Does this external bottom bracket look OK ??

[Kpd85]

Hi!
I am sorry if this a very lame question.

I’ve just review a new bike,Specialized Pitch Sport.
There is no cover where the spindle is attached to the crank.
Whereas on the other bike we have there is the cover.
Images attached.
Would be grateful for your advice if this is correct or i should raise this with the seller.
Thank you!

[Jamesh]

Different types of bottom bracket.

Top one is an outboard bearing bracket

Second is a more traditional cartridge bottom bracket.

Cheers James

[Kpd85]

Thank you James,
So the bottom one looks fine? There should not be any cover?

[gaz]

^Looks fine.


^No idea myself as I haven't got any bikes with external BB fittings but nobody else has suggested there's anything wrong.

[Samuel D]

There should not be a cover. Sometimes the crank fits a bit closer to the frame so there’s a smaller gap between them, but if it doesn’t it doesn’t and that isn’t a problem. The bearings are farther inboard and protected by seals.

[recumbentpanda]

What you are calling a ‘cover’ on your ‘other bike’ is in fact the bolt that holds the crank to the spindle. It is fitted with a kind of built in washer or seal to keep crud out of the recess in the crank. I remember the days when crank bolts had ordinary hexagonal heads so there had to be a big recess to get a socket head in. A screw in or press fit cover sealed the recess against the weather. I even still have a special socket spanner with a screwdriver end for undoing the screw-in type covers!

Yr new bike has a different style of crank attachment altogether. Can’t see from the pic, but it may be the hollow tube type of spindle - if so, you can see all the way through!

[Gattonero]

Hi!
I am sorry if this a very lame question.

I’ve just review a new bike,Specialized Pitch Sport.
There is no cover where the spindle is attached to the crank.
Whereas on the other bike we have there is the cover.
Images attached.
Would be grateful for your advice if this is correct or i should raise this with the seller.
Thank you!

What is the problem exactly? You have noise/play or something?
Shouldn't you refer to the place you bought the bike from, if something is really wrong you must give a proper description of what is wrong and if so, ask for a repair or refund.

[ratherbeintobago]

What make of cranks?

[gregoryoftours]

The second photo is fine, it's a cartridge bottom bracket where the bearings sit inside the BB shell. The cup that you can see with internal notches doesn't need any kind of cover over it. It's older technology but if the axle going into the crank is square in section and the BB is a decent quality unit, it will probably outlast any external bottom bracket.