So what external BB's have you used, and what do you think of them?
I ask this, as I've got through 2 of them in just over year: A Raceface XC/XM which lasted about 9 months, and an expensive self-aligning BB from Velotech, which lasted about 5 months - The Exmoor Explorer finished it off; it's completely seized solid.
Has anyone found an external BB that lasts reasonably well?
External bottom brackets
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External bottom brackets
It's an ill wind that never blows at all.
BBs
Martin,
The new hope ones are reputed to be very good - ceramic or steel versions, only a couple g weight difference but ceramic is harder.
The ones I use are the BETD replacements for the Shimanos - £20 per set and mine have lasted about 18 months and are still going (mind you, I ride a different bike every week!)
Above all, before you install the new bearings - GET THE BB SHELL FACED - it makes all the difference for extending the life of the bearings.
Cheers,
Rob.
The new hope ones are reputed to be very good - ceramic or steel versions, only a couple g weight difference but ceramic is harder.
The ones I use are the BETD replacements for the Shimanos - £20 per set and mine have lasted about 18 months and are still going (mind you, I ride a different bike every week!)
Above all, before you install the new bearings - GET THE BB SHELL FACED - it makes all the difference for extending the life of the bearings.
Cheers,
Rob.
Re: eureka
It's all in the title of the threaddro wrote:P.S.
What is an external BB ?
It's an ill wind that never blows at all.
Re: BBs
Hope - yes. Everyone's trying to push them right now. Buy British and all that. But they are £85 and £100 for the stainless steel / ceramic respectively. I guess if they last 3 times longer, then they're worth it.RaV wrote:Martin,
The new hope ones are reputed to be very good - ceramic or steel versions, only a couple g weight difference but ceramic is harder.
The ones I use are the BETD replacements for the Shimanos - £20 per set and mine have lasted about 18 months and are still going (mind you, I ride a different bike every week!)
Above all, before you install the new bearings - GET THE BB SHELL FACED - it makes all the difference for extending the life of the bearings.
Cheers,
Rob.
In fact, things have moved on this morning - Velotech have offered to replace my self-aligning BB FOC.
I also "stumbled" across a guy in E Sussex who's kindly offered me a pair of old RaceFace cups with brand new, bees knees SKF bearings pressed in, for £30. He bought a job lot of these bearings - normally £21 each - to refurb BB's for himself & a few mates.
I also called Scott UK to ask about facing the BB shell - they said it isn't really necessary as it's done in the factory, but that there's no harm to any carbon fibre/epoxy layup as the alloy shell ends are exposed beyond the carbon.
So I took the bike over to Terry's cycles in Yate this pm, and they faced it for £2. He said the faces & the threads were pretty much spot-on anyhow, but that the E-type front mech (which fits onto the BB shell) *could* affect alignment. It's food for thought, I guess; Unfortunately, I can't fit a standard band fitting front mech on my seat tube.
Anyone else have any longevity stories?
It's an ill wind that never blows at all.
Update:
Well, the replacements didn't last long before I had to strip them down and regrease them - which I've now done a couple of times.
I've just bought a cheapish blue BB off eBay that I just fitted - let's see how that fares. They also do ceramic BBs (allegedly), though when I order the ceramic one, I was told they didn't have them in blue.
I've also bought a couple of replacement SKF bearings - SKF 6805 2RS 61805 2RS (RUBBER SEAL) BEARING 25x37x7mm - again, off eBay, which can be pressed into your BB cups. These are allegedly really good, well-sealed, long lasting bearings. Fortunately, the ROTOR self-aligning BB cups have a floating bearing holder, from which you can push out and re-insert bearings with your fingers: No expensive press required!
Well, the replacements didn't last long before I had to strip them down and regrease them - which I've now done a couple of times.
I've just bought a cheapish blue BB off eBay that I just fitted - let's see how that fares. They also do ceramic BBs (allegedly), though when I order the ceramic one, I was told they didn't have them in blue.
I've also bought a couple of replacement SKF bearings - SKF 6805 2RS 61805 2RS (RUBBER SEAL) BEARING 25x37x7mm - again, off eBay, which can be pressed into your BB cups. These are allegedly really good, well-sealed, long lasting bearings. Fortunately, the ROTOR self-aligning BB cups have a floating bearing holder, from which you can push out and re-insert bearings with your fingers: No expensive press required!
It's an ill wind that never blows at all.