campagnolo ultra torque chainset problems

[ultra]

Having problems with ultra torque b.b sideplay, creating knocking /clicking noise.Apart from the wave washer is it possible to buy shims to set the cups further apart to take the play up. They are available from the states but with tax & cutoms duty the cost is too much

[gfk_velo]

Hi there,

a few questions as it is rarely that simple with UltraTorque ...

Is it a new assembly?
Does it use threaded cups or adaptors for BB30 etc?
Is it fitted to a frame that already had bearing locations built in (2011 / 2012 Wilier Cento, for instance)?
If it uses threaded cups, was the frame faced and chased as appropriate before fitting?
Following facing & chasing, was the width of the BB shell checked to ensure that it conforms to Campag's spec (min 67.2mm, max 68.8 mm BSC or min 69.2mm, max 70.8mm Italian)?
Are the correct UltraTorque cups fitted (i.e. not PowerTorque)?
Are the cups correctly torqued into the frame (35 nm)?
Is the wavy washer in place?
Is the safety clip in place on the gear side cup?
Is the washer on the central bolt in place?
Is the central bolt done up to the correct torque (42-60 nm dry)?

We would generally advise extreme caution before resorting to shims or other methods of re-spacing the cups, unless the BB shell is under-dimension, when you will have little choice. If other fitting conditions are not right and play is being caused by those conditions, you may end up damaging the bearings, cups or worse, the UT axle itself.

There is a lot of poorly considered, poorly conceived advice about both UT and PT out these on the internet - the best thing to do initially in a case like this is to refer either to a Campagnolo ProShop or to us, as the main Campag Service Centre for the UK.

[ultra]

thanks for the information the only thing i can't vouch for at the moment is the bb width but i will disassemble an measure.When i originally purchased the bike a bianchi from a reputable cycle shop the bike came with the ultra torque already fitted. This was the alloy compact version and the bianchi was an alloy frame. Aprox a year later i purchased another bianchi from same shop this was a carbon frame and had a carbon compact ulta torque fitted. The noises only appeared after aprox one year of use relubing and fitting a new wave washer stops the problem for a short while aprox six months.I should add to this that recently I recently had a new frame a kinesis and had my alloy compact changed onto this it was done at primera a Campagnolo Pro shop and they said they would fit a new bb as this was british thread. I asked that they pay particular attention to the bb because of the noises i had had previously. This was october 2012 and the knocking has started again so, three bikes, two bike shops, two ultra torques, I believe the combination of wave washer and the tolerence allowed is some how causing the problem. perhaps we need an adjustable cup with a lock ring! probably too old fashioned & simple. In the past I have built up my own road and track bikes & the bb was a simple fit and forget unit.Now you need special tools to remove the crank & a race puller to remove the bearings,& special spanner to remove the cups,is this really progress.Thank you once again for you information

[bfergie]

Ahh your last sentence pretty much sums up why I hate UT chainsets. Okay you need the same spanner for Shimano or Sram chainsets (or FSA but the Megaexo bearing is toffee..but a Shimano one works too)...I run a FSA K Force chainset and Sram Elita on my road bikes, FSA Gossamer on the cross bike and FSA Comet and Shimano Deore on the mtbs....no issues at all and once you have the big spanner all you need is a 5mm allen key!

[ultra]

unfortunately i returned to cycling after a break of some 20 years and just plumped for campag as it had always been good quality.As well as easy to work with.Such a bizarre idea with all the tools required I guess they just don't want people doing there own spannering which is not suprising given the horlicks they have made of the ultra torque bottom bracket. Don't get me started on the very expensive chain breaker they expect you to buy, I have given up on that and buy kmc chains with the power link so easy. problem is once i found all these things out about campag. I had two bikes total cappag equipped oh well never mind