Ultegra HOLLOW TECH II Bottom Bracket - HELP!!

Ultegra HOLLOW TECH II Bottom Bracket - HELP!!

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Pigfarmer3

Original Poster:

191 posts

212 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
Er...

The bottom bracket has started to creak incessantly after a while on high load, so much so that it became a running joke on my club training ride last wednesday!

I've taken the whole lot apart, cleaned, treated like a baby and re-built with shed loads of grease. The bearing cups have been tightened to the highest torque I could provide with my body and a little gravity. Spindle has been re-greased with high load grease, re-attached the left crank arm, arm cap tightened to the point at which play in the arm has just been removed and then pinch-bolts tightened to finger tightness.

Now, its not the arm cap being over tightened. The bearings seemed perfectly smooth when the whole lot was out. No dust/grime left anywhere...

WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO ME? IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY!

Nick_F

10,295 posts

253 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
Are you sure it's the BB that's making the noise? Can you swap out any other bits - pedals, for example, to eliminate them as a cause?

Can you make the creak happen if you leave the left crank off and push hard one-legged?

If all else fails Planet-X are looking good for Shimano components at the moment. Or, indeed, for new bikes when you throw the current one into the canal.

neil_bolton

17,113 posts

271 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
Have you had the BB shell reamed by your LBS?

All Shimano Hollowtech II BB's MUST have this done to ensure a perfect parrallel fit, and helps reduce premature wear due to misaligned BB cups, and also will reduce creaking also.


Trooper2

6,676 posts

238 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
Using a low strength thread locker when installing the BB can help too.

Pigfarmer3

Original Poster:

191 posts

212 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
HAHahahaHAHAHAhahah....

Right. It's all sorted. It's the Looks. Don't know why I didn't think about that. Just by gently pressing on them with my palm they squeak!

Got some nut-lock at home, but I doubt it's that. Think it might be time to move on from the pedals...

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? Been using the Red Look Delta's for years now, I love the give in them. Anyone on the KEO's? A worthy move? Or am I best off moving away from Look to Shimano, I've heard good stories about their pedals!

Nick_F

10,295 posts

253 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
[Bows] Ithankyou.

My brother has KEO carbon jobbies and loves them but gets through a lot of cleats; if I were in the market for some I'd get the new(ish) Ultegras - I've managed to get more than 4,000 miles from a set of Shimano cleats and they're a heck of a lot easier to walk in.

Speedplay nice if you've got pots of cash?

Pigfarmer3

Original Poster:

191 posts

212 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
Thanks mate. the problem is that I've only had those pedals since January. Previous ones lasted longer I think! Do tend to get through them, just too many miles on the training bike.

I'm really after red pedals, I know thats lame, but The Ultegra's simply won't go with the colour coding on the bike (red & yellow), apart from the groupset I guess!

Anyone tried Time pedals? I've been recommended them a few times by the club boys...

Nick_F

10,295 posts

253 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
There were Shimano SPD-SL pedals in various colours at the IMUK Expo last month; I remember seeing blue and orange, don't know about yellow or red, and I think they were the slightly heavier 105 pattern, but it might be worth giving TriUK a call about them?

I take it the Looks can't be rebuilt?

Pigfarmer3

Original Poster:

191 posts

212 months

Wednesday 5th September 2007
quotequote all
Enclosed sealed bearing - no rebuild...

I think the coloured Ultegra's are part of their TDF range, you know, team colours. Not so keen on getting those. But if your talking about something else then I've not seen them.

It's getting too complicated now. I might just buy a pair of toe ties! Haha