Noise coming from cranks(?) when standing
Out for a ride with Mrs. NoWhammies last night. When she stood up in the saddle and pedaled I could hear some noising coming from her bike. I cannot describe the noise, as I was a bit away from her, but there is definitely something going on.
After the ride I asked her about it and her reply was "yes, there is noise from the cranks when I stand up and pedal". Anyone have any tips on where I can start to diagnose the problem? I'll take the bike out for a test drive when I get home from work and see if I can find out some more info/noise. Cheers. |
Start here:
https://sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html I've developed a slight clunk that goes away when I stand up. |
My MTB developed a creaky sound when pedaling hard (standing up mostly) but only on the left downstroke. After some investigation and troubleshooting, it turned out to be the chainring mounting bolts holding the ring to the crank spider. I removed them, cleaned the threads, applied blue locktite, and re-torqued to spec. Now its all quiet...
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Originally Posted by NoWhammies
(Post 20952489)
Out for a ride with Mrs. NoWhammies last night. When she stood up in the saddle and pedaled I could hear some noising coming from her bike. I cannot describe the noise, as I was a bit away from her, but there is definitely something going on.
After the ride I asked her about it and her reply was "yes, there is noise from the cranks when I stand up and pedal". Anyone have any tips on where I can start to diagnose the problem? I'll take the bike out for a test drive when I get home from work and see if I can find out some more info/noise. Cheers. |
Originally Posted by dbf909
(Post 20952671)
My MTB developed a creaky sound when pedaling hard (standing up mostly) but only on the left downstroke. After some investigation and troubleshooting, it turned out to be the chainring mounting bolts holding the ring to the crank spider. I removed them, cleaned the threads, applied blue locktite, and re-torqued to spec. Now its all quiet...
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If it were a creaking old leather sound it may be the crank arms on the axle spindles.
With no grease it can be metal on metal that creaks when torqued, especially if the retaining bolt is a little loose, which you won't get just spinning the crank on a stand. If so, pull the arms, add a little grease to the axle and re seat. |
Originally Posted by wgscott
(Post 20952490)
Start here:
https://sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html I've developed a slight clunk that goes away when I stand up.
Originally Posted by dbf909
(Post 20952671)
My MTB developed a creaky sound when pedaling hard (standing up mostly) but only on the left downstroke. After some investigation and troubleshooting, it turned out to be the chainring mounting bolts holding the ring to the crank spider. I removed them, cleaned the threads, applied blue locktite, and re-torqued to spec. Now its all quiet...
Originally Posted by tyrion
(Post 20952684)
+1, but before doing this I'd clean/lube/retorque the pedals to see if that fixes it.
Originally Posted by Happy Feet
(Post 20952920)
If it were a creaking old leather sound it may be the crank arms on the axle spindles.
With no grease it can be metal on metal that creaks when torqued, especially if the retaining bolt is a little loose, which you won't get just spinning the crank on a stand. If so, pull the arms, add a little grease to the axle and re seat. |
Originally Posted by NoWhammies
(Post 20953033)
Never done this ^^ before. I hope this work isn't required. I'm worried it may be out of my area of expertise. Pulling a crank arm is easy if you have this tool: https://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-Cra.../dp/B07C44CX35 |
Originally Posted by NoWhammies
(Post 20953033)
I'll have a closer look at the mounting bolts when I get home. Mrs. NoWhammies doesn't do a lot of riding, so I'm surprised that noise is starting all of a sudden. Were the bolts loose at all? Or did you just remove and clean them as a matter of course.
I learned something. :lol: |
Originally Posted by tyrion
(Post 20952684)
+1, but before doing this I'd clean/lube/retorque the pedals to see if that fixes it.
In fact my investigation and troubleshooting prior to resolving the problem with the chain ring bolts included (but not limited to and not in this order): - removed, lubed, and replaced the rear thru-axle. - removed the rear der. hanger, cleaned, lubed, and replaced. - removed both pedals, cleaned threads, lubed, and replaced. - replaced both pedals with brand new (tried 2 different new sets). - added thin shim washers on pedal bolts. - removed chain, cleaned, lubed, replaced. - removed cassette, cleaned, lubed, replaced. - removed crankset, cleaned, lubed, replaced. - removed bottom bracket, cleaned, lubed, replaced. - used teflon tape on bottom bracket threads. - checked all suspension nuts and bolts for proper torque. - inspected and tightened all saddle and seatpost fasteners. - checked the entire bike for any other loose fasteners. I immediately went to the pedals but was initially stumped when working with them and actually replacing them with others did not address the creak at all. Only then did I take a few steps back and start working my way through all of the stuff that could possibly cause the creak. |
Originally Posted by NoWhammies
(Post 20953033)
I'll have a closer look at the mounting bolts when I get home. Mrs. NoWhammies doesn't do a lot of riding, so I'm surprised that noise is starting all of a sudden. Were the bolts loose at all? Or did you just remove and clean them as a matter of course.
