Hollowgram axle wear leading to creaking under power?
Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 4:00 pm
I'm running a Cannondale Hollowgram SISL2 crank on a 73mm BSA frame using a lipless 132mm spindle from r2-bike (made by Cannondale, designed for this application) and a Zipp BSA30 BB. I've been very careful with the spacers to make sure the wave-washer is almost fully compressed without binding the bearings at all (crank has always spun amazingly freely). It's had a good season of use, but not been abused at all, regularly cleaned/washed, etc. It's been an awesome setup, but lately under heavy power I've been getting a sharp "tick" noise as the drive-side crank moves through 3 o'clock (power zone). I strongly suspect its the crank/bb that is generating the noise.
Here's a photo of the axle after pulling it from the bike today. You can see some scuffing marks at the NDS bearing location, but much more pronounced circular groove-like wear marks at the DS bearing location. Do you think this axle wear could lead to enough movement to cause my ticking under load? Have any other Hollowgram users seen this sort of thing with their cranks? My setup has a much wider bearing placement than a typical BB30 setup, so I feel like if I'm seeing this sort of wear it ought to be a common issue...
If not... is the Zipp BB likely a culprit? The DS bearing is still smooth, but perhaps it's fit on the axle is too loose (I can push the axle in or out easily by hand)?
A few days ago I tried using green loctite at the DS bearing/axle interface, but that didn't seem to change things all that much (and I could still get the axle out just be pushing on it - no mallet required). I'll try a new DS bearing next and see if that helps, but just wanted to know if this axle-wear is something others have seen...
Thanks!
Here's a photo of the axle after pulling it from the bike today. You can see some scuffing marks at the NDS bearing location, but much more pronounced circular groove-like wear marks at the DS bearing location. Do you think this axle wear could lead to enough movement to cause my ticking under load? Have any other Hollowgram users seen this sort of thing with their cranks? My setup has a much wider bearing placement than a typical BB30 setup, so I feel like if I'm seeing this sort of wear it ought to be a common issue...
If not... is the Zipp BB likely a culprit? The DS bearing is still smooth, but perhaps it's fit on the axle is too loose (I can push the axle in or out easily by hand)?
A few days ago I tried using green loctite at the DS bearing/axle interface, but that didn't seem to change things all that much (and I could still get the axle out just be pushing on it - no mallet required). I'll try a new DS bearing next and see if that helps, but just wanted to know if this axle-wear is something others have seen...
Thanks!