MTB ISIS bottom bracket choices

Going through MTBR.com, there are few parts of a bike that have been more
problematic than the bottom bracket. Numerous reports of short-life,
abbreviated rides because of ISIS bottom bracket failure infest MTBR, and it
seems that unless you have a Phil Wood, your BB will find an untimely death
in minutes.

So what's the verdict? Are ISIS bearings too small? Are there any that
don't develop play in short periods of time?

Phil Wood owners may just be pussyfooting the BB and thus, it looks like it
has a good track record, but it in fact may not be. Plus, the ones that buy
PW products usually aren't your typical mountain biking type... i.e. they're
fookin expensive.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

----------
In article , "ZeeExSixAre"
wrote:




Going through MTBR.com, there are few parts of a bike that have been more
problematic than the bottom bracket. Numerous reports of short-life,
abbreviated rides because of ISIS bottom bracket failure infest MTBR, and it
seems that unless you have a Phil Wood, your BB will find an untimely death
in minutes.

So what's the verdict? Are ISIS bearings too small? Are there any that
don't develop play in short periods of time?

Phil Wood owners may just be pussyfooting the BB and thus, it looks like it
has a good track record, but it in fact may not be. Plus, the ones that buy
PW products usually aren't your typical mountain biking type... i.e. they're
fookin expensive.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training





I'm well over 200 lbs. The Truvativ BB lasted about 2 months before it
developed play in the bearings, +- 60 miles a week. The Race Face has been
hanging in there since last summer but won't stay tight in the shell despite
repeated torqueing to spec. Both bb's were the x country models. Don't know
about the PW.

Paul

On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 23:20:11 -0400, ZeeExSixAre wrote:

Going through MTBR.com, there are few parts of a bike that have been more
problematic than the bottom bracket. Numerous reports of short-life,
abbreviated rides because of ISIS bottom bracket failure infest MTBR, and it
seems that unless you have a Phil Wood, your BB will find an untimely death
in minutes.

So what's the verdict? Are ISIS bearings too small? Are there any that
don't develop play in short periods of time?

Most of the stories I've heard involve short lifespan. Is that the result
of smaller bearings?

The current concensus on STW is that much is dependent upon the
installation and how well they are maintained. People who have had their
frames' BBs faced and/or installed them on 'better' frames seem to have
had fewer problems. Similarly, regularly pulling them out and making sure
there's no moisture in the BB shell appears to help.

I've been running an RF Evolve FR for over a year with no problems.
Having said that, it started making some odd noises last time I was out...

----------
In article , Chris Phillipo
wrote:





fookin expensive.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training





I'm well over 200 lbs. The Truvativ BB lasted about 2 months before it
developed play in the bearings, +- 60 miles a week. The Race Face has been
hanging in there since last summer but won't stay tight in the shell despite
repeated torqueing to spec. Both bb's were the x country models. Don't know
about the PW.

Paul


What many people don't realize is that Truvative ISIS BBs have ajustable
bearing races. With a pair of Truvativ lockring tools you can easily
adjust out the play. The bearings are even sericable if you want take
completely apart.
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
http://www.ramsays-online.com

You're right I didn't know that. I'll take another look at truvativ. I
might even have that bb laying around.

Paul

"bomba" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 23:20:11 -0400, ZeeExSixAre wrote:

Going through MTBR.com, there are few parts of a bike that have been
more
problematic than the bottom bracket. Numerous reports of short-life,
abbreviated rides because of ISIS bottom bracket failure infest MTBR,
and it
seems that unless you have a Phil Wood, your BB will find an untimely
death
in minutes.

So what's the verdict? Are ISIS bearings too small? Are there any that
don't develop play in short periods of time?

Most of the stories I've heard involve short lifespan. Is that the result
of smaller bearings?

The current concensus on STW is that much is dependent upon the
installation and how well they are maintained. People who have had their
frames' BBs faced and/or installed them on 'better' frames seem to have
had fewer problems. Similarly, regularly pulling them out and making sure
there's no moisture in the BB shell appears to help.

I've been running an RF Evolve FR for over a year with no problems.
Having said that, it started making some odd noises last time I was out...


The spindle is big, and so there is less room for bearings. Now if square
taper bearings are larger and have less problems, I can see that being the
rectifying issue. But I just don't know... I guess BBs are a replaceable
item. Now that Chris mentioned that Truvativs are serviceable, however...

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

"ZeeExSixAre" wrote in message
...

"bomba" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 23:20:11 -0400, ZeeExSixAre wrote:

Going through MTBR.com, there are few parts of a bike that have been
more
problematic than the bottom bracket. Numerous reports of short-life,
abbreviated rides because of ISIS bottom bracket failure infest MTBR,
and it
seems that unless you have a Phil Wood, your BB will find an untimely
death
in minutes.

So what's the verdict? Are ISIS bearings too small? Are there any
that
don't develop play in short periods of time?

Most of the stories I've heard involve short lifespan. Is that the
result
of smaller bearings?

The current concensus on STW is that much is dependent upon the
installation and how well they are maintained. People who have had their
frames' BBs faced and/or installed them on 'better' frames seem to have
had fewer problems. Similarly, regularly pulling them out and making
sure
there's no moisture in the BB shell appears to help.

I've been running an RF Evolve FR for over a year with no problems.
Having said that, it started making some odd noises last time I was
out...


The spindle is big, and so there is less room for bearings. Now if square
taper bearings are larger and have less problems, I can see that being the
rectifying issue. But I just don't know...

The Spanish BB being developed in BMX by flybikes looks very interesting, I
could see it crossing over to MTB's if it takes off.

http://flybikesbmx.com/noticias/spanishbb02eng.htm

Steve.