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Mysterious 'grease' under BB

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Old 06-07-23, 11:28 AM
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epnnf
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Mysterious 'grease' under BB



See, on the plastic thing w/grooves? It tends to make shifting sluggish. Where did it come from? Been appearing for cpl months; after a ride. Fix is easy- degreaser > toothbrush > rinse > dry. Never happened before on any bike. Happens mostly on the Masi, shown, but also on the Kona.
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Old 06-07-23, 12:11 PM
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"Never happened before on any bike."

wanna bet on that statement?

possible sources? An over-greased Seat Post... an over-greased Headset... and, the Most Likely, an over-greased Bottom Bracket.

keep wiping and cleaning.. cleaning a bike by hand with a rag is the best way to inspect a bike for problems... and don't forget to wipe each spoke too.. it's a great way to feel a loose spoke before it causes a bigger problem.....
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Old 06-07-23, 12:17 PM
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Yea, I thought about over greased BB, but the BB has been there for years; this problem has only been going on for cpl months.
Forgot to mention, theres a lot of crud coming down the DT- like from the water bottle. So now, I am extra vigilant about preventing the bottle from leaking- doesnt seem to make any difference.
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Old 06-07-23, 12:40 PM
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Check your plastic thingy with the grooves (BB cable guide) and make sure the cables aren't sawing into it. The grease and/or oil is probably coming from as previously suggested by another and likely it's just attracting grit from the road which is what really is making the shifting sluggish in the narrow grove they've sawed for themselve.

The plastic thingy (BB cable guide) only cost me $2.00 last time I needed one.

If it is in fact something from your bottles, then maybe it's the sugar in it getting sticky as it dries. I constantly am cleaning my dried hydration mix and salt from my sweat off all the tubes of my bike and the BB.

Last edited by Iride01; 06-07-23 at 12:44 PM.
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Old 06-07-23, 01:24 PM
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If the OP is complaining about this, it means they aren't washing their bike enough, ever.

I mean, is it even grease at all?

I was components on my bikes religously.

Old toothbrushes are my friends.
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Old 06-08-23, 09:15 AM
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Remove the fastener, clean the threads, apply thread sealant, reinstall.

Last edited by streetsurfer; 07-05-23 at 05:04 PM.
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Old 06-08-23, 09:42 AM
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You use an energy drink? I wouldn't think grease would make it sluggish. I'm going with a leaky water bottle.
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Old 06-08-23, 10:06 AM
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trailangel
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Huh? It's road grit. Wipe it off. I would be more concerned about the clear plastic "thingy" on the downtube.
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Old 06-08-23, 10:41 AM
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You're got a lot going on with that down tube. Are you sure something else isn't interfering with the cables and causing the sluggish shifting?
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