Noisy Campagnolo Athena

pirnie

Hi All,

Recently I've noticed that the Campag Athena drivetrain on my best bike is starting to make a fair bit of noise. I've never noticed it before and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what could be causing it. The best way to describe it is a constant rumbling, it's smooth, just noisy. It's not an indexing problem and I don't think the chain or cassette are excessively worn (although the chain has done a lot of miles now it's still measuring <1/16th" extra for 12 links). Any ideas? Or is the chain worn and the old tape measure method not good for campagnolo?

Cheers!

rolf_f

You probably need to be a bit more specific about the symptoms and when they occur. If the noise really is constant, then it's not your Athena that is the problem! If the pedals aren't turning then groupset isn't really doing anything and the problem has to be in the wheel or freehub bearings (so put on a different wheelset to check).

The tape measure method is as good for Campag as any other chain (and superior to using a chain wear tool). If you suspect the chain, just put a different chain on briefly and see if the noise goes away (you should rotate two or three chains to reduce drivetrain wear so a couple of spare serviceable chains should always be at hand).

If that doesn't do anything then you probably are down to the most likely scenario - worn BB bearings.

pirnie

Sorry, you're right. I really should have been more specific! (Don't post when tired!) The noise only occurs when the chain is moving (both back and forward), and with the bike on the work stand it definitely sounds like it's coming from the cassette area, as the chain meets the cassette. It's almost like the chain links aren't meshing quite properly with the cassette teeth and so are making noise (although it looks like it runs smoothly) which is why I was wondering about worn chains. It's not an indexing problem. It's not an unusual noise, the chain just sounds rumbly and loud when it didn't before. I'll get my hands on another chain to test.

The other thing is it is actually a Miche cassette and chain rather than a Campagnolo one so that might not be helping matters.

I don't think it's the BB, it's pretty much new and the noise really doesn't sound like it's coming from there (although noises aren't always from where they sound like....)

drlodge

I've had this same issue by the sound of it, with my Super Record 11s groupset (chorus chain and cassette). It first happened when I took the cassette off for cleaning and I thought perhaps the spacers weren't located properly. I tried tweaking the RD cable barrel adjuster but that didn't help, but found that having the chain well lubricated did improve things.

Oddly, it went away but now I think I may have an answer. Recently my rear derailleur cable snapped about an inch from the front end of the cable. This is where the cable is constantly bent around the shifter internals and where it passes through the shifter body. Before the cable snapped, it would have been frayed preventing the cable from moving properly, also the cable may have stretched a little but because of the fraying, shifting up or down could be inaccurate.

May be worth taking the RD cable out and replacing it.

pirnie

Hmm, definitely worth a look. Thanks. I guess the easy way to check is to undo the gear cable and see if it's still noisy (since it makes the noise in the smallest sprocket anyway). Cheers

drlodge

I found it most noisey in the middle sprockets. I was running 12-27 and think it made the noise from 21 down to around 14.

pirnie

Cheers, I'll see if that's the case

lapavoni10

Have you lubricated the chain? 11sp get much noisier when not lubed.

pirnie

Yeah, the chain is well lubed. Thinking about it, like drlodge, I've only noticed it since the last time I cleaned the bike

drlodge

I clean and lube my chain often, using proGold ProLink. This stuff is quite thin and if its applied one drop per link carefully like I do, theres really not much lube going on the chain. If I then wipe some excess off, there's very little lube left on. I now put a bigger drop on and don't wipe it off...the chain is quieter that way and its just as easy to clean next time.