Advice on online bike purchase

jus71n

Morning all,

I recently purchased a Felt AR3 online, spent hours setting it up out of the box, went out for a few rides and found the gears weren't indexing properly, front wasn't set up or trimming correctly so set all that up, but over the last 3-4 days its developed a creeking..... Once your up to speed and sat down just turning the pedals it creeks like mad on each pedal rotation, I've greased, tourque'd everything up to the rated nm but just can't get it to stop its sounds like an old butchers bike with the front basket loaded with meat !!!

I should just be out riding but this noise has got me constantly looking for where it is, and what it might be so I'm not enjoying riding it at all, which brings me to the question of what to do about it as I bought online from a shop 300 miles away, I'm going to give them a call but its just the pure logistics of any sort of return/repair? I'm also reluctant to pay the LBS to diagnose it as its only like 2 weeks old and for the price of the bike I'd expect it to be right........

I'm sat winding myself up about it now, I'm pretty sure I'll be pi$$ed off enough come Monday morning to drive the 300 miles to get it sorted.....

ShutUpLegs

There is a thread in workshop called 'Creakings, clickings, tickings, clankings and knockings'

crescent

Do you wear cleats? These are a common cause of creaks and not always especially obvious.

Cheers

jus71n

Yes, wear spd-sl cleats

jus71n

ShutUpLegs wrote:

There is a thread in workshop called 'Creakings, clickings, tickings, clankings and knockings'

Cripes! could be a long night stripping, greasing & rebuilding.

At work at the minute so going to have a fish around for some oil to try on the cleats for the journey home, see if that works

jus71n

Just found some chain lube, sprayed cleats & coated contact side of pedal, also adjusted clip in tension and on a quick test at work its QUIET!! (just have to remember not to go running into the house with chain lube all over my cleats)

I don't believe it, the cleats! it sounded like the BB & crackset were about to fall out or the frame was snapping!

At last I can here the sweet sound of my Di2 buzzing as it changes gear and trims..... happy

fludey

My AR4 made a similar noise took ages to pin point, but actually turned out to be seat post creaking....may be teaching you to suck eggs but have you used carbon assembly paste?

jus71n

fludey wrote:

My AR4 made a similar noise took ages to pin point, but actually turned out to be seat post creaking....may be teaching you to suck eggs but have you used carbon assembly paste?

I didn't :oops: , but will also be doing that when I get home

neeb

It can sometimes be a nightmare hunting down the source of mysterious creaks, and usually the source is the last place you think it is... Bike frames are hollow and resonate, so a creak coming from the pedal or the rear quick release can sound like it is coming from the bottom bracket or headset. It's always difficult to give specific advice, other than "think methodically and expect the unexpected..."

jus71n

Ride home..... STILL CREAKING!!

Just removed greased pedals, removed grease seat post, seat clamp and base, removed greased handlebars stem and headset & greased, tightened brakes

to my suprise the was not any grease/paste on any of it? great build but the company I bought it from

woodywmb

Take it to bike shop. You'll sleep better. Bike noises are a challenge - but experience counts for a lot when looking for the solution.
I work my way methodically round the bike. There's NEVER an obvious answer. Have you tried tightening the crankring bolts or the crank arm itself? Use grease when you do. No torquing needed.

fludey

You didn't grease the seat post did you? It's carbon to carbon should be using carbon assembly paste which is kinda gritty. Gives a better grip with the lower torque settings, should also be using this on stem to steerer and stem to handle bars.