Cleaned my 500th bottom bracket and I think the obsession is overkill

Everyone in the shop talks about cleaning them until they're spotless, like it's a religion. I hit that number yesterday on a basic commuter bike and the thing still had some grit in the threads... but it spun fine after a regrease. We're talking maybe 15 minutes total, not the 45-minute deep clean some guys do. I've seen mechanics waste a whole hour on a $20 part when the customer just needs it to roll. When did a functional clean stop being good enough? Has anyone else found that chasing perfect cleanliness on cheap components just isn't worth the clock time?

3 comments

3 Comments

jake_carter2mo ago

Focus on the ride, not the shine.

thompson.brian2mo ago

Wait, you actually ride that thing, @jake_carter? It looks way too clean.

benb2117d ago

Man, I hear you. I've been in the same boat where I'll spend 20 minutes cleaning a bottom bracket on a beater bike and the customer's just grateful it doesn't squeak anymore. There's something about chasing that "new part" sparkle on a worn out piece of metal that feels like a waste when the bike's just gonna get muddy the next day. I've seen guys spend an hour on a cheap headset that'll need replacing in six months anyway. It's like we forgot the bike is a tool, not a museum piece.