Still cant find this bloody clicking noise!!!

Mikey1976
Mikey1976 Posts: 165
edited August 2011 in Road beginners
Ive got a really annoying clicking noise when pedaling which gets worse when out the saddle putting the power down. Ive checked all the torque settings, saddle, pedals, cleats and ive even changed the bottom bracket!

The really wierd thing is that the sound almost dissapears after about 30miles into the ride. The noise "sounds like" its coming from the bottom bracket area, hense why changing the BB. People have said it could come from another part of the frame and echo down to the BB, but Im damned if I can find it. Even taken it to a LBS but still no joy.

Have any of you guys come accross this problem? And more to the point did you solve the mystery?

If it makes any differance im running full 105's on a Alu/carbon frame.

Cheers guys.

Comments

  • aripallaris
    aripallaris Posts: 294
    crank arm bolts a little loose? i remember reading that weird noises from that region tend to manifest from a different place altogether.

    some mentions that their skewers were slight aligned and caused noise from the cranks. had something similar but turn out that the muc in my rear derailler caused the noises. good solid thick lube and a good cleaning sorted it out.

    not sure if that helps at all.
  • aripallaris
    aripallaris Posts: 294
    crank arm bolts a little loose? i remember reading that weird noises from that region tend to manifest from a different place altogether.

    some mentions that their skewers were slight aligned and caused noise from the cranks. had something similar but turn out that the muc in my rear derailler caused the noises. good solid thick lube and a good cleaning sorted it out.

    not sure if that helps at all.
  • Down the Road
    Down the Road Posts: 949
    Odd things to try.

    Remove both wheels and them put them back in again making sure they are in correctly (not saying they weren't)

    Check you stem bolts if uneven you can get a click (might explain the 30 mile thing - getting tired)

    Chainring bolts
    Stiff link in chain.

    Most noises sound like from BB as downtubes tend to magnify any noise.
    Racing is life - everything else is just waiting
  • Getoffandmilkit
    Getoffandmilkit Posts: 21
    A similar noise disappeared when I put a new chain on.
  • Mikey1976
    Mikey1976 Posts: 165
    Getoffandmilkit wrote:
    A similar noise disappeared when I put a new chain on.

    Did mention that to the LBS when changing the BB but he said there was plenty of life left in the chain, hense the old one is still on....
  • Akuma
    Akuma Posts: 22
    Had the same problem myself a few days back, constant clicking from what seemed like the BB. After trying everything else, I eventually replaced the right Pedal, problem fixed.
  • Arghyrou
    Arghyrou Posts: 155
    I had that with my wheels, the spokes were loaded 'odd', they run fine and all but the spokes movement would cause this sound every rotation.
    The spoke tension would then relax as the ride went on, but next time the same thing.
    If you stand up it could the spoke again making more noise under more pressure.
    If you can borrow a mates wheel set, or even if you have a spare definitely try it as it happened to me and a spoke key sorted it out fine.
    Good Luck, A
  • merak
    merak Posts: 323
    Can narrow down if it is sync with something. Is it clicking in time with wheel rotation? Pedal rotation? Once per rev or twice? Putting power in which pedal? Once per chain length? Does it stop when you stop pedalling?

    Did anyone suggest the right crank arm slightly fouling the front derailleur when you're in the big ring?
  • 1@ATIME
    1@ATIME Posts: 89
    Same problem on Kiron Scandium running 105 except Ultegra derailleur - changed chain, BB, wheels. Finally pinned noise down to pedalling on right side if I lift right foot off noise goes, changed pedals but still there, noise disappears when wet. LBS no help :(
    Ribble Stealth
    previous: Kiron Scandium, 80's Raleigh Equipe, Striker :)
  • Arghyrou
    Arghyrou Posts: 155
    Shoes?
  • Mikey1976
    Mikey1976 Posts: 165
    merak wrote:
    Can narrow down if it is sync with something. Is it clicking in time with wheel rotation? Pedal rotation? Once per rev or twice? Putting power in which pedal? Once per chain length? Does it stop when you stop pedalling?

    Did anyone suggest the right crank arm slightly fouling the front derailleur when you're in the big ring?

    Deffo not linked with wheel rotation, happens whilst rotating when both pedals are between 5-7oclock (if looking side on to the bike).

    Still find it slightly strange that the sound becomes quieter after an hour or so of riding...
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Check for any play in the rear wheel. I had a noise I was convinced was coming from the bottom bracket and it turned out that there was just too much movement in the rear wheel which was throwing the drive train out of alignment and causing the clicking sound. Like you this was happening in time with crank movement rather than wheel speed which added to me being convinced it was BB related.
  • Geoffroid
    Geoffroid Posts: 11
    Could be that the headset, particularly bottom race, needs greasing. This often sounds bottom bracket related, and is most pronounced when out of the saddle,.
  • Mikey1976
    Mikey1976 Posts: 165
    Pross wrote:
    Check for any play in the rear wheel. I had a noise I was convinced was coming from the bottom bracket and it turned out that there was just too much movement in the rear wheel which was throwing the drive train out of alignment and causing the clicking sound. Like you this was happening in time with crank movement rather than wheel speed which added to me being convinced it was BB related.

