I grew up riding and racing BMX, went to Woodward twice, but stopped when I got a car. Last year I got back on a bike after 21 years via a full suspension Ibis Ripmo, then shortly after a dirt jumper, then another dirt jumper, then exactly a year to the day of the first one, a Mongoose L500. For $380 new for a full chromoly, sealed everything bike I couldn’t help myself. My bottom bracket is a TINY bit loose. I mentioned to a friend how easily I took it apart versus what I remember hammering bearings in. He said the bearings should be more difficult to get it, which is probably where the play is coming from. The bearings are Samox branded. Any easy fix for this before contacting Mongoose? Also, the brakes are awful. Pad recommendations?
by FociST
3 Comments
Welcome back to the moneybike haha. How is it loose exactly? The bearings in the frame, spindle through the bearings or arms on the spindle? Looks like a spline fit arm and a few spacers/washers on there. You should be able to remove a spacer (or two maybe) off that side (drive side often doesn’t have one) and should snug up the arm as it meets the BB cup. Be sure to snug the drive side a little before the non-drive side goes on to be sure it’s not that side.
It’s possible the arms are bottomed out on the axle, they have no space to tighten them down any further, check that by removing the crank bolts or adding one slim spaced. If it’s genuinely the bb remove the cranks and check the bearings are actually firmly secure, there can be a level of tolerance issues occasionally on press fit bb’s but it’s a lot rarer generally these days.
Look into Kool stop brake pads, they’re awesome