7700 BB Saga/Rant

[texbike]

Originally Posted by Grant McLean

They are easily cleaned and serviced, which is I suppose the reason for the hate, since people neglect them, and then rant about how they suck.

Yep. I'm guilty as charged. My post was only 1/2 in jest. I also have both a XTR and a 7700 Octalink in use currently. However, the 6500 really is better for those of us who prefer the "set it and forget it" option if there is one.

Texbike

[Grant McLean]

Originally Posted by texbike

Yep. I'm guilty as charged. My post was only 1/2 in jest. I also have both a XTR and a 7700 Octalink in use currently. However, the 6500 really is better for those of us who prefer the "set it and forget it" option if there is one.

Texbike

Agreed. Shimano pretty quickly started offering the 7710 sealed version
(also with a steel fixed cup) after it was clear many people expected to have
the lack of maintenance, and common tools with their other sealed bb's, like
the UN90/91 stuff that the Octalink was replacing.

[Tony]

Originally Posted by Grant McLean

Pretty sure they were thinking mechanics would use the proper technique.

They are easily cleaned and serviced, which is I suppose the reason for the hate, since people neglect them, and then rant about how they suck.

Agree. I think the 7700 BB is a solid, light weight design. Like you've mentioned, easily serviced, just watch out for all those bearing, they tend to hide from you
With proper maintenance they will last a very long time. I recently rebuilt two, both spin like new!

[11.4]

As far as 6500's or 7710's, they are both extremely durable bottom brackets. Shimano said that the seals are not as tight on the 7710, but we cut both open and couldn't measure a difference. Resistance from seals and other sources for the two bottom brackets is almost identical.

As for 7700's, I've had ones in track frames that got so old they wore away the white plastic clip that the needle bearings fit into so the bearings started to drop out when opened. I'd just drop them back in place with a dab of grease and everything would reinstall and feel fine. Shimano engineers consistently tell me that the 7700 was their finest bottom bracket ever. But they say that with performance in mind (plus a bit of engineering ego). They agree that it isn't made to last forever, and definitely isn't made to last without regular maintenance.

What this thread is really about is ... there's no such thing as a maintenance free bottom bracket. If the bottom bracket bearings themselves don't go bad, the contact of the bottom bracket cartridge shell and the bottom frame shell will get you. This is where a PF30 bottom bracket with a Delrin adapter starts to make a whole lot more sense.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by 11.4

As far as 6500's or 7710's, they are both extremely durable bottom brackets. Shimano said that the seals are not as tight on the 7710, but we cut both open and couldn't measure a difference. Resistance from seals and other sources for the two bottom brackets is almost identical.

As for 7700's, I've had ones in track frames that got so old they wore away the white plastic clip that the needle bearings fit into so the bearings started to drop out when opened. I'd just drop them back in place with a dab of grease and everything would reinstall and feel fine. Shimano engineers consistently tell me that the 7700 was their finest bottom bracket ever. But they say that with performance in mind (plus a bit of engineering ego). They agree that it isn't made to last forever, and definitely isn't made to last without regular maintenance.

What this thread is really about is ... there's no such thing as a maintenance free bottom bracket. If the bottom bracket bearings themselves don't go bad, the contact of the bottom bracket cartridge shell and the bottom frame shell will get you. This is where a PF30 bottom bracket with a Delrin adapter starts to make a whole lot more sense.

Really..even if octalink answered no question, solved no problem while adding a few?