scarleton

I am trying to hunt down this tick sound my bike is making and after my latest changes, things have changed, maybe it will give folks some insight as to the root of the problem.

I have a Titanium frame that has internal Di2 wiring.

It started off sounding like a tick/ping sound as I pedaled with moderate to heavy power ALL THE TIME. A light metal against metal type of sound, quiet enough that I could block it out, but when I could not block it out, it drove me up a wall!

No change happened when I replaced the cleats on my shoes, which needed to happen nor when I tried flats.

Then I took the crank and BB off, cleaned them and reassembled them. Took it for a quick ride (where there are not hills) and it sounded good.

Someone suggested I check the chainring bolts, I tightened them (by hand, don't have a torque wrench), and when for a 1 1/2 hour ride with hills. What I noticed was that on the flats it was nice a quiet, even when putting down a little power, I don't think I ever tried getting out of the saddle and sprinting, but under heavy load it was quiet.

Then when I went up a hill, even with the same moderate power (around FTP) the bike makes a tickety tick tick type of sound. Before the sound was about once every one to one and a half revolutions. Now it is multiple ticks per revolution of the pedal.

I have another bike with the EXACT same crank and type of BB, I could swap those out. But I am wondering if anyone has any thoughts on what is going on with the bike.

Steelman54 

I've been chasing a clicking sound also, sure its not the wheels/spokes?

scarleton

That was a passing thought I had, I should change wheels and see what happens.

dsaul

Does it happen when standing or just sitting? If it only happens when sitting, it could be the seat post or saddle rails.

cny-bikeman

You did not mention the pedals. If you have not done so, remove them, clean the surfaces where pedals meet the crank faces, grease threads and reinstall. Chainwheel bolt can also cause clicking - even when tightened - from grit, so you could resort to removing and cleaning them as well. I'm going to assume you properly torqued the cranks and BB upon reinstall.

jadocs

Yeah but what the OP is describing is more of a metallic ping if I understand correctly.

scarleton

Thank you so much for your reply. I guess I wasn't really clear when I made reference to "flats" that was my poor attempt to make reference to another set of pedals designed for regular shoes. I have NOT used a torque wrench to tighten everything down, guess I should invest in one Any recommendations on the best place to get one that won't break the bank?

Also, how do you recommend cleaning things like the Chainwheel bolts? What cleaner should I use?

scarleton

Thank you for your reply. You ask a very good question, I don't stand much so I am not 100% sure. When I go for a ride this evening I will look into that, I will also do some sprinting on flat roads (both seated and standing) to see how bad it is then, too.

jfan

I had a ticking sound I couldn't track down, and I couldn't replicate it on the stand. It only happened with weight on the bike. It turned out to be the seatpost. The LBS mechanic put some goop (I can't remember what it was called) on the post and reinstalled it and the noise was gone.