a grinding noise by which time I was ready to explode. I returned the bike straight away and spent an hour and a half in the workshop waiting on the mechanic to fix the problem. He couldn't and after trying to cram a ton of grease into the bearings and replacing the rear cassette he said the wheel would have to be replaced (under warranty). He had no replacement to put on and I would have to wait until he ordered a new wheel (Easton EA30). He promised to get right on it...a few days passed by which time my wheel was proving to be an enormous pain in the ass as it was clunking/dropping/freewheeling at regular intervals. Shop rang to inform me due to a change in supplier there was a delay in getting my new wheel and can't get a firm answer on when they can get it. That was about a week ago and the shop manager rang me this morning finally saying they have a replacement wheel to put on until the correct new wheel arrives which may be another two weeks. Phew.. that took some writing!
So in conclusion, should I just wait on the new (possibly equally as bad) wheel? Can I demand a better wheelset after all the hassle?
Is a refund totally out of the question for a 7 month old bike?
Any ideas welcome.
Thanks all
J

CramCycle

Jabel wrote: »

Is a refund totally out of the question for a 7 month old bike?

Its hard to say, the bike itself is not at fault, just the wheel and they are getting a replacement. That obviously doesn't help you in the short term though. Sounds like atrocious service TBH. People more well versed in customer rights might weigh in as you maybe entitled to it. What I don't understand is that in a bike shop, that obviously have comparable bikes/wheelsets, they could not just pull a rear wheel of a display bike or one in storage on the spot, would have taken 5 minutes, they would have the replacement wheel, good service rep for them, happy customer in you.

I am amazed at how simple solutions seem outside the grasp of some of the service industry sometimes.

godtabh

you are entitled to a repair replacement or refund at the discretion of the supplier. He is making a reasonable attempt at fixing the problem so that changes at this stage of getting a refund I would think are small but growing.

Andalucia

once your back on the road, lo0k at upgrading the wheelset, those Easton wheels will continue to give you heartache.

Any Cube owner I know, including myself,has had problems with those Easton wheels

you will often seen secondhand Fulcrum 3's/5's advertised here - pick up a pair of these, way better wheel in my opinion, and not exactly breaking the bank

Jabel

Got my temporary replacement wheel yesterday, difference is night and day to what I was riding on, Shimano wheel don't know which model. Cycled home and promptly got a puncture...really not having any luck lately! Will be 2-3 weeks before I get the replacement Easton and in fairness to the shop they have apologised for all the hassle. Will look to upgrade wheels if the budget allows later on in the year.

CramCycle

Jabel wrote: »

Got my temporary replacement wheel yesterday, difference is night and day to what I was riding on, Shimano wheel don't know which model. Cycled home and promptly got a puncture...really not having any luck lately! Will be 2-3 weeks before I get the replacement Easton and in fairness to the shop they have apologised for all the hassle. Will look to upgrade wheels if the budget allows later on in the year.

Take the replacement, but if they go again, push for a different set of wheels altogether. Get a receipt/note for the date you get the replacement for warranty purposes but if they go again I imagine you are in a good position to ask for different wheels. What are your temporary wheels?

Jabel

Temp rear wheel (not wheels) is a Shimano R500, quick search says they are of the bargain basement type variety. At least it works for now anyway...
Good idea re receipt/note. Thanks

CramCycle

Jabel wrote: »

Temp rear wheel (not wheels) is a Shimano R500, quick search says they are of the bargain basement type variety. At least it works for now anyway...
Good idea re receipt/note. Thanks

I ran a set of R500s on my fixed and road bike for quite awhile with no issues, they are far from premium but if they are true and not damaged they are a decent set of commuter wheels IMO.

Koobcam

Shimano wheels tend to roll well and are apparently quite straightforward to service because of the type of bearing system they use-might not be a bad option if you decide on a new set of wheels