Why The Tick Tick Tick Noise

FullFrameRob
FullFrameRob Posts: 188
edited June 2007 in Workshop
Just noticed the when im peddeling my bike it has started to make a tick tick tick noise, this doesnt happen all the time, really only when i climbing up a hill in thew stood up position and the bike is going from side to side.

Any ideas as to the cause.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Probably a loose spoke on the wheel. Check the tension by hand of all the spokes on your rear wheel.
  • Uzbek
    Uzbek Posts: 486
    Mine is doing this to distraction at the moment and I've narrowed it down to the headset. When this is loaded up with more weight out of the saddle it is creaking. It is coming off tonight, I think the crown race is the problem.

    (I sussed this by putting the bike on the turbo and shifting my weight forward and side to side a bit with and without pedalling-helped me to exclude cranks/pedals and wheels)!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    If North Yorks Council spent as much on the roads each year as I do on my bike then I could spend less on my bike...
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    If North Yorks Council spent as much on the roads each year as I do on my bike then I could spend less on my bike...
  • rustychisel
    rustychisel Posts: 3,444
    1. bomb

    2. clock (hideden in the frame)

    3. loose or ungreased stem bolts (to handlebars)

    4. ungreased headset

    5. loose bottom bracket

    6. loosened chainring bolts

    7. wheel quick releases or axle stubs ticking

    8. loose spoke

    in descending order.

    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    I'm only escaping to here because the office is having a conniption
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    I\'m only escaping to here because the office is having a conniption
  • rustychisel - you forgot one in your (very) comprehensive list;

    9. Front mech cable hitting the crank on each rotation
  • gavintc
    gavintc Posts: 3,009
    Personally, although the bomb theory is very convincing, I think that andyp's suggestion is more likely. If the click is occurring when you are climbing out of the saddle, you are imparting more effort through the bottom bracket. A cheaper frame will flex more and the chainset will move relative to the front mech.

    One of the things you need to check is whether the tick occurs every revolution of the pedal or the rear wheel. This will narrow the problem down slightly.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Also add to the list:
    rusty seatpost
    loose spd cleat
    pedal bearings
  • monty_dogcp
    monty_dogcp Posts: 382
    One more to add to the list - tyre valve moving in the valve hole - particularly the front wheel when you're putting more load on the front end. Put a wrap of tape round the valve stem. This is particularly the case with deep rim wheels, my Ksyriums and carbon race wheels both suffer this problem, particularly as I don't pump my tyres to rock hard.
  • The Bosscp
    The Bosscp Posts: 647
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Uzbek</i>

    Mine is doing this to distraction at the moment and I've narrowed it down to the headset. When this is loaded up with more weight out of the saddle it is creaking. It is coming off tonight, I think the crown race is the problem.
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
    Mine does that, has done for ages. I keep meaning to take it off and regrease it but never get round to it [;)]
  • The Bosscp
    The Bosscp Posts: 647
    You can surely work it out by how often the noise occurs.
    Is it once every crank rotation? then it's either the pedals, cranks, or something around that area.
    Is it once every wheel rotation? Then it's either the front or back wheel.
    Intermittent? Could be the headset, especially if it's more when you put weight on the front.
  • FullFrameRob
    FullFrameRob Posts: 188
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by The Boss</i>

    You can surely work it out by how often the noise occurs.
    Is it once every crank rotation? then it's either the pedals, cranks, or something around that area.
    Is it once every wheel rotation? Then it's either the front or back wheel.
    Intermittent? Could be the headset, especially if it's more when you put weight on the front.
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    Yeah its more of an intermittent ticking noise. Its will go tick tick tick then may stop for the next half a mile then start to tick tick tick again. Dont think its a headset problem as it sounds like its coming from the rear of the bike.

    Been out for a quick spin on it this morning and im non the wiser as to the cause of the problem.

    Like i said in my original post it only happens when climbing and out of the saddle.

    When sat in saddle be that when im climbing, going on the flat or downhill, no noise is made.
  • joshua687
    joshua687 Posts: 138
    I have the exact same problem, for the past 2months. When i sprint, or get out of the saddle a creaking noise occurs, don't have a clue what it is, apart from it goes away for a bit when i wash my bike????

    "Every time i suffer i'm a better man because of it" Lance Armstrong

    www.charlottevillecc.org.uk

    "Every time i suffer i\'m a better man because of it" Lance Armstrong

    www.charlottevillecc.org.uk
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    I have this problem too. I always get paranoid about things like this, I start to think, "hmmm, are the bars going to snap... or maybe the fork....?"

    I'm planning on tightening all the bolts up and hoping for the best.
    <a><img></a>
  • Jonathan Mcp
    Jonathan Mcp Posts: 2,472
    OK, don't forget things like the front mech cable catching on your calf or on the crank, but only perhaps when the chain is on the inner ring etc. Or even a problem with the crank/BB axle interface, like dirt etc.

    PeteinSQ go cautious on bolt tightening, the bolts may all be tight enough, and over tightening will break something. Better to check if any are loose, and tighten those, or even loosen all the bolts under scrutiny, clean 7 grease them as needed, and retighten using a torque wrench.

    <font size="1">It isn't growing up that stops us playing, it is stopping playing that makes us grow up.

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  • sylvanus
    sylvanus Posts: 1,125
    If as I suggested you read, inwardly digest and follow the instructions on this page then all ticks and creaks with disappear.

    http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=123

    From your all too brief description, I'd be fairly sure that the issue is that your rear QR / skewer needs its threads / lever lubricated, face and dropouts cleaned and degreased and to be properly tightened.
  • John J
    John J Posts: 1,097
    Another source of ticking that caught me out was the end of my shoe lace hitting the crank - suprisingly noisy [:I]

    <hr noshade size="1">Wobbly John
    <font size="1"><font color="red">If it ain't broke - Fix it 'til it is </font id="red"></font id="size1">[;)]
    http://xntrick.co.uk
    <hr>Wobbly John
    <font><font>If it ain\'t broke - Fix it \'til it is </font></font>[;)]
    http://xntrick.co.uk
  • kenbaxter
    kenbaxter Posts: 1,251
    Most annoying one for me was my jerzey zip tapping against my helmet buckle. Try finding that one!
  • Aidocp
    Aidocp Posts: 868
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by nypd</i>

    Just noticed the when im peddeling my bike it has started to make a tick tick tick noise, this doesnt happen all the time, really only when i climbing up a hill in thew stood up position and the bike is going from side to side.

    Any ideas as to the cause.
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
    I had a similar imtermittent noise, in my case it turned out to be the pedals. If you have spare pedals try them and see if the nose goes away.

    If I had a baby elephant, who would take it for walks?
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    I still haven't sorted my tick, tick noise out yet. I have come to the conclusion that it could be the seat post or clamp as it doesn't do it when I am out of the saddle.

    As the seat post is carbon what can I do to try and stop it from making the ticking noise?
    <a><img></a>
  • sylvanus
    sylvanus Posts: 1,125
    Remove the post - clean it thoroughly with tissue, clean the seat-tube thoroughly too. Check the seatpost thoroughly to make sure there is no damage / cracks / splintering.

    Borrow your wife / girlfriends hairspray and a couple of squirts on the post and fit immediately. Tighten with one fingers max force or a torque wrench. Check and clean the clamp and tighten at the same time.
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    What does the hairspray do? Help it to stick in place?
    <a><img></a>
  • sylvanus
    sylvanus Posts: 1,125
    Yes - stops it slipping / creaking