Stuff you learn(t) the hard way by being your own mechanic

[NotSoBigBen]

I have varied success with PF BB's in a few of my bikes ....

Specialized Tarmac .... Fitted, done over 11000k's and been quiet, not a problem, still going strong! Very occasionally (twice I think) serviced the bearings but that's about it

Look 675 .... That BB noise (almost from new) initially drove me to drink! Due to some Di2 issues I had to remove and replace it a few times which also didn't help. I have taken to putting 3 spots of Epoxy on each side when fitting and that has solved it for me 😎 , now at just over 5500k's - it's my 'race' bike so also clearly not ridden as much 

A small detail but these are both BB30 ... I just use those 'reducer' adapters to run standard Shimano cranks

Specialized Epic S-Works .... During the initial build Grumpy ( @GrahamW ) at the The Workshop advised to use a Wheels Mfg BB adapter so I could run my Shimano crank using the appropriate threaded external cups ... Bloody good advice, over the years I changed to a SRAM crank and it only needed a change to the drive side bearing! I had done over 6000k's on it when just recently I bought an S-Works BB30 carbon crank off a friend ... Removed the Wheels Mfg Adapter and fitted PF cups. Up to now it has been good touch 🪵, probably only done about 300k's since then. Again a 'race' bike so doesn't get used that much. I however will keep that adapter close by just in case

My 2 workhorse training Trek Superflys ( 1 aluminium and 1 carbon) both have PF BB's that have worked flawlessly and quieter than a church mouse! With 6000 and 5000k's on them respectively ... On these I just service the bearings, meaning I remove the seal and push in some extra fresh grease now and then

Just thought I'd share my PF BB experience ... In general I'd say pretty good but when it's been an issue like with the Look it can make a man 'so kwaad ek borsvoed sommer 'n krokodil'!

 

[MORNE]

4 hours ago, NotSoBigBen said:

I have varied success with PF BB's in a few of my bikes ....

Specialized Tarmac .... Fitted, done over 11000k's and been quiet, not a problem, still going strong! Very occasionally (twice I think) serviced the bearings but that's about it

Look 675 .... That BB noise (almost from new) initially drove me to drink! Due to some Di2 issues I had to remove and replace it a few times which also didn't help. I have taken to putting 3 spots of Epoxy on each side when fitting and that has solved it for me 😎 , now at just over 5500k's - it's my 'race' bike so also clearly not ridden as much 

A small detail but these are both BB30 ... I just use those 'reducer' adapters to run standard Shimano cranks

Specialized Epic S-Works .... During the initial build Grumpy ( @GrahamW ) at the The Workshop advised to use a Wheels Mfg BB adapter so I could run my Shimano crank using the appropriate threaded external cups ... Bloody good advice, over the years I changed to a SRAM crank and it only needed a change to the drive side bearing! I had done over 6000k's on it when just recently I bought an S-Works BB30 carbon crank off a friend ... Removed the Wheels Mfg Adapter and fitted PF cups. Up to now it has been good touch 🪵, probably only done about 300k's since then. Again a 'race' bike so doesn't get used that much. I however will keep that adapter close by just in case

My 2 workhorse training Trek Superflys ( 1 aluminium and 1 carbon) both have PF BB's that have worked flawlessly and quieter than a church mouse! With 6000 and 5000k's on them respectively ... On these I just service the bearings, meaning I remove the seal and push in some extra fresh grease now and then

Just thought I'd share my PF BB experience ... In general I'd say pretty good but when it's been an issue like with the Look it can make a man 'so kwaad ek borsvoed sommer 'n krokodil'!

 

Im sure someone will correct me but I was under the impression that the whole epoxy PF BB thing was a common spez (carbon frame) practise - there was even mos that thread a few years ago about the guy and the spez shop and his cracked BB due to workshop error. 
 

As already mentioned, i also never had issues with the bike i had that used a PF42 standard with shimano reducing cups.
 

Also, i only use Wheels Mfg bb’s these days. I have them on all my bikes. They are worth their weight in gold. The dub one on my enduro bike has ~7000km on it and it spins as smooth and free as the day i put it in. Their seals are just amazing. 

 

[NotSoBigBen]

4 minutes ago, MORNE said:

Im sure someone will correct me but I was under the impression that the whole epoxy PF BB thing was a common spez (carbon frame) practise - there was even mos that thread a few years ago about the guy and the spez shop and his cracked BB due to workshop error. 
 

As already mentioned, i also never had issues with the bike i had that used a PF42 standard with shimano reducing cups.
 

Also, i only use Wheels Mfg bb’s these days. I have them on all my bikes. They are worth their weight in gold. The dub one on my enduro bike has ~7000km on it and it spins as smooth and free as the day i put it in. Their seals are just amazing. 

 

I do recall that ... in my case both the Specialized's have been fine *searches desperately for wood nearby to touch*