What Tools Do I Need To Replace TruVativ ISIS Cartridge Bottom Bracket?

[Cletus Van Damme]

My Marin Mill Valley 2004 hybrid is making a clanking noise from the BB area under load. I have tried different pedals to rule this out and I am positive that it is coming from the crank area. This is my commuting bike and would rather not spend a fortune. According to this website the bike has a TruVativ ISIS cartridge BB.

Mill Valley 2004

I did a search on here and I seemed to pick up that the ISIS is sh1t? I really do not fancy replacing the cranks etc for a different setup, just wondered what are my options? And by the looks of things I need to get a different type of removal tool to a Shimano for example. Maybe I should not be doing this and taking it to a bike shop, but I have worked on cars quite a lot in the past so surely this cannot be much more difficult.

 

[pshore]

My Marin Mill Valley 2004 hybrid is making a clanking noise from the BB area under load. I have tried different pedals to rule this out and I am positive that it is coming from the crank area. This is my commuting bike and would rather not spend a fortune. According to this website the bike has a TruVativ ISIS cartridge BB.

Mill Valley 2004

I did a search on here and I seemed to pick up that the ISIS is sh1t? I really do not fancy replacing the cranks etc for a different setup, just wondered what are my options? And by the looks of things I need to get a different type of removal tool to a Shimano for example. Maybe I should not be doing this and taking it to a bike shop, but I have worked on cars quite a lot in the past so surely this cannot be much more difficult.

It'll be easy compared to working on cars. I have just replaced mine.

There's a good guide here:
http://www.parktool....ket-service-bbt

If you take the chain off as it says in the guide it is pretty easy to see if it is running smoothly. If not, replace BB, if it is then maybe a grease up of the threads in the BB might stop noise ? More info in the guide.


My Trutaviv ISIS BB lasted about 6 years on my MTB. I guess another 6 years and I will have moved on to another MTB by then so no point replacing chainsets etc. I think the only reason they might be sh1t is that they don't last as long as the newer style with more bearings. I wonder what the real difference is though or is it just marketing hype.

You need to get the chainset off first with a puller of some sort. One came in my Halfords toolset. So, on mine it was remove central end caps (the most difficult job ironically), screw in puller, screw central pin in to pull off crank.

To remove the BB, I had to buy the Park Tools BBT18 tool. £14.99 on CRC. I couldn't find another cheaper tool anywhere - there must be!

You also need a massive spanner for the BBT18. Bigger than 30mm, can't quite remember what size but can check in the garage if necessary.

 

[brockers]

One of these . You'll need a crank-puller also. I picked up an ISIS BB tool from Decathlon a few years ago with a hole for a 3/8 ratchet drive. Have a google. It's really not difficult changing a cartridge BB if you can work on cars - just make sure you know which handedness the threads are; the right (driveside) loosens clockwise on 'English' BBs (LH thread).

I discovered with my ISIS set-up that to eliminate the clanking under load I had, it was necessary to loosen off the driveside cup by a fag-paper's width, and take up the tiny bit of resulting play by tightening up the non-driveside cup (RH thread) - so effectively shifting the whole unit to the right a teensy smidge. I've found that the cups on these BBs seem to tighten into the frame over time, and it's possible that's what's causing the clank. Think about that first before you go throwing money at a new BB unit.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Cheers mate some great advice there and I see what you are saying if it lasts the same time again the bike will probably have had it anyway. I got the bike off a mate and he reckons that he has never replaced it. Will check out the tool that you have also listed. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Cheers Brokers that is also some great advice.

 

[brockers]

It'll be easy compared to working on cars. I have just replaced mine.

I think the only reason they might be sh1t is that they don't last as long as the newer style with more bearings. I wonder what the real difference is though or is it just marketing hype.

ISIS basically has lots of weedy bearings compared with other types, though my ISIS has been OK for 5 years (intermittent clanking notwithstanding). I don't think they're quite as bad as people like to make out.

 

[pshore]

I just noticed that BOTH the tools that brokers and I posted say they fit ISIS bottom brackets but they are totally different.

If you have notches on the outside of your BB count them carefully there are 8 and 10 notch versions.

If they are on the inside you need the tool brockers linked to.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Cheers mate will definitely take that into account

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Sorry to bump this thread again but I just wondered do I have to buy a Truvativ bottom bracket or will another BB fit? Just wondered are they standard fitting for the splines that the crank arms fit onto? Just other brands such as FSA seem to be cheaper. Thanks for any advice.

 

[brockers]

Mix and match. All ISIS systems have 10 splines to the same standard (as opposed to Shimano Octalink which has er, 8). My FSA chainset fits on an Ambrosio BB fine. Obviously try and see whether the prongs on your tool match up with the slots in the bracket (ooer missus) as per pshore's advice.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Cheers Brockers thanks for the advice mate