Clicky clunky paranoia « CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum

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Clicky clunky paranoia

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Started 13 years ago by Its_Me_Knees
Latest reply from I were right about that saddle
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pedals noises click clunk bearing

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Its_Me_Knees
Member

My hybrid commuter bike (8 months old now) has developed some odd clicky-clunky noises.

There's an apparently random plasticky click that comes from the left pedal. I'm thinking this might be a cheap plastic (nylon?) bearing failing in the pedal...does that sound plausible? If so, should I replace the pedal, or just wait until the bearing fails completely?

From the right pedal comes a slight clunk, always just after the highest point in the pedal's revolution, regardless of gear selected, and (I think) just at the point where I apply pressure to the pedal on it's down-stroke. It feels like my old school bike from back in the day when a cottar pin would just start to fail, but I'm not convinced this bike even has cottar pins...

Neither of these noises are stopping me riding the bike, but a combination of new(ish) bike paranoia and a respect for the principle that if you spot a problem early it's generally easier to fix, means I am seeking some advice from the oracles of CCE now, before something bad happens.

Thoughts?

Posted 13 years ago #
chdot
Admin

It's unlikely that you have nylon bearings or cotter pins.

Basically sounds like pedal bearings need adjusting - easier said than done on cheap pedals. (Might also be loosening cranks - tighten before they get any looser).

Remove cap - may unscrew or need to be gouged out.

Loosen nut (not always easy to get a spanner to it).

Turn cone (bit behind washer behind nut) and tighten nut - fiddly process.

Squirt in some oil and replace cap.

May have made a difference.

Or you could remove nut/washer/cone and clean everything and regreased...

Always worth it with reasonable pedals.

Posted 13 years ago #
Cyclingmollie
Member

It could just be that the pedals are worn out. On road bikes, if they're supplied at all, they're poor quality and your hybrid may be the same. Before SPDs I wore out a pair of cheap pedals every twelve months or so.

Posted 13 years ago #
Its_Me_Knees
Member

Will investigate. From what you say my <cough> intuition suggests pedal issue on the left, crank issue on the right. @CHdot: I take it the crank is tightened via the large allen socket in the centre of the crank?

Thanks both - a useful exchange, not least because I've been reminded how to spell 'cotter' correctly...

Posted 13 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"I take it the crank is tightened via the large allen socket in the centre of the crank?"

If that is the bolt (sounds like it) rather than (more common) the dust cover with a bolt behind it.

Posted 13 years ago #
Its_Me_Knees
Member

I'll proceed with caution. Thanks again.

Posted 13 years ago #
crowriver
Member

I'm having a similar issue with my 2 year old hybrid, a click every revolution of pedals, just on the right side as far as I can make out. I checked the usual suspects: shoelaces hitting cranks; front derailleur cable hitting cranks; neither of those. Thought it maybe something to do with either cranks, pedals or chainring. Can't quite figure it out though. Only seems to happen when pedalling on road, no noise when freewheeling, nor if I just rotate the pedals with the bike on a stand.

Was riding on cinder tracks a couple of weeks ago, maybe some dust or grit got into the pedal bearings somehow?

Posted 13 years ago #
ruggtomcat
Member

have a damm good look at everything, clicks in the transmission can be transfered through the cranks. If its 8 months old I might suggest getting a full-ish service soon to check everything is good and tight.

Posted 13 years ago #
crowriver
Member

This web page may help narrow down the possible sources of the issue - or maybe not!

http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/keepitquiet.html

Posted 13 years ago #
Its_Me_Knees
Member

Sorted. Sweated out my man flu this morning (too much info, I know) and felt reinvigorated, so this afternoon... Bought crank puller and splined BB socket thingy, took off cranks, tightened BB (non-drive side a tad loose, I reckon) and reassembled to the specified torque. All clicks and clunks now gone!

Happy Mr Knees :-)

Posted 13 years ago #
chdot
Admin

What about the pedal(s)?

Posted 13 years ago #
Its_Me_Knees
Member

>>What about the pedal(s)?

Seem OK. I wonder if the click in the non-drive-side pedal was actually the loose BB on that side and I mis-diagnosed it as a pedal issue. I guess a trainer-encased left foot isn't the best sensory organ going...

Posted 13 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

Your first crank-pulling, botom-bracket-removing moment is one to be remembered and savoured. Hope you took pictures for your album :)

Posted 13 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"Hope you took pictures for your album"

As someone who takes photos of quite a lot of things, I can say that isn't one I have done - yet.

Posted 13 years ago #
Its_Me_Knees
Member

No pictures I'm afraid (BB has taken out a super-injunction). Also, after a 15 mile spin out this morning things had worked loose again. Removed and reassembled everything once more, re-tightened a little bit more than previously (and verrrry carefully) and will check and re-tighten again. Various web pages seem to indicate that an amount of 'pre-load' (over-tightening?) is required to prevent the cranks working loose. Carrying the allen key with me for my next run out might be a good idea...

Posted 13 years ago #
crowriver
Member

My ticking/clicking hybrid got worse today so I thought for a while on what to do. I already knew the bike needed a wash, but had not realised just how gummed up with dust, oil and grease the drivetrain was. Was the noise just caused by grit and grime making the chain slap against the front derailleur or some other metal part?

So earlier this evening, out with the degreaser and gave the chainring, chain and rear mech a darn good scrub. Rinsed thoroughly with hot water, then a test ride. The ticking and clicking sounds seem to have disappeared.

