http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Ticking/clinking Front Crank when pedeling en Sat, 27 Jun 2026 13:16:23 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28747 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:30:16 +0000 alibali 28747@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've had that symptom a couple of times on my ISIS MTB and each time it has been the bottom bracket bearings. The second time (Crank Brothers, don't ask what it cost) it started at the bottom of the Glentress red route and by the time I came down I was leaving a trail of sheared ball bearings from the drive side. I think Octo BBs have the same weakness: thick shaft in fixed BB shell size = small bearing.<br /> I bought a (cheap) ISIS BB for BMX bikes: problem solved. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28745 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:56:13 +0000 DaveC 28745@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmm, don't think it is the Jocky wheel. I clean and re oil my bike every few weeks. I'll check this though thanks. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28741 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:53:23 +0000 kaputnik 28741@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>what a Jockey wheel is</em></p> <p>The pair of toothed wheels that hang below the derailleur and maintain the tension on the chain as it moves up and down the cassette.</p> <p>As standard often come with orrible cheap bearings, or can get little bits stuck in them that make ticking noise. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28734 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:19:40 +0000 DaveC 28734@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sorry I don't know what a Jockey wheel is???</p> <p>I had a good look yesterday, but didn't fix it. It definately happens on the stroke of the pedaling. I'll see what happens at the weekend when I have more time at home. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28709 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:36:35 +0000 ExcitableBoy 28709@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I had an irritating creak which I thought was the bottom bracket, as it was happening whilst pedaling hard, even out of seat etc. - eventually turned out to be the jockey wheels! - I don't know much about these things, but may be worth a try? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28698 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:00:37 +0000 Cyclingmollie 28698@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think Arrelcat suggested a light coating of copper grease would be best. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28697 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:53:07 +0000 DaveC 28697@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cheers Cyclingmollie, I have some Copper grease, would people suggest this is most suitable? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28696 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:43:21 +0000 Cyclingmollie 28696@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You can't open the Octalink bearings but there's no specialist tool required to remove the cranks, just an allen key as they are self-extracting bolts. The bit to grease would be the splines which mate the cranks to the bearing spindle. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28695 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:26:57 +0000 DaveC 28695@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Looking at the Chainset and bottom hub its a sprecialist tool required to loosen or tighten, and no obvious way of adding grease. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28694 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:22:31 +0000 chdot 28694@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Its every pedal revolution."</p> <p>Hitting front mech?</p> <p>Or even frame??</p> <p>Or pedals???</p> <p>Or knees???? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28693 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:14:42 +0000 DaveC 28693@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Its every pedal revolution. It does it every pedal stroke regardless of siting or standing. The silicon grease on the seat post has dried up, so I might regrease it. I'll also try without a seat post altogether to isolate that. A collegue who mountina bike more seriously than I do suggested taking it to a local shop too... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28692 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:02:23 +0000 amir 28692@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is it definitely the crank? Noises can transmit down the drive train and all over the bike. Even the seatpost could be to blame (worth re-greasing). Very frustrating. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28691 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:01:40 +0000 Arellcat 28691@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dave, is it clicking every pedal revolution, or every chain revolution? Does it do it, as Kaputnik said, on the power, off the power, standing up, or sitting down? This'll help pin down where it's occurring. I would suggest a light coating of grease on the Octalink splines. Copper grease will be ok as long as you don't leave it more than a year between reapplications, as it tends to help weld small bits of steel into large bits of aluminium; I now prefer to use Castrol moly grease.</p> <p>My bike was once making a strange creaking/grinding noise whenever I was pedalling hard. After greasing every mating part of the chainset, I was convinced it was a pinch bolt behind the BB that was creaking, and promptly filed a bit of metal down a fraction. It turned out to be the cheap ISIS bottom bracket that was creaking, even though there was no discernable play. It got replaced with a decent FSA unit and the noise disappeared immediately. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28689 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:53:38 +0000 Cyclingmollie 28689@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have Octalink on a couple of bikes. Loose crank bolts could be the cause but you will need a long handled allen key to get sufficient torque. There's conflicting advice on whether or not to grease the octalink surfaces. I think you are not supposed to but I tried it and it solved the clicking crank problem I had with mine. Mind you, the crank is now seized on the drive side so that may be bad advice. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28688 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:49:37 +0000 wingpig 28688@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I had that as a recurring problem when setting off and standing up, albeit with a square-taper BB axle and Truvativ crank. The first time it happened it was partially-resolved by being tightened as far as it would go whilst a new left crank arm was ordered. The next time it happened on the right the crank was replaced. Original BB still working fine with new stuff. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28687 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:47:41 +0000 kaputnik 28687@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Could be the bottom bracket in which case unless you've got tools to extract and have a look if it needs lubing, it may be best to take it to the shop and say "make it work please".</p> <p>Does it happen when you stand up and pedal? I had a similar thing to this a while back and it turned out it was the seat bolt creaking when I pedalled, so it didn't happen when I stood and pedalled. </p> <p>Could be the cranks themselves, if you have an extractor you could pull them out, clean the surfaced, grease them and fit it back together tightly.</p> <p>Could also be a pedal bearing.</p> <p>In my experiences, mystery creaks can be very hard to diagnose, especially when you take it into a shop and cannot seem to replicate the problem. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2695#post-28686 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:39:11 +0000 DaveC 28686@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have a 6 month old Specialized Rockhopper SL with a similar crank to this:</p> <p>Shimano FC-M430-8, Octalink spline</p> <p>Now its started clinking/ticking when I peddle hard. I tried tightening all the alan bolts last night, on the main crank and those holding the different rings together, but its still clinking when i peddle hard. Has anyone any advice on how I can fix this please? Does it require any lube/tightening?</p> <p>Cheers,</p> <p>Dave C </p>