Noise from bottom bracket

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

my commuter bike (been described as a dinosaur) had a loose bottom
bracket last week. I didn't have the tools to fix it until the weekend,
so it was like that all week and getting worse. Now that I've tightened
it, I'm still getting the noise from the BB when I pedal down on the
RHS. The BB is **definitely** not loose. There is a bit of movement in
the right pedal, but not enough to account for what I am getting. I
feel definite movement when I pedal down, but I just can't locate the
source.

My best theory is that I've damaged something in the BB whilst riding
it when loose. I've only had the bike for a while, but the BB looks new
and I doubt the ball bearings are stuffed (different sound to that
anyway).

My ride is only ~15 min each way, so that's ~2.5 hrs for the week.
Given the tough metal involved in the BB, is damage likely in this time
frame? Any and all suggestions greatly accepted.

Peter

Dunno, but replacing my BB cured similar movement and sounds.
Annoyingly, the buggered one feels just fine when it's out of the frame
and I spin it by hand. I guess my hands don't the power of my legs! ;^)

It's possible to damage your BB taper (and/or the crank) by riding with
it loose.

While BBs are tough, cheaper bikes have ...ummm... less tough parts.

If you can't work it out, take to your LBS for advice.

Regards

Tony F

thefathippy said:

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

my commuter bike (been described as a dinosaur) had a loose bottom
bracket last week. I didn't have the tools to fix it until the weekend,
so it was like that all week and getting worse. Now that I've tightened
it, I'm still getting the noise from the BB when I pedal down on the
RHS. The BB is **definitely** not loose. There is a bit of movement in
the right pedal, but not enough to account for what I am getting. I
feel definite movement when I pedal down, but I just can't locate the
source.

My best theory is that I've damaged something in the BB whilst riding
it when loose. I've only had the bike for a while, but the BB looks new
and I doubt the ball bearings are stuffed (different sound to that
anyway).

I had a similar noise once and thought it was the BB until I recalled an
incident where I thought I had hit a rock while riding home. At the
time I looked around for the rock and didn't find a thing, but I knew
I'd had a nasty jolt on the bike. When I kept hearing the noise I
thought I should inspect the frame and sure enough I'd broken clean
through the right hand seat-stay near the top. The noise was the clean
break rubbing on itself. It was probably years of heavy panniers
flexing the frame too much and it finally gave way. No rock involved at
all, just a fatal flex that felt like hitting a pot-hole or rock. I
tossed the frame out and bought a whole new bike!!

--
Bean

Remove "yourfinger" before replying

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

my commuter bike (been described as a dinosaur) had a loose bottom
bracket last week. I didn't have the tools to fix it until the weekend,
so it was like that all week and getting worse. Now that I've tightened
it, I'm still getting the noise from the BB when I pedal down on the
RHS. The BB is **definitely** not loose. There is a bit of movement in
the right pedal, but not enough to account for what I am getting. I
feel definite movement when I pedal down, but I just can't locate the
source.

Did you dismantle and inspect the BB?

My guess is that the races (if used) are kaput. If no races, running
ball bearings in a loose BB may have caused some major damage

Although you only ride a short distance, spend the $40 about for a
sealed BB.

Owen