Tandem Tom

Have an issue of squeak/creak where spokes cross. These are black spokes.
Àny thoughts?

bikernew

Seems to me I just saw something on this, possibly on Youtube... if I find it before you do, will send back a link later.

Andrew R Stewart 

Just how did you determine that the spoke crosses were the source? And the sound described as a squeak is not the typical spoke crossing noise. Spoke color doesn't affect the notching that is the common cause of spoke cross noise , a click/tick with a resonance that the wheel's size amplifies. Please explain your assessment in greater detail. Additionally can you measure the spoke tensions? Andy.

fietsbob

If in fact that is the source,

Wrap the cross with thin copper wire and solder it .. it won't do that any more..

Andrew R Stewart 

Or to test, place a piece of business card stock (or better yet a credit card stock) in between the touching spokes, all of them. Then ride the bike. Andy.

gearbasher

I once had a pair of factory built Ambrosio wheels with black spokes. Where the spokes crossed they weren't laced under/over. There was a space between the spokes. I originally thought they made a error when lacing them, so I contacted Ambrosio. They told me that the wheels were built that way on purpose to keep the black spokes from squeaking.

Tandem Tom

OK, here is the whole story. I work PT in a LBS and a women bought a Scott Contessa. She is someone we know as she had a Felt road bike but crashed it a few weeks ago. She brought the bike in yesterday saying it was making a noise. So I checked the cable tension on the RD and also checked and adjusted the FD. She road it and came back today saying it was still making "the noise". So I took off the spoke protector thinking maybe that was it and when I was checking the spoke tension I squeezed a few pair of spokes and she said'That's the noise!". So I went outside and jogged alongside of her while she rode. I hate jogging! And it did make a bit of noise. Not the noise of a newly built wheel where the nipples are seating themselves. So I had heard about using a drop of lube on each touching spoke,I know this is a short term fix. But I will see her on a ride Tuesday.
So that's the situation. I am open to advice.

Miele Man

Improperly tensioned spoks = too low tension?

Cheers

Moe Zhoost

This is a great way to rule out the spokes as the source.

Andrew R Stewart 

This thread is a great one to ask if noise is always wrong, a situation requiring a fix. I have my opinions but would be interested to hear other's thoughts. Andy

bikernew

Here is the link to website on bike noise:
Bicycle Bike Noises, Clicks, Ticks, Creaks, Clunks, Knocks Repair by Jim Langley

Andy,
Not sure if wrong, or requiring a fix, but I personally dont care for any noises.

Tandem Tom

Will try the business card technique next. Thanks!

canklecat

My new rear wheel has squeaky spokes. It's a distinctive sound, sorta like a muted harp. I've ridden it only three times and don't plan to worry about it for a few weeks. The LBS replaced the original single wall rim with double wall and thicker stainless spokes. Ride feels the same, maybe slightly stiffer on some loose sand and gravel, which is a good thing.

Stainless steel has a reputation for galling, something that worried early owners of stainless steel firearms decades ago. But I'm not sure it's worth fretting over for bicycle spokes.

Crankycrank

I've had some limited luck with using waxed dental floss by just flossing the spoke contact spots. Sometimes it cures the problem permanently sometimes not. As mentioned make sure your spokes are tensioned properly. A string coated with grease is another option used to floss the spokes with. Lots of ways to skin this cat.

Tandem Tom

I had the opportunity to ride with the lady last night and heard first hand the "noise". It sounded like a spoke noise so she graciously dropped the bike off at the shop this AM. Did 2 things first I re-lube the hubs bearings and adjusted the cones then de-tensioned the wheel and then re-tensioned and trued it up. Took it out for a test ride and no more noise!
Thanks for your replies!

sbishopsf

I found this 10 year old thread really helpful. I did the card thing -- even oiled all the spoke crossings. No luck, though it did help me identify the one offending spoke that made so much creaking noise. Turns out it was the wheel nipple. A put on a few drops of 3-in-1 on and it was solved. My only concern is if 3-in-1 is corrosive to tubes. A dab of grease might be better. I might also try tightening the spoke later, but didn't want to go down the truing rabbit hole at the time.

cyccommute 

Being old and having a somewhat diminished hearing range is a blessing I’ve had people come into my co-op complaining about the horrible noise their bike is making and it turned out to be a few threads on the tire that brushed the brake pads. I had to turn off the radio and call for complete silence with my head touching the tire to hear that “horrible noise”.

I trimmed the threads and told the person to learn how to sing show tunes…loudly!

sweeks

Eh? What? Speak up!

KerryIrons

Why on earth not just put a drop of lube at every spoke cross? I had a set of wheels that did this and a tiny bit of oil totally eliminated the noise. I found the lube needed refreshing every 5,000 miles or so.

M4tt3

I did the same, bit of lube and never heard that annoying sound ever again.

keithdunlop

This sounds like under-tensioned spokes. Lubing the spoke crossing will not fix this.

UniChris

I've found the occasional even road-width-long tunnel on a rail trail really amplifies any mechanism noise, since it's a sound reinforcing structure and you're often in there alone without any traffic noise.

Then there's the stethoscope with open tube end.

Indeed, the OP mentioned they re-tensioned the wheel, which is likely what actually solved it.

jgwilliams

I seem to remember reading that some Pro-Lite wheels come with little plastic thingies (for want of a better word) at the point where the spokes cross over. I wonder if there's a source for those?

Chuckles1

Yup. This problem developed on my rear hub drive ebike last summer. Not a squeak, thought at first it was bad crank bearing, but took me a while to solve it. Went over rear spokes with wrench and snugged those that were loose. Voila, problem solved (until next time).