From square taper to outboard bearings - DISADVANTAGES?

[reohn2]

Freeloader
It's the capitalist way,there must be continued ''progress'' otherwise we''stand still'' ,it's the capitalist/consumerist lie that happiness is gained through spending.Devised by the carrot on a stick system that nirvana is juuusssstttttt beyond reach and the promise that it is attainable,but then another bigger better carrot is introduced and so on.
Of course Donkeys have big ears but don't listen

PS,OBB's are like Viagra,they make things stiffer but it doesn't last

[JohnW]

...................PS,OBB's are like Viagra, they make things stiffer but it doesn't last

How do you know, John?

[JohnW]

Forgive me for going off topic...but below are my observation about the current state in cycling -.................Unfortunately, the 1st 3 groups are overwhelming in numbers, financial power etc. I can go on and on, but i guess wiser people here already much better ideas ...

In general, although not in every detail, I fully agree with you freeflow - and with r2's response. (Although with respect to item 5/d, I'd say that the reverse is true...........I think you've miss-typed).

But it's not only true of cycling products - as r2 seems to suggest it's particularly true of post Thatcher service industries. Whereas in pre-privatisation days their prime function was to provide us with the service they offered, their prime function now is to take as much money as they can from whatever source, and share as much of it as they can among their shareholders. The needs of service users get in the way of true capitalism.

[reohn2]

...................PS,OBB's are like Viagra, they make things stiffer but it doesn't last

How do you know, John?

Not tellin'

[JohnW]

...................PS,OBB's are like Viagra, they make things stiffer but it doesn't last

How do you know, John?

Not tellin'

Very wise

[freeloader]

In general, although not in every detail, I fully agree with you freeflow - and with r2's response. (Although with respect to item 5/d, I'd say that the reverse is true...........I think you've miss-typed).

Thank you for reading my post more carefully than i do, the mistake has been corrected

[freeloader]

Freeflow
It's the capitalist way,there must be continued ''progress'' otherwise we''stand still'' ,it's the capitalist/consumerist lie that happiness is gained through spending.Devised by the carrot on a stick system that nirvana is juuusssstttttt beyond reach and the promise that it is attainable,but then another bigger better carrot is introduced and so on.
Of course Donkeys have big ears but don't listen

PS,OBB's are like Viagra,they make things stiffer but it doesn't last

A wise man once told me - "the only thing we can gain in life is Wisdom"

[freeflow]

In some of the quotes in posts above read 'freeloader' not ' freeflow'.

[reohn2]

In some of the quotes in posts above read 'freeloader' not ' freeflow'.

Sorry,my fault,I've edited my post .

[Brucey]

sometimes 'progress' really is PROGRESS, but very often it isn't; more swings and roundabouts.

It has occurred to me before now that if I just wanted to go for a nice bike ride, I'd be happy enough to do it on almost any half-decent machine that was made in the last hundred years.

Incremental improvements (if indeed they are such) are not going to make the grass any greener, the hills any less steep the views any less pleasant, or any companions any less convivial.

[edit; perhaps controversially, I would argue that if speed and comfort alone were the priorities when touring, we might all be riding streamlined recumbents, (instead of fretting about what are essentially incremental changes to transmission, gearing etc.) Riding upright bicycles is different though; usually more sociable, and simply because you are sat higher up, the views are better. ]

cheers

[reohn2]

Or put another way there's a lot of progress that's so much paint and flannel,believed by wide eyed wannabies with credit cards twitching to be slipped into electronic debt inducers .

[Erudin]

Picture below my Shimano Deore BB51 Hollowtech II Bottom Bracket with the plastic Top-Hat removed. As soon as I removed the Top-Hat bushing the bearings were visible, all the replacement bearings I use have tight 2rs seals.

The bb had only been used for a couple weeks in October 2012 and was already feeling very rough. When I checked them the bearings and watery grease had a brown colour, water had obviously got in (see picture below).

I replaced the Shimano bearings with Katec Outdoor Specific MTB bearings, I checked and confirmed that the seals on them were a tight fit and they were max-filled with decent grease. They are still running smoothly nearly two years on, so I think most of the problems with obb's are due to poorly sealed and greased bearings.

BB51's can be bought for £7 from chainreactioncycles.com which is half the RRP, presumably due to their poor reputation going from the customer reviews. I won't be buying any more Shimano obb's, though others carry on buying them knowing they won't last because they are "cheap".

[Brucey]

I agree with the lack of sealing and lack of decent grease.

If you are a cheapskate you can reverse the OEM bearing in the cup (not easy to get it out but you can) and then flood the internal space with lots of grease. The seal that is normally on the back of the bearing is now on the front, the rear is open for ingress of grease and these things together stop the crud from getting in and keep the bearings happy too.

cheers

[reohn2]

Erudin,Brucey.
I understand you're trying to short circuit the problem but like I replied to Meic up thread with regards to OBB's,you're enthusiasts,willing to take things apart, see what's amiss and source better components and take the time fit them.
But for every anorak,err sorry enthusiast,there are ten(maybe more)folk who want a reliable machine without such faff and who can blame them as it ain't much to ask that a BB bearing last a bit more than 4 seasons .
IMHO it's bad manufacturing that cynically makes known faulty components which fail at the sight of a grey cloud,and need such doctoring by their users to make them reliable,so those manufacturers can sell more inadequately sealed bearings to their suppliers,who then sell them to retailers,who then charge fitting them(endlessly)with profit made at every stage in the process .
And all in the name of progress and on the pretext that these things are the best thing since sliced bread.

I'm aware I'm becoming like a record(remember them)with the needle stuck,and call me an old cynic if you will,but TBH that's the state of affairs with these badly designed,bits of crap!

[reohn2]

Resurrecting this thread as my new bike has a Shimano Deore Hollowtec II EBB chainset and I'm anticipating water ingress problems in the not too distant,so I'd like a good Boy Scout I'd like to 'be prepared' .
Does anyone have a source for good,well sealed replacement bearings,Erudin's link to them on Ebay now shows there's none left
Or the correct internal,external,width sizes of the bearings please.