Sealed cartridge bb question
 

I just installed my 2nd Shimano sealed cartridge bb tonight. The first one went perfect, but this 2nd one's a tad loose. The spindle's just a little loose inside the cartridge; is that supposed to be like that? I usually only use old school bottom brackets.

Is the spindle loose in the cartridge, or is the cartridge loose in the BB shell? I got a new cartridge once which had a plastic adjustable cup that had a very small amount of play between it and the cartridge. I solved it with a shim of metal foil chimney tape.

The spindle should definitely not be loose in the cartridge.

It's loose in the cartridge. Not by much, but I can definitely feel it when I grab a crank arm.

Most of the "sealed cartridge type" BBs are not meant to have the bearing preload adjustable or to be taken apart and serviced. That is the glory of them, plug/play/forget/replace when worn out...

If the play is not noticed when riding I might not do anything. If the play is enough to cause problems with front chain meshing, shifting or excessive chain rub on cage then i would replace the BB with one that wasn't loose.

Have you taken this up with the outfit that you bought the BB from? Andy

That isn't right. I would return it to where I bought it if I were you.

I haven't yet, no. Was wondering if it was normal or not, but now that I'm starting to hear it's not normal I just might.