I’m gradually catching up to all the new fangled bike tech. I was scared to touch the press fit bottom bracket but the creaking finally drove me to the internet, ordering of tools, parts and I just finished replacing it.
I used Park’s press-fit retention compound after applying their adhesive primer. It’s basically Loc-tite but the instructions counterintuitively says you need the primer to avoid permanently bonding the BB to the bike.
This off-brand multi-fit BB press/remover turned out to be of excellent quality and 1/3 the cost of a single fit Park. But the instructions had phrases like “detonation of bearing” and words like “pilon”. I ended up just randomly assembling the pieces and after a few tries at the correct order, bearing removal and installation went so slick. It’s easier than the old ball bearing BBs and even the cartridge bearing threaded BBs.
A few mistakes. Not enough research - I didn’t know that the non-drive side spindle cover actually sets the crankarm preload. I didn’t know the plastic shim was a last resort crankarm retainer. I started pressing in the drive side bearing having forgotten to apply the retention compound and had to push it back out. I started off on a test ride before remembering the 24 hr cure time. I have a headache - I should’ve worn a chemical respirator near that primer and adhesive.
So it remains to be seen if this worked for the creaking. But this was a good reminder to myself that I can do things I’m scared of. Internet makes things so easy.
Question: what is this rubber tubing coming down from the down tube? It’s not internal cable routing for the derailleurs; they’re good. Cable routing for a dropper post? I was scared to pull it all the way out. I just shoved it back in and ignored it.