Once everything is dry in the morning I'll add some fresh lube and see if it's still running silent. So far, so good though.

Next I have to figure out where the creaking sound is coming from on my wee folding bike.....started two weeks ago and getting worse. Checked, tightened and lubed the folding hinge today. Slight improvement but still there. Chain is sparkling clean so not that. Cranks maybe? Pedals? Bottom bracket (adjustable type)? Stem? Seatpost? Rear rack? So many possibilities!

Posted 13 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

Is it a Brompton? Is the folding creak in time with the pedals turning?

The first suspect on a Brompton is the suspension block. Rotate it a little and/or skoosh some WD-40 on the shaft. You need to apply weight to the block if you want to see the shaft so either take it apart or rest on the saddle like you were a dead guy in a western being carried home on your four legged friend and then skoosh it.

Posted 13 years ago #
crowriver
Member

@wee folding bike Is it a Brompton? I wish! No, it's that cheap Raleigh folder I've been souping up.

Is the folding creak in time with the pedals turning? Yes, especially when pushing harder on the pedals or going uphill. If I just pootle along in a medium gear, it's hardly there if at all. But when I put a bit of pressure on, creak, creak, creak...

Posted 13 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

But when I put a bit of pressure on, creak, creak, creak...
check seatpost and saddle clamps

Posted 13 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

A wee bit of grease on saddle clip or seat pin then.

Don't ever grease a Brompton seat pin!

It could also be cranks loose on the BB spindle. The left one is more likely to be a problem. Tighten them up or.. some people have been known to grease the taper but this causes fights so don't tell anyone.

Pedals might need a wee bit of grease on the threaded end of their spindle (left hand thread on the left one). I've got a Campag pedal cone spanner in my dad's garage but I haven't seen it for 10 years. Brompton right hand pedals last me a long. long time. Usually I have to trash the chainring and the pedal has seized on the crank but works fine. Brompton Folding Pedals last me a couple of winters. They don't have a replaceable bearing and I've tried filing and hammering them out to no avail.

If it's an adjustable BB I'd check that for play and I'd probably grease it anyway. You need a big hook spanner or a punch for the lock ring and a peg spanner for the adjustable cup. In a pinch you can use a punch for the adjustable cup too. I've got the fixed cup spanner but when I didn't I just used to leave it in place and clean it out from the other side. Fixed cup has a left hand thread (unless it's an Italian frame).

My middle Brompton (2006 S6L) had a creak for a couple of weeks but it went away. It was probably a bit of grit stuck somewhere and I've rattled it out.

Posted 13 years ago #
crowriver
Member

Thanks for the tips folks. I'll get the copaslip out and look into the seat post/clamp/saddle clamps. Next the pedal threads.

If that doesn't fix it, it's probably the BB. When I bought it, noticed the left hand lockring was rotated out of the thread a bit, I could tighten it by hand! Ordered the appropriate Park tools wrench and tightened it, but maybe if it was not quite tight, laying in a garage for a year, the grease may have dried out a bit. Might just take it to Eastside bikes and get the BB overhauled. Nice chaps and the prices are reasonable...

Posted 13 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

If you've got the tools you might as well have a bash at the BB yourself.

Posted 13 years ago #
crowriver
Member

@wfb If you've got the tools you might as well have a bash at the BB yourself.

Should have the tools. I need to get the right grease though. Also a bit worried I'll just make a hash of it. I suppose there are various tutorials online that I can try.

Anyway, will try the other bits of the bike first, no harm in making sure they're greased properly...

Posted 13 years ago #
Its_Me_Knees
Member

Another 15 miles this morning, and this time the clicky-clunk didn't return. At the end, I found that I could tighten the crank securing bolt no more than another 1/8-turn on each side. During the first reassembly I greased the tapers slightly, but the second time I wiped the tapers and the cranks clean - not sure if that made any difference or if my more enthusiastic tightening second time around did a better job.

Posted 13 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

You can use fancy pants grease or get a big tub of Castrol LM from Halfords or a motor factors.

Posted 13 years ago #
crowriver
Member

So I found a spare hour to grease the seatpost, saddle clamp, and pedals. Quick test ride, including giving a backie to my son on the rear carrier for a few hundred yards.

Glad to say most of the creaking seems to have disappeared. I'll see how it goes on the commute tomorrow. I suspect the bottom bracket will need an overhaul at some point, but maybe later...

Posted 13 years ago #
recombodna
Member

" I greased the tapers slightly, but the second time I wiped the tapers and the cranks clean "

Never grease yer tapers!! It can cause the crank to be driven on to much and eventually crack..... good job wiping them clean.

Posted 13 years ago #
crowriver
Member

The creaking is still there, albeit not as loud or frequent as before. Possible culprits: saddle clamps (need to check all the bolts etc. as I just greased the bit that clamps onto seatpost); folding pedal on right side (the foldy bit); cranks; bottom bracket.

Should have some time next week to do the necessary surgery!

Posted 13 years ago #
Its_Me_Knees
Member

@recombodna: I used to think the middle east saw the clash of the most irreconcilable of opponents known to mankind until I started reading about greasing tapers. Online forums have folk coming to blows, and there's no middle ground between the greasers and the dry joiners. See here for an example of when two worlds collide. Even the manufacturers can't agree apparently...

However, as the dry joint appears to have worked for me, I'll stick to that modus operandi.

Posted 13 years ago #
recombodna
Member

yeah I'm just going by personal experience. Used to grease my mountain bike tapers back in the day until the drive side crank split on me.

Posted 13 years ago #

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