Are these gaps between the dust cover and the BB normal or cause for concern. This is on a brand new complete 2022 26inch Kink Drifter.
by Big_Eagle_1909
Are these gaps between the dust cover and the BB normal or cause for concern. This is on a brand new complete 2022 26inch Kink Drifter.
by Big_Eagle_1909
2 Comments
You’re all good. The bearings are sealed, that is more of a spacer than anything.
Sealed bearings like those in bottom brackets take load best vertically not axially. And most if not all the forces being applied to a sealed bearing like this should be put on the inner race (again, vertically). Its very common for bottom bracket spacers, washers, or dust covers to have a small stand off on the inside (mating face), so that when the cranks are tightened onto the axle, the forces are being applied to the inner bearings race. And essentially ONLY the inner race, this is ideal.
If the standoff wasn’t there, when the cranks are installed and tightened, pressure would be put on the dust seal, or the outter bearing race (part that touches frame) and either of those options would give you a bearing thats highly susceptible to failure and probably wont rotate very well.
If the cosmetic aspect of this bothers you like it bothered me on my bmx, play around with different dust covers.. Or simply sand down the bottom of the stand off a little bit at a time while maintaining flatness. I went from about 1mm of gap to about 0.25mm of gap, while still only contacting the inner race.
Reverse everything i said for thrust bearings. Which moreso are found in automotive and industrial applications.