Clicking bottom bracket...

haywain
haywain Posts: 14
edited October 2016 in MTB general
I went out for a fairly hard ride (by my standards) last Sunday and the bike was fine for most of the ride. Towards the end I started to notice what I can best describe as a clicking type noise from the bottom bracket, and it's still there after a few days rest. I can't replicate this when I'm not riding, so it's only happening under pressure. Is this likely to be a serious problem? Worth mentioning that I've only had the bike for 4 weeks, so this could be a warranty problem.

Comments

  • haydenm
    haydenm Posts: 2,997
    Sounds to me like something is very slightly loose. In my experience even something needing half a turn tightening in the BB area can do that. Where did you buy it from? Could you pop it in and ask them? Also, what bike is it?
  • haywain
    haywain Posts: 14
    The bike is a Scott Scale 760, bought from Evans. Popping it in is a tricky matter because they're 30 miles from home and 190 from work! IT can be done, but timewise it will probably be an alternative to a ride.
  • kinioo
    kinioo Posts: 776
    Are you sure its BB ??
    I have had similar 'symptoms' - gone mad and checked every single bolt etc. - the problem was with chain ring bolts.
    A bit of blue thread lock and problem sorted !!

    C.
  • bigmitch41
    bigmitch41 Posts: 685
    Could also be a slightly loose pedal, worth checking..
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  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    My ticking noise sounded so like a BB, same place in every pedal cycle as well...was a clicking bearing in a pedal!
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Pedals, cleats, chainring bolts, saddle / clamp, seatpost / clamp, stem - bar interface etc etc - all can produce clicking noises when riding that are not apparent when off the bike. (as can QR skewers / axles but I suspect you don't have those)

    Hard enough to diagnose with the bike in front of you; impossible on an internet forum. Good luck!
  • haywain
    haywain Posts: 14
    keef66 wrote:
    Hard enough to diagnose with the bike in front of you; impossible on an internet forum. Good luck!
    At least I've garnered a few ideas about things to check before I panic too much. It still goes OK, but the noise is really irritating! Thanks for the help everyone.
  • LimitedGarry
    LimitedGarry Posts: 400
    Hey, I've had the bottom bracket area making clicking noise just recently. It was very consistent. The clicking would occur when the pedals were under a pressure and in a certain position. It started after a 40km ride in pretty rough terrain.

    First thought was it were my new pedals, so I swapped them. Still same problem. I tried tightening screws on the crankset as they have clearly gotten lose - again, it kept clicking.
    Well, since it was to time to get a regular checkup and a new chain, I just told the shop about the clicking. Turned out, the crankset got a few mm apart after getting lose.
  • haywain
    haywain Posts: 14
    Update: Last week I took the bike in for the 6-week service and told them about the problem. Yesterday went out for a ride and for the first half hour or so everything was fine, no clicking at all. Then it started again!
  • Herdwick
    Herdwick Posts: 523
    :idea: Wait untill it fails and then let us know!
    “I am a humanist, which means, in part, that I have tried to behave decently without expectations of rewards or punishments after I am dead.”
    ― Kurt Vonnegut

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