Can you repack this type of bottom bracket?

[sleep envy]

There's a fair bit of refurbishment work going on above the open air bike store at work at the moment. So much so that all the bikes were covered in grit this evening.

On my ride home the BB has started to creak when pushing down hard on the left crank so I'm guessing some grit has found its way in. Rather than buy a new BB can one of these be opened up, cleaned , regreased and put back together?

[gp1699]

mine did the same... follow this vid for taking cranks off. i just striped and cleaned, you can't service the Shimano bearings..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAqAanDsAKA

[sleep envy]

Ok, ta.

[lotusandy]

gp1699 said:

you can't service the Shimano bearings..

Well maybe not officially.
Remove the cranks, then carefully prise out the outer seal cover with a small thin bladed screwdriver, then the same with the inner seal, clean with solvent, re-pack with grease & re assemble. If you do this every few few months the bearings will last for ages longer as any crud will never get to the actual bearings..

Andy

[khushy]

If you dont, remove, clean, regrease and repack that every once in a while, you should be shot!

[sleep envy]

Just asking!

Tools already bought.

Mmmmmm, tools.

[khushy]

sleep envy said:

Just asking!

Tools already bought.

Mmmmmm, tools.

Good man, good and regular maintenance is your friend!

[gp1699]

Sorted?

[sleep envy]

Yep, cheers.

Followed the vid, 2 spanner rating

[paulrockliffe]

Raceface do a proper tool for removing those bearings. BETD do some replacement bearings that are much better sealed than the Shimano ones and will swap new bearings in for £20 including returning the BB to you. You can buy the bottom brackets for about £25, but they come with the poorer performing bearings.

[sleep envy]

Will see how I get on but the amount of crap that was down there was surprising. Might change the bearings if it starts to grumble again in a couple of weeks.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

The bearings in Shimano BBs are pretty crap. But they are standard size and you can buy better replacements for not much money on the 'bay. Having said all that there's not much evidence over and above Youtube videos that it makes a huge amount of difference in reality. Wheel bearings, however, are a totally different story and also need stripping and cleaning relatively frequently.