I removed them, cleaned them up, and replaced them with locktite. I was initially concerned about the torque since the (rather thin) ring is threaded and the steel bolts screw directly into the ring rather than into steel "T" style nuts on the back side of the ring. I didn't want to strip the threads in the ring. The spec as found online was 12-14nm so I torqued them to 12nm and that seemed to work for now. Time will tell if the creak comes back... |
Believe it or not, it could be the QR's on the wheels. I have a friend who rides a Cervello and he had a creaky bb. Had it replaced. Still creaky. I told him to remove the QR's, thoroughly saturate them with oil, wipe off the excess and reinstall. The noise went away. I'm just sayin'........
Jon |
Originally Posted by NoWhammies
(Post 20953033)
The pedals on her bike are speedplay pedals. They haven't been messed, but I guess they can loosen up/get dirty over time. Is it possible that dirty/old grease is the cause of the noise?
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Creaks are tricky. I've overhauled bikes just chasing down creaks and it usually turned out to be the last thing I tried.
So far it's never been the bottom bracket, crank arms, pedals, hubs, chain, cassette or freewheel... but eventually it'll probably be one of those. Whatever the cause, it'll be the last thing I check. |
Originally Posted by NoWhammies
(Post 20952489)
... I cannot describe the noise...
Anyone have any tips on where I can start to diagnose the problem? ... |
Originally Posted by NoWhammies
(Post 20953033)
Thanks. I'll check that out.
I'll have a closer look at the mounting bolts when I get home. Mrs. NoWhammies doesn't do a lot of riding, so I'm surprised that noise is starting all of a sudden. Were the bolts loose at all? Or did you just remove and clean them as a matter of course. The pedals on her bike are speedplay pedals. They haven't been messed, but I guess they can loosen up/get dirty over time. Is it possible that dirty/old grease is the cause of the noise? Never done this ^^ before. I hope this work isn't required. I'm worried it may be out of my area of expertise. Not so much the pedal itself, as removing the pedals from the crank & cleaning etc. the threads |
NoWhammies: Is this the bike that you removed and cleaned the cassette on? It could just be coincidence but I'd look at the rear wheel mounting and QR's first, pedals next and bb last.
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I have a light creak too when I pedal. Press fit BB too which it just a darn PITA.
I'll have to check the pedals and chainring bolts. Absolute worst case is a frame crack. |
@Mitchmellows62 yes, this is the same bike. Poor Mrs. NoWhammies. She's a good sport to let me work on her bike. @Jon T suggestion to look at the QR is a good idea too. When I was having issues with the cassette I had the wheel on and off multiple times.
I'll also give removing the pedals a shot first. Clean the threads, at some grease, and see what that takes me. Even if that does not solve the problem it couldn't hurt giving her bike a bit of TLC. |
Originally Posted by canklecat
(Post 20955335)
Creaks are tricky. I've overhauled bikes just chasing down creaks and it usually turned out to be the last thing I tried.
So far it's never been the bottom bracket, crank arms, pedals, hubs, chain, cassette or freewheel... but eventually it'll probably be one of those. Whatever the cause, it'll be the last thing I check. I often hear people say things like "Every time I mis-place my car keys, they are always in the last place I look". Of course they are. Why would you keep looking after you found them? Just saying... Or maybe that was your point... ;-) |
Originally Posted by dbf909
(Post 20956046)
If you think about it, won't it always be the "last thing you check"? Said differently, would you continue to look AFTER you fixed the problem?
I often hear people say things like "Every time I mis-place my car keys, they are always in the last place I look". Of course they are. Why would you keep looking after you found them? Just saying... Or maybe that was your point... ;-) C'mon, kids, let's hop in the Biketardis! Seriously, tho', I need to wax my spokes again. But it'll turn out to be something else. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...14c36dd520.gif |
I had a similar issue with creaking only when standing out of saddle.
Tried all the obvious solutions then pulled seat post and added new grease, installed and No Creaking. The frame flex would interact internally with post and creak. |
I had a friend had the problem and it turned out the front QR was not tight enough. The next thing to check is for looseness in the pedal bearings. They will usually click.
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So what are the cranks? I will guess if using Speedplay pedals they are not cottered steel. If new fashion press fit crank bearings the creaks could be normal OEM creaks. Many assumptions above the cranks are aluminum mounted on a square tapered spindle but we don't know that.
If it is a square taper spindle those are assembled dry and never lubricated. Not even superficially with WD-40 (mineral oil). And the reason those sometimes get quite loose is they don't make noises until plain flopping about. |
Going to tackle Mrs. NoWhammies bike tonight. I'll let you know how it goes. Great suggestions everyone. Thanks.
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