Tick, tick, tick, tick, argh!

moyesie

My Wilier has started to develop an annoying 'tick' noise once every revolution, at most effort levels but more noticeable when grinding rather than spinning.

I've swapped pedals and shoes and the noise does remains, when I try the same combo on the winter bike the noise disappears so I've ruled out an issue with them. I've also swapped saddles.

When I cycle with one leg the noise is only noticeable when my foot is at the top of the stroke on the drive side. All bolts inc the crank have been correctly torqued.

Chainset is an FSA SL-K with matching BB bearings. Bike is 6 months old with less than 600 miles on the er.... Strava.

Gut instinct is an BB which has given up the ghost already, if so I'm not impressed!

damocles10

These things can be very annoying. I had a click and it turned out to be a slightly loose rear axle. Once tightened all was fine.

6 months is not long for a BB issue. Is there play in the crank arms?

cmb

Your gut instinct is probably correct.

I have just replaced the FSA bb on my Focus Cayo with a 105 (CRC £8 ish in sale) as I was getting the same 'tick' noise on the drive side once every revolution just after the top of the stroke - its all gone quite now.

FSA bearings can fail quite quickly even after 6mths/500 miles (looking at others experiences/my LBS advice) replace with shimano or better. There have been many attempts by others to grease/tighten etc some have had success some have not.

topdude

When you swapped saddles did you remove / clean / grease the seatpost & seat tube ?
If not that is the next job

jp1970

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

dee4life2005

You don't say what BB you have, but I had a "tick tick" type noise from my Hollowtech2 recently. Managed to cure it by removing the bottom bracket and cleaning the BB shell, cups and threads, regreasing and tightening it all back up. I generally ride that bike whatever the weather, so if I don't give it a strip down every 2-3 months then it will start making noises like this. Usually because all the water and crap, and GT85 when cleaning, has flushed the grease from somewhere it shouldn't have.

buckmulligan

moyesie wrote:

When I cycle with one leg the noise is only noticeable when my foot is at the top of the stroke on the drive side. All bolts inc the crank have been correctly torqued.

Have you checked that it isn't the dangly bit of the front mech cable hitting the crank? Mine started doing this after after a cable change (but only when I was in the granny ring) and I was convinced the BB was on the way out until one day I spotted it and felt pretty stupid to not have sussed it sooner! :oops:

buckmulligan

dee4life2005 wrote:

Managed to cure it by removing the bottom bracket and cleaning the BB shell, cups and threads, regreasing and tightening it all back up.

This as well. Noises from the BB aren't necessarily terminal, especially with HTII, which is a bit more exposed than sealed cartridge BBs.

Jon_1976

I had a similar creak/squeak. Discovered (after trying everything) that one of the hanger screws was slightly loose.

Hals1967

Is your heel clipping the excess cable sticking out of your front mech as you pedal ? Worth looking at as I had this - drove me batty until I found it !

mitchgixer6

Check the chainring bolts too, might need some grease.

careful

I had this when on the big ring, it was the crank clipping the rear of the F/D. Adjusting the angle of the F/D a touch fixed it.

nathancom

mitchgixer6 wrote:

Check the chainring bolts too, might need some grease.

Chainring bolts are a very common cause of this kind of noise. Give them a good tighten.

moyesie

Finally got a spot of time and got the chance to take the chainset off. Threads were somewhat lacking in grease so gave the shell a good clean, re greased and now thankfully all is well.

Thanks for all the suggestions.