Was out riding my Kona Unit single speed 26". Climbing through a rock garden I struck the cranks hard. Now every time I pedal I get an intermittent greek coming from the bottom bracket area. Have I borked the BB?
Maybe easy to check: take off the pedals and check the threads in the cranks. They are pretty soft and don't like this pedal strikes...
If the thread is shot: maybe possible to use Loctite medium and try to tighten the pedal again?
Bottom bracket: take the chain off the chainring and spin the cranks. You will feel right away if there is something wrong with the bearings.
Thanks andreasrhoen
Span the cranks and they seemed ok. Dropped the chain off and slid the cranks out (hollowtech2). Threads seem ok. Took the plastic bits out of the bottom bracket and checked the bearings on both sides. Drive side feels like a bag of rocks, very rough running. Will change the bottom bracket. Thanks for your help.
Lidl has a special on stuffed vines leaves, peppers and general antipasti type stuff this week, may come in handy for the intermittent greek..
On a more serious note CRC is churning out XT BBs for £12.99 atm. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-xt-mt800-bottom-bracket/rp-prod135826
Thanks lazlowoodbine, Lol! Will definitely head down to Lidi to sort that Greek out. Thanks for the link, that would of been perfect. Unfortunately all sold out.
Oh that's a shame. I ended buying a used Hope BB for about £30 and it's outlasted two new Shimano ones, tis a bit of lottery buying used bearings though..
Shimano Hollowtech II:
I use the "Saint" version from Shimano. A bit more expensive ... but lasts.
Shame: with "press fit" there is no "Saint" version as far as I know. One of my bikes has press fit...
Important when putting all together again: after every of the first rides retighten the Shimano crank screws to 13 Nm ... until the "stay" at 13 Nm. Only then the Hollowtech II crank will stay in it's place ... and only then there is no dirt getting into the "non drive side" of the BB bearing. Forgot to do that with one bike. Crank moved a bit out? Bearing was shot after 4 weeks...
Think this happens a lot with new bikes as well.
Thanks for tip andreasrhoen
I’m thinking I’ll try either a Hope or Saint BB. Hopefully it should last longer.
With my old, old road race bikes I was used to BB's which "last for ever".
Mountain bikes and mountain biking is different so - but the overall design of Hollowtech II is great. Really liked the "threaded version" - now I have to use pressfit...- but appears to be o.k. as well.
Good luck!
So I put a new Hope bottom bracket in and it's still making a noise. I also tried changing the pedals, still making a noise. It's a loud knocking sound when you pedal.
Hollowtech 2 cranks feel fine, but could the drive side be damaged? How do you tell?
Try holding the axle in a vice (use soft jaws to prevent damage), and pull the crank arm in different directions. If it makes noises, then you've found your problem. Probably worth checking your chainring bolts are tight too.
I don't have a vice unfortunately. I have tightened the chain ring, it was a little loose. Taken the back wheel and spun the wheel, seems ok. The only thing I can see is inside the drive side crank where it meets the spider, it's looking a little damaged. Would this cause a loud knocking noise? is this a serviceable part or just buy new cranks?
Heres a picture, sorry I can seem to get the picture to show:- https://www.flickr.com/photos/143872962@N06/42044950361/in/dateposted-public/
