Need opinions on my bike's bottom bracket - is it loose?

[jamsw73]

I got my bike checked out after hearing some cranking noises coming from the bottom bracket. The noises occur occasionally whilst pedalling. Anyway the mechanic said the bracket has not been screwed tight enough, apparently not a wear and tear issue, it's something which the manufacturer didn't do, and this is what's causing the cranking noises. I've attached a photo here, apparently where the arrow is pointing, there shouldn't be a gap according to the mechanic.

What are your thoughts? Because I rang the online store where I bought the bike from, they looked at the photo and said that the gap is pretty normal for a tapered bottom bracket.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Difficult to tell, but it looks like there shouldn't be a gap there and it is loose. I presume the mechanic has now tightened it up, has the noise gone?

 

[jamsw73]

Difficult to tell, but it looks like there shouldn't be a gap there and it is loose. I presume the mechanic has now tightened it up, has the noise gone?

No he hasn't yet, the tightening job would cost around £20-30.

 

[Mark Grant]

It'll do it no good if it is left loose!

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Get it done, then buy a decent book on bike repair and learn how to fettle your bike, they're pretty simple things. It'll save you a shed load of money in the long run.

 

[gavroche]

Get it done, then buy a decent book on bike repair and learn how to fettle your bike, they're pretty simple things. It'll save you a shed load of money in the long run.

It is only simple if you do it right otherwise it could cost you a lot to put it right.

 

[winjim]

To fix it yourself would probably require buying a crank taker offer and a bottom bracket tightener upper. If you've just got the one bike they probably wont get used very often so you'd have to decide if it's worth it, you might just as well take it back to the LBS. However, £30 seems a little steep to me for what should be a relatively quick job.

 

[Mark Grant]

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOJWTK/jobsworth-shimano-specific-18-piece-cycle-tool-kit

And search YouTube.

 

[Smokin Joe]

To fix it yourself would probably require buying a crank taker offer and a bottom bracket tightener upper. If you've just got the one bike they probably wont get used very often so you'd have to decide if it's worth it, you might just as well take it back to the LBS. However, £30 seems a little steep to me for what should be a relatively quick job.

A crank taker offer and a bottom bracket doer upper will cost less than £30.

 

[Drago]

To fix it yourself would probably require buying a crank taker offer and a bottom bracket tightener upper. If you've just got the one bike they probably wont get used very often so you'd have to decide if it's worth it, you might just as well take it back to the LBS. However, £30 seems a little steep to me for what should be a relatively quick job.

Currently a tenner do a whole set in Aldi. Not exactly Teng quality, but ample for occasional jobs like this as they arise.

 

[winjim]

A crank taker offer and a bottom bracket doer upper will cost less than £30.

Yes, but factor in whether the OP can be bothered to work out how to use them or if they'd rather have someone else do it.

Is £30 right? It seems expensive to me but I've always done my own maintenance so I wouldn't really know.

 

[Smurfy]

I'd spend the £20-£30 on the tools to do the job myself. Next time and forever after the job is free.

 

[Gravity Aided]

YouTube video do a nice job of explaining this process, no matter which BB you have. I have the Aldi toolset, and they do a fine job.

 

[jamsw73]

cheers for the input guys on this, do you think though that there the bottom bracket looks loose judging by the photos?

 

[raleighnut]

Bear in mind both sides of the crank need to come off, the fixed cup side to screw it in cannot be done without slackening off the other side then readjusting.