Clicking...from front Derailleur?

zrazzle
zrazzle Posts: 79
edited August 2010 in The workshop
An annoying clicking noise that seems to be coming from the derailleur. But, when I turn the bike upside down and turn the pedals by hand it seems to disappear? Then when i'm actually cycling again it reappears. Have tried shifting gears to make sure the chain wasn't rubbing against the deraileur but the clicking persists...

I'm sure this must be something stupidly simple no? It's harshing my mellow man.

Comments

  • zrazzle
    zrazzle Posts: 79
    front derailleur that is...
  • I have the same problem on a specialized sirrus, I have learned to live it, i reduced it a bit by tuning the rear derailleur if that helps.

    Mike
    We are an online travel agency.

    Specialized Sirrus (converting to road bars) - Honda Fireblade.
  • Gear Cable, where it protrudes from cable clamp, hitting crank arm every rotation?
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  • zrazzle
    zrazzle Posts: 79
    mine is a Specialised Globe...maybe a specialised thing!

    cheers guys...shall check out these suggestions...

    others welcome!
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    It's pretty unlikely to be the front derailleur - there's not much there that can click! The way sound travels through a bike, it could be anywhere from the rear mech to the front hub. Pedals are a common villain, for example.

    First of all, ensure it's not something silly like a shoelace tip knocking against a crank arm. Check any loose elements, like cable ends, computer cables, light mounts etc. If no joy, try and figure out how regular the tick is. If it's very regular, it's likely to either be a wheel issue or a drivetrain issue (easy to do the maths to work out which). If it's there when you're pedalling but not when the bike's upside down, it might be rider's weight/effort-related, either because you're putting more force onto, for example, hub bearings, or because there's a bit of flex in a component that's making it rub.

    Have a look at this for a more comprehensive guide - it's a great web page:

    http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/keepitquiet.html
  • Cheers biondino

    I have lubed up where the spokes cross on the rear wheel and will report back later to see if this was the cause of the clicking problem...

    It was annoying as if you stopped pedaling it stopped but as soon as you spun back up it came back..


    Mike
    We are an online travel agency.

    Specialized Sirrus (converting to road bars) - Honda Fireblade.
  • BiggerBoat
    BiggerBoat Posts: 168
    Grease pedal threads. Check BB is tight. Check mech hanger is greased and tight.
    We need a bigger boat.

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  • I can discount the rear wheel as the cause of the problem so it must be coming from the pedals crank or front derailleur
    We are an online travel agency.

    Specialized Sirrus (converting to road bars) - Honda Fireblade.
  • I have the same thing on 2 different bikes, one of them only a few weeks old, a double click on every rotation of the cranks.

    I've tried tightening everything up but it didn't make any difference. The only time it seems to stop is when it rains and everything gets wet.

    ????

  • I've tried tightening everything up but it didn't make any difference. The only time it seems to stop is when it rains and everything gets wet.

    ????

    Hmm yes noticed that myself which suggest that lubrication is needed around the crank bearing perhaps.

    Will add oil later and see if that makes any diffrence...???
    We are an online travel agency.

    Specialized Sirrus (converting to road bars) - Honda Fireblade.
  • zrazzle
    zrazzle Posts: 79
    YES! My clicking stopped with yesterday's downpour!! Need to get lubricating I guess...
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    Amazing how good a (temporary) lubricant water is :)
  • I think i have found the problem its the front derailleur, it needs to be shifted over a few mm, will confirm later.

    When the chain has no pressure on it its fine soon as pressure is applied the chain moves over a fraction..
    We are an online travel agency.

    Specialized Sirrus (converting to road bars) - Honda Fireblade.