Creaking BB Shell on FR-219?

[mwarner57]

Hello,

I built up an FR-219 with a threaded BB a couple of years ago and recently noticed a creaking when putting weight on the left crank arm.  I tried a new crank with new bearings, same issue.  I finally took the cranks out and threaded an old bearing holder into the left side.  Put a pipe in it and applied a little pressure, and sure enough, I got a creak.  Same exercise on the right side did not produce any noise.  I looked inside the shell, and it looks like it is in two pieces.  Guessing the left side is starting to debond from the frame?  Has anyone seen this before?  Is my only option to get a new frame?  There are some carbon frame repair shops around, but it looks like a $300 minimum (+shipping costs).

[Carbon_Dude]

Sounds like you figured out the problem, if the threaded shell is moving WRT the frame, then I don't believe there is much you can do other than replace the frame which sounds like about the same price as trying for a repair that may not fix the problem.  Although, with the Chinese frames, you may get another that creaks even sooner.  At least it's not a $1,500 frame though.