Echo Spanish bottom bracket too stiff?

[Scoox]

Hi everyone. So I just received my brand-new Echo 20" frame and the press-fit integrated bottom bracket is unusually stiff. If I turn it by hand it feels like unscrewing a stiff bottle cap. When I remember my Echo 24 having a stiff-ish bottom bracket when I got it last year, but nowhere near as stiff as this one, so I wonder if this is normal and whether or not it will ease off over time. Thanks in advance for any replies!

[UK_SPAWN]

Same with my BB. If you hang cranks on it will it rotate freely? ( like atleast a single rotation)

Without cranks my bb is hard to turn also. I think its just like that. It doesn't matter as much as it would on a road bike for example.

[Scoox]

With one crank only it won't turn much, see animation below. The crank is an Echo TR 170mm non-drive side crank. How long have you had yours and has it got better over time?

Edited June 6, 2013 by Scoox

[FamilyBiker]

knock the bb axle slightly with a hammer from both sides,holding a piece of wood or something against it.

should release the tension in the bearings.

slightly!

[Scoox]

I tapped the think *slightly* with a piece of wood and it got stiffer. FSB*. Now the crank doesn't even drop like in the animation above, it just stays horizontal.

*FSB = f**kshitbollocks

Edited June 7, 2013 by Scoox

[FamilyBiker]

you have to find the spot where it isnt stiff,i think you knocked on the side where it already was under tension

its like

left right left right,each punch with less amount of force,so the bearings and axle can align to each other.

with checking how its turning after every one.

i didnt say "hit it with a hammer so it can jam up"

i meant "gently" obviously

Edited June 7, 2013 by FamilyBiker

[dezmtber]

Make a bearing press out of a threaded bar and some huge thick washers. Then refit the bb bearings.

For what's happening. The bearings are not fitted square in the frame, or you have damaged the races by hammering them into the frame

[marko]

I've built lots of echos and I can tell that a small number of frames had a too wide spacing where the bearings are pressed in the frame. Then the bearings are already pressed all the way in while the axle can slide max. 0,3mm left and right. The bearings still run smooth until you install the cranks so the BB washers push the bearings inner races to the center 0,3mm...

Have to install 1-3 pcs. 0.1mm washers inside between axle and bearing for compensation.

[dezmtber]

What he said sounds likely to be the problem

[Scoox]

I haven't fitted the cranks yet (other than provisionally without bolts) so it may well be that the bearings aren't sitting squarely, however marko's comment makes me think that if some frames are a tad too wide then it's perfectly possible for some frames to be a tad too narrow, which could be my case. On my frame the outer ring of the non-drive-side BB bearing sticks out a bit i.e. it's not flush to the frame metal, as if it hadn't been pushed all the way in, while the other side sits nice and flush. So maybe the drive-side bearing was press fitted first, then axle was inserted from the non-drive side and finally the non-drive bearing was pushed on as far as it could go. If the frame is too narrow chances are the axle is pushing on the bearing's inner ring which would explain the stiffness. For the time being I am not going to MacGyver it otherwise I might void the warranty. I'll call Echo tomorrow morning to see what's the best thing to do.