Building up my new Ridley w/ some Ultegra from the last bike (parts are a year old). I always seem to end up going w/ teflon (plumber’s) tape on the BB threads eventually due to creaking. Will installing the BB w/ tape now hold the creak off for a little longer? Or better to just wait until it starts (maybe it won’t this time…).
I’ve never put teflon tape on BB threads, and never had any creaking. I use a bit of grease, and the appropriate torque. A properly installed BB shouldn’t need tape.
Have you tried using an anti-sieze compound on the threads. I swear buy it.
must be lucky- it’s happened on all of my bikes eventually. I tend to keep frames for a long time, so that may be part of it.
Teflon tape on the cups, grease on the threads. Works well. Intl stds. on threads make this almost a no brainer. It also depends on where you live, how big you are etc.
Steve
SMp
2nd vote for steve lubanski’s approach. I always coat the shell threads with Park PolyLube and teflon tape the BB threads. You’ll be creak-free for alot of miles.
are you high? who the F puts plumbing tape on their BB threads??? I worked in a high end shop, never saw anything like that…ever.
are you high? who the F puts plumbing tape on their BB threads??? I worked in a high end shop, never saw anything like that…ever.
Didnt work on many Ti bikes did ya? Very common in Ti and with higher quality BB’s such as Campy, Mavic, Phil Wood. Must not have been to high end a shop if you didnt have teflon tape around…
another vote for steve’s approach - grease and tape both. It’s not only the creaking, it also makes it easy to unscrew the BB cups when that time comes. I’ve worked on bikes where moving the BB took two guys, one to hold the bike down and one to lean on a 3-ft lever attached to the BB tool…
Yep, tape is really common and well worth it. No matter how long a taped BB has been in, its always a breeze to remove. The big question is why wouldn’t you use tape?
Make sure the threads are chased before you try to install w/ tape though. The BB should thread in by hand all the way with nothing on it then a few wraps of tape makes it just right and as mentioned above, allows easy removal later. Proper torque and properly faced shell obviously important as well. Lots of home mechanics gloss over these b/c they don’t have the tools, then wonder why the bike makes a racket.
Thanks all- I’ll go w/ the tape on the cups, grease the threads approach.
Ironwolf- I’ve been using teflon tape for years, 1st did it on the recommendation of Mike Moore of Bikes and Moore in Hopkinsville, KY. That guy’s been in business a LONG time, and has been the best LBS I’ve encountered in 6 different places- likely why I just said screw it and do my own wrenching. Worked great on several road and mountain bikes.
Brilliant. About to do a build on a PX Stealth. I will have to try that. Thanks for the tip.
Brilliant. About to do a build on a PX Stealth. I will have to try that. Thanks for the tip.
Years ago, I would take an investment cast bb shell from Cinelli, give a person one cup sugino, the other cup Campy, and have them screw those cups into the bb, and feel the difference.
Steve
SMp
are you high? who the F puts plumbing tape on their BB threads??? I worked in a high end shop, never saw anything like that…ever.
Were you selling chamois cream and water bottles?
yes khai, that is exactly what I did. go shoot your rifle…dick.
correct chip, not much Ti, also not much crapagnolo. we did have tape though, just used it for other stuff.
I’m not a trained mechanic, but have built/maintained all my bikes for 20 years. I never heard of using tape before. Of course when I get a new bottom bracket I read the installation instructions…never saw the manufacturer mention teflon tape!
That doesn’t make it a bad idea though.