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Clicking noise when pedalling

(62 posts)
  • Started 10 years ago by Kenny
  • Latest reply from ih
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. Kenny
    Member

    I've got one of those annoying "I've got a clicking noise, any ideas?" questions, and I know how difficult they are to answer reliably, and I suspect I know the answer, but I thought I'd ask anyway in case anyone has any other ideas.

    The last couple of days there has been a clicking noise when pedalling. It happens when I put the power down; it doesn't happen when pedalling gently. It happens at the exact same point when the cranks are rotating, which is when the crank is almost (but not quite) at the bottom. It happens _on both sides_ in the same place, therefore clicking when my right foot is nearing the bottom *and* when my left foot is nearing the bottom.

    I figure it's my BB.

    I took the cranks and BB off, gave the threads a nice clean, greased them up and put it all back together. Hasn't made any difference at all.

    I therefore figure the BB is done. Which is a shame, as it has only lasted about 3 months, therefore not much more than 1000 miles. It's a Shimano Tiagra.

    I've ordered another one at great expense (£7.99) from Wiggle to see if that makes it go away. If it doesn't, however, I'm stumped.

    If anyone has clues as to what else it could be, do shout, but I figure that due to the facts above and how to make it re-occur, I'm in the right ballpark. But maybe I've identified the wrong part, of course!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. gembo
    Member

    Doesn't sound like it but sometimes there can be a ticking caused by ruptured chain link.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. wingpig
    Member

    Could be crankbolts either being a wee bit loose or a wee bit too tight. Could be unevenly-tight stem-bolts, or a.clicky saddle. Eliminate by testing standing-up pedalling and not-yanking-bars pedalling.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. Kenny
    Member

    Doesn't sound like it but sometimes there can be a ticking caused by ruptured chain link

    Cheers for the suggestion. I tested to ensure (hopefully) it wasn't that by cycling in various gears to ensure it always happened at the same place in crank rotation, irrespective of where the chain was.

    Could be crankbolts either being a wee bit loose or a wee bit too tight

    Hmm, hadn't thought of that, I shall definitely have a look if the BB doesn't resolve it.

    Could be unevenly-tight stem-bolts, or a.clicky saddle. Eliminate by testing standing-up pedalling and not-yanking-bars pedalling

    Yeah, tried that too, standing up it was still doing it and yanking at the bars made no difference. Thanks, though.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. Baldcyclist
    Member

    I have a similar issue, thought it was the bottom bracket. Replaced that still there. Replaced the chain and cassette, still there. Replaced the jockey wheels, went away for a bit, and came back. Replaced the rear mech, still there.

    It kind of feels like it's the crankset somehow, it's been replaced too about a year ago, was still there.

    Must be the pedals, changed everything else. Double click, every pedal revolution, same place, somehow become used to it over the past year, still bothers me sometimes.

    I keep meaning to swap the pedals over from the road bike to see if that makes a difference, but never got round to it.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    Check knees...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. crowriver
    Member

    Aye, I've got one of those clicks on the hybrid. I'm assuming it's the BB/crank bolts, but have not been able to isolate the exact source as yet.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. RJ
    Member

    In my experience this sort of click is frequently pedal related. Check for play around the spindle. Could of course be any of the other things too.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. gembo
    Member

    I changed pedals and it ended up being a nick in the chain, hence my suggestion. If the new pedals ever wear out I can put the old pedals back on.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. Nelly
    Member

    Wash and lube bike before doing anything else. Look for the obvious before a strip down !

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. earthowned
    Member

    I've had the same problems with Tiagra BBs. Don't bother buying 105 or Ultegra ones as they are pretty much the same. Unfortunately for me all the Hollowtech BBs seem to have a short shelf life.

    Could be a co-incidence but I get more life out of mine by not pressure washing the BB area.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  12. chdot
    Admin

    "Could be a co-incidence but I get more life out of mine by not pressure washing the BB area."

    Er no, wise decision!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  13. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    I replaced a worn out Ultegra Hollowtech BB a couple of months ago. It was clicking just as you describe. It lasted nine years on my summer bike so I put the same kind back in.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  14. crowriver
    Member

    Square taper BB on mine. Thing is, the click only raises its voice when the drivetrain is under load. Easy pootling on the flat, not a whisper. I'm inclined towards the chain hypothesis: the chain is.....older than it probably ought to be.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  15. BenN
    Member

    Kenny, I had exactly the same symptoms on my three month old Revolution Cross - turns out it was the BB, and it was just a bad 'un that took a while to manifest. Co-op replaced it free of charge.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  16. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    I'd always suspect the cranks if it's a square taper bottom bracket. They can make an unholy racket without being palpably loose.

