Strange noise (originally posted in General)

EKE_38BPM

Since General is quieter than a graveyard, I've decided to repost this in here.

I've got a Mavic Aksium front wheel and it has started making a strange ticking noise. It sounds like something is touching one of the spokes (possibly on the right hand side). The noise isn't constantly there, but every few minutes or so it will make the ticking noise for a few seconds (one tick for each wheel revolution) and then silence again.

There is nothing obvious touching the wheel/spokes and I even took the speedo sensor off of the fork and wheel magnet off the spoke just to make sure.

Any idea what could be causing it? The wheel has done about 5000 miles and is as true as the day I got it (which I'm quite impressed with).

Alphabet

problem is, whenever you think you've located the source of a ticking noise, you're generally wrong. a creak i thought was in my pedal, turned out to be from my seatpost. my freewheel turned out to be my cranks. tighten and lube everything and hopefully it goes away...

hatbeard

Might be a death watch beetle best get your affairs in order chap.

jonginge

Shirley this should have posted in workshop *runs away laughing*

*runs back* (You've probably checked but) loose spoke? Bit of grit in the slot where the spoke meets the hub? Any cracks in eyelets etc?

attica

Could be a bit of grime in your nipples or the spoke ends - it can get lodged there when riding in the wet.

Try a spot of GT85 on your nipples* and at the spoke ends.
Also, check the rims for hairline cracks.
That grove on the braking surface is a wear indicator - is there much of it left?

*Paging Greg T

MonkeyMonster

Attica wrote:

Try a spot of GT85 on your nipples* and at the spoke ends.
Also, check the rims for hairline cracks.
*Paging Greg T

at least you didn't add to lube his rim...

The Greg

It sounds like you've got a loose spoke end/nipple. I used to have the same problem with my old Fulcrum Racing 1s - the ticking would drive me nucking futs.

Get them tightened and then apply some locktite.

EKE_38BPM

Confession time.

When I was at school a boy from another class (who I found quite annoying) asked me how to stop his brakes squeaking. I told him to put some WD40 on his brake blocks and go away.

I didn't expect him to really do it, I mean, only an idiot would lube his braking surfaces. He did and had an accident because he couldn't stop in time.

I felt a bit guilty about that.

Yeah, I've checked the spokes are all tensioned properly and the wear indicator is still pretty deep, I'll check for rim cracks.
The wheels (and bike generally) need a clean so, I'll give it all a good clean, GT85 my nipples (not lube my rim) and see how it goes.

JG, you are right, it should have gone into workshop really, but the thought never even crossed my mind. I guess thats because I rarely don't know how to fix a problem on my bike so don't ever go in there.

itboffin

I have the same wheels, the develop pings and ticks over time, but as has been said by the great and wise very very old Attica, grease your nipples good - I might add it helps if your own legs have been freshly plucked beforehand :roll:

PS. You have removed and greased your QR levers and springs haven't you ...?

while you're at it check the bearings, do they run freely with no grinding?

Anyone else getting turned on by all this talk of nipples, grinding and Attica?

attica

Just had a horrible image of someone applying an angle grinder to my nipples

Ouch!

...and eww!