cobrakai wrote:Even manufacturers can't agree on what best practice is for installing pressed in bearings. For example, FSA instructions only mention using grease: http://www.fullspeedahead.com/wp-conten ... y-2010.pdf
Cannondale recommends Loctite only if the tolerances between frame and bearing are resulting in a 'partial press or slip' fit, which they say means the bearing can be pushed in without the use of a press.
http://media.cannondale.com/media/manua ... ns_web.pdf
Specialized instructs either grease or Loctite, depending on which installation guide you look at
Grease: http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/pdf ... ank_r3.pdf
Loctite: http://service.specialized.com/collater ... 253_R1.pdf
As someone who just purchased a BB30 frame but haven't decided on a crankset yet, all the conflicting information is definitely leading me towards a praxis adapter and 24mm spindle crankset.
You are right...there is a disconnect between mfr's. Average guy doesn't have much of a chance. So it takes judgment and uncommon common sense. Average owner can't sort it out.
Cervelo spec's Loctite for BBright and Trek if you can find a spec for their BB90 specs grease...if you can find a Trek spec...one on the web is 5 years old and bike companies are constantly updating their specs based upon lessons learned at customer expense btw.
But the deal is...what do knowledgable Trek shops do when they have a guy with a $8K project 1 Madone that creaks like a rusty bed after 1K miles and all the grease hydraulics out due to fractional bearing movement based upon a slip fit? They put Loctite on them and they are dead quiet...this has been going on for years.
Is Praxis a free lunch? No. Their bearings aren't serviceable unlike say a Wheel Mfg Alloy PF30 solution which is also rock solid provided its Loctited. If you want Praxis, you are gonna have to pony up $80-90 which is almost twice the cost of a DA BSA BB and 5x's more expensive than replacement BB30 bearings.
So each has to decide what they want. BB30 bearings + Loctite is dirt cheap for a decade of reliable service. People pay their money and make their choices. Me? I will run BB30 bearings in a BB30 frame and a $40 Wheel Mfg alloy PF30 bearing/cup solution and for latter when the bearings wear out, Loctite new BB30 bearings in for $13 which is 1/3 the cost of replacing a DA BSA BB. Choices.
For those with a glue phobia, Praxis for 5 x's the cost is the ticket for sure.