    Strip, clean and re-install to the specification torque?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  17. ARobComp
    Member

    I have this fairly regularly on my CX bike and currently on my roady. Usually a bit of grit in the BB or it needs tightening - never had to have it replaced because of it.

    I also once couldn't get rid of a click and it turned out to be my saddle making all the noise! Also seatposts can click as can pedals and other bits.

    So basically a thorough clean and grease and a wee bit of lube on the metal bits of your saddle rails might be the best bet!

    Reminds me I must strip and clean my cranks tonight!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  18. Kenny
    Member

    Despite my testing last night, I awoke this morning and decided to make sure it wasn't my seat, so loosened, repositioned and tightened properly. At first I thought it had worked, but as soon as I needed to go up a hill, the clicking resurfaced.

    I had a good look over the frame this morning too, just to make sure there wasn't a crack in the frame. I lubed up the various bits very recently, but that would indeed be another quick thing to try which might resolve it. Will give that a go tonight. Nothing like a good degreasing session to make everything nice and sparkly.

    I will almost certainly have had the pressure washer on the BB area repeatedly over the past 3 months. If that's something to avoid, then that's good advice to know.

    Fingers crossed the BB arrives tomorrow and I'm back to silence from Friday...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  19. crowriver
    Member

    Pressure washers? I try to avoid them, Using them on the bike? Nope.

    Baby wipes mostly, maybe if the bike needs a good wash a bowl of hot water with washing up liquid and a brush. Squirt degreaser on transmission only when necessary.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  20. earthowned
    Member

    When the bike is proper filthy I use one of those handheld pump sprayers (normally used for garden pesticides) filled with hot water to clean the bike after an application of muck-off (or similar detergent) and it works a treat. Just avoid squirting the external BB cups or surrounding areas and you shouldn't get any ingress of water in the important bits. I went through a couple of BBs before realising my mistake....

    Posted 10 years ago #

  21. 531
    Member

    I just solved a clicking bottom bracket problem. The noise was a click on every pedal stroke, especially strong on uphills. I was sure the noise was in the BB area, but changing the BB out did nothing. Turned out it was a loose headset!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  22. crowriver
    Member

    Turned out it was a loose headset!

    Hmm, there's another possibility to investigate.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  23. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    I have a very similar clicky issue on my MTB and - because it seems to happen at the same point in the chainring revolution regardless of gear or chainring being used, and is louder under load, I presumed it was a BB issue too. So I have looked up the spec (the bike is a Giant Revel 2, 2012) and found that the BB is a "FSA RPM cartridge" which is unavailable from the suppliers I have looked at. Can anyone suggest an alternative?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  24. Kenny
    Member

    Turned out it was a loose headset!

    Very interesting... I think my headset is slightly loose, as when I drop the front (wheel) of the bike on the ground, it doesn't sound quite as solid as it normally does. I shall do that first to see if it resolves the problem before replacing the BB.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  25. Dangerous
    Member

    @Its_Me_Knees

    Do you know if the chainset is square taper, or FSA proprietry, or what ?

    Could you provide the chainset details too.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  26. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    @Dangerous:

    Bike specs here - goes that help?
    Giant Revel 2 2012

    Posted 10 years ago #

  27. Kenny
    Member

    It wasn't the headset, unfortunately. BB replacement tonight!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  28. Dangerous
    Member

    @Its_Me_Knees

    Thanks yes it does help a bit.

    To replace your bottom bracket you need to know:

    1) How it connects to your frame
    2) Axle length
    3) Chainset connection

    Googling "Shimano M131 24/34/42" from the spec gives results talking about a square taper bottom brocket axle which answers 3)

    1) Is probably 73mm (MTB Bottom Bracket width) English Thread
    2) Your chainset is a triple but you will need to research the answer & maybe measure what you've got

    How you proceed depends on whether you are doing it yourself, via LBS, or say using Bikestation facilities

    Replacement BB should be < 20 GBP

    Posted 10 years ago #

  29. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    @Dangerous: thanks for that...confirms to me that its not straightforward to find the right BB. However, your advice will be very helpful in getting me through the jungle. I want to do it myself if possible; that may be more foolish than brave but hey, I bought that work stand for a reason....

    Posted 10 years ago #

  30. Kenny
    Member

    BB replaced. Clicking noise still there, same as before :(

    Will now try to remove and regrease the pedals. After that, I'll have a look at the bolts in the chainset. Following that, not sure what else to try since I've already tightened the headset - maybe I'll have another look at it.

    Posted 10 years ago #

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