    How did you find this out, could you actually see this whilst riding? Did you solve it by changing the wheels??

    Thanks
  • gilesjuk
    gilesjuk Posts: 340
    It's probably due to tolerances not being close with the BB and BB shell of the frame.

    The BB is moving in the frame lightly. I had it with one of my frames quite badly, another one pinged a little.

    Curing it was a simple as wrapping PFTE tape around the threads and refitting the BB.

    I imagine later on into the ride the friction and heat generated by the rotation of parts causes expansion and so the problem stops.
  • Ron Stuart
    Ron Stuart Posts: 1,242
    Try a little grease on the drop outs there may be slight movement with the scewers and because its dry it clicks back and forth very slightly, magnifies when out of saddle.
    Could try different scewers plus a little grease on drop outs. This trick doesn't last for ever needs re-doing once in a while.
  • pdstsp
    pdstsp Posts: 1,264
    Daft one I had was the excess cable from my front mech having bent outwards slightly and the little cap on the end was touching my shoe on each revolution. Sounded like it was coming from bb/drive train area and as bike was brand new I was mightly pissed off. However just as I was about to ride up to the lbs I noticed problem, which saved some blushes. Worth a look.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Mikey1976 wrote:
    Pross wrote:
    Check for any play in the rear wheel. I had a noise I was convinced was coming from the bottom bracket and it turned out that there was just too much movement in the rear wheel which was throwing the drive train out of alignment and causing the clicking sound. Like you this was happening in time with crank movement rather than wheel speed which added to me being convinced it was BB related.

    How did you find this out, could you actually see this whilst riding? Did you solve it by changing the wheels??

    Thanks

    I got the bike shop to take a look, I explained I thought it was the BB but the wheel was the first thing they suspected. The lateral movement in the hub was quite obvious when they showed me. Depending on the wheel it could just be the cones need tightening up but with the R500 wheels I was running it couldn't be repaired so I replaced the back wheel. If you know someone else with a back wheel using the same make of components / same number of sprockets on the cassette try to borrow their wheel.
  • AidanR
    AidanR Posts: 1,142
    It's probably a pipe bomb.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1XIm6q4r4
    Bike lover and part-time cyclist.
  • silverpigeon
    silverpigeon Posts: 327
    Arghyrou wrote:
    I had that with my wheels, the spokes were loaded 'odd', they run fine and all but the spokes movement would cause this sound every rotation.
    The spoke tension would then relax as the ride went on, but next time the same thing.
    If you stand up it could the spoke again making more noise under more pressure.
    If you can borrow a mates wheel set, or even if you have a spare definitely try it as it happened to me and a spoke key sorted it out fine.
    Good Luck, A

    What he said
    Basso Astra
    Principia Ellipse SX
    Kinesis Racelight 4S
    Kinesis Crosslight Pro Disc
  • Mikey1976
    Mikey1976 Posts: 165
    Thanks for all the info guys, more than enough for me to get on with.....

    Think I will try the wheels first, as long as I can find someone to borrow them off :roll:
  • wheelygood
    wheelygood Posts: 101
    Sounds daft but I have seen it so often - check that your foot is catching on the end of the FD cable when you pedal. It can clikc like mad if you do!
  • Slack
    Slack Posts: 326
    Sounds like a good excuse to get a new bike. :twisted:
    Plymouthsteve for councillor!!
  • 1892
    1892 Posts: 1,690
    two words:

    bottom bracket.

    Get a good quality one.
    Justice for the 96
  • neilo23
    neilo23 Posts: 783
    I had a similar problem and was mortified with embarrassment when the mechanic told me that the magnet on the crank was knocking against the cadence thingy. Sounds daft, but sometimes another pair of eyes will see the blindingly obvious.
  • Turnbull2000
    Turnbull2000 Posts: 189
    I've suffered from this too - clicking noise when hammering it, usually when out the saddle. Turned out to be the quick release skewers on the wheels! A little lubricant and tightening fixed it.
  • double u tee
    double u tee Posts: 23
    Sorry to jump in on this but I get the same sort of thing but only when I put a high pressure on my right pedal. I changed the pedals and still get a click click click!!
  • Turnbull2000
    Turnbull2000 Posts: 189
    double u tee wrote:
    Sorry to jump in on this but I get the same sort of thing but only when I put a high pressure on my right pedal. I changed the pedals and still get a click click click!!

    It was usually the right peddle for me too! Check your skewers!!
  • Chris65
    Chris65 Posts: 41
    Is it a BB30 bottem bracket?
    I had a similar problem. If the noise comes on at the same pedal position each revelution it is probabaly slight movement of the bottom bracket. My LBS solved this by applying a thin film of locktight.
    Are the stem bolts torqued up correctly and is there some grease on them. It may be they are "dry".
    Listening for noises can spoil your ride

    Good luck
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    It's not pedal-related apparently, so discount that end. I'd look at wheels, spokes and the magnet thing too - mine started catching only when I was out of the saddle giving it some. Drove me nuts till I clocked it.

    Other things I've observed have been the end of the front mech cable working its way round to catch the crank on each pedal stroke (but can be discounted here), and the one that really did me was a knocking whenever I was down on the tri-bars. Turned out to be my watch bouncing against the left one. <face palm>

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