Creaking when Cranking
67
Member
1206 days
xt4 posted 11 weeks ago.
I had a similar issue in 2006 with my Specialized Transition Elite - in my case, there was a combination of things - a lot of water collected in the BB area, mixed with road soot and grime - have you been doing any riding in the rain? The old Transition Elites had a small hole just where the saddle post went into the frame, and the LBS guy theorized that was where water was getting in, backsplashed up from my rear wheel. Anyway, all of that served to muddy up the grease, making it kind of worthless. Finally - potentially as a side effect to all of that - the bearings in my BB area wear shot. In the end I got a whole new crankset.
Anyway, some grease monkeys around here will probably know more than I do, but you're probably on the right track by taking it apart and seeing what's what. Hard to know what kind of breakdown expectancy to have - if I were you I'd probably see if I could make a diagnosis and order any parts asap, but still race on it this weekend. If it goes, it goes, as long as you know what the situation is.
BTW - I took the opportunity to get a carbon FSA compact crankset, as my focus was (and will be next year again) IMWI - great on all the hills. So - silver lining and all that.
Best of luck.
37
Member
175 days
grindylow2000 posted 11 weeks ago.
i have the same problem on my Trek 1.2 i posed the question about a month ago and was told that it was a problem with the BB but no one got very specific about it......i wish that i could be more help.
50
Member
305 days
gshuldes posted 11 weeks ago.
BB / Crank noises can be tough to solve (I'm fighting one right now on my GURU). In my experience as a LBS mechanic for 10 years in the 80's and regular rider since, it almost always comes down to one of the following:
1) Pedals - are they tight in the crank arms?
2) Crank arms - are they tight on the bottom bracket spindle?
3) Chainring bolts - are they tight?
4) Bottom bracket cups - are they tight in the frame?
Check out this link from Sheldon Brown for more details:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html
Having to replace a missing crank bolt points to #2. If you rode it hard with the bolt missing, it might be possible that the splines on the arm are worn and will not grab the spindle properly now. If this a Shimano type arm with two bolts, make sure to back both bolts off, and then re-torque them evenly.
114
Member
315 days
diluzio123 posted 11 weeks ago.
I had a very similar issue last year and one of the bolts around the drivetrain/crank was cracked. Take a look in this area on both sides of the bike for a crack. I tried to post a picture, but I'm not smart enough to get it to post.
"To some extent, we are all labeled by what we're able to achieve. But more importantly, we are defined by what we attempt." --Scott Tinley
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1190
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338 days
TriSooner posted 11 weeks ago.
xt4 wrote:
I had the same symptoms and this was my diagnosis. Replaced BB. Quick fix.
. . . the bearings in my BB area wear shot . . .
48
Member
856 days
caeagle16 posted 11 weeks ago.
Similar issue on Litespeed Saber last year-- bottom bracket threading had a "burr" (read: imperfection) and thus had been grinding off some of the threading and creaking...
Basically consensus says check the bottom bracket and double check with LBS
1821
Member
1080 days
275
Member
799 days
fastdog5 posted 11 weeks ago.
tri-ac wrote:
twice yearly BB service is a regular part of my maintenance plan...that way you don't need to replace things.
What do you do here/what do you mean by "service?" I'm getting the ticking noise myself on my Felt.
96
Member
352 days
swimmer52 posted 11 weeks ago.
Hmm, all this talk about creaking is making me wonder if I should look closer at my BB. Same thing, standing and giving power makes the noise, I always thought it was the headset but my bolts are always tight. I might make an inspection soon. Thanks!
"Whether you think you can or can't, you're right"
228
Member
690 days
Nobody posted 11 weeks ago.
In my experience, 4/5 times it's the bb. But I have had crank arms make noises, pedal/cleat squeaks and, the latest: Seatpost creaking. Drove me nuts for a month....sounded like it was coming from the cranks, but after going through the driveline with a fine tooth comb (to no avail) it turned out the seatpost just needed to be lubed.
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.
1821
Member
1080 days
tri-ac posted 11 weeks ago.
fastdog5 wrote:
tri-ac wrote:twice yearly BB service is a regular part of my maintenance plan...that way you don't need to replace things.What do you do here/what do you mean by "service?" I'm getting the ticking noise myself on my Felt.
my LBS takes care of it...i'll ask what it is they do
(they're not replacing the bottom bracket, i know that)
Adam
Tri-ac
90
Member
458 days
danpatgal posted 11 weeks ago.
Thanks a bunch for all the comments! I looked at the bolts again on the chainring, since that was my first suspicion ... removed just the one, re-greased it, an put it back in. But, as you said, gshuldes, I did ride it hard sometimes (and I'm not sure for how long), with a missing chainring bolt, so maybe I bent the crank spindles or cracked the other bolts ... so I'll check that again more closely.
I removed the cranks, but was missing the tool for removing the BB, so I'll have to get that, remove it, and see what it looks like. My initial hand spins didn't eliminate a bearing problem in the BB. xt4, you mentioned water ... and in fact I did get caught in some rain last week, which when I put my bike up, a good drip of water came out of the frame from somewhere near the BB area. So, that could be the cause.
I might be riding my old road bike this weekend (with rain and wind forecasted, might be a better choice anyway). I'll keep you all posted on any exciting de-creaking developments.
90
Member
458 days
danpatgal posted 10 weeks ago.
Final Verdict: The bottom bracket.
I went to my LBS (Shirk's in Lancaster County - I can't exaggerate how great Shirk's has been with me ... they've always had what I've needed and made an effort to only sell me what I need, not what they want to sell me) ... and they bored out my BB tool for a couple bucks, sold me a used, but good, bracket for $20 bucks (better than the last one - I hope, since it lasted less than a year), and I replaced it. The creaking is gone!
I did my Oly today and had a great race (won my AG), despite the rain. Thanks again for all the comments!
Dan
73
Member
1010 days
csaf31 posted 10 weeks ago.
Interesting to know that someone with the same bike has the same problem I had. I thought it was just me.
I'm riding a 2006 Felt S32 and have noticed an increasingly disturbing creaking noise when I put some extra power into the cranks (coming out of the sadle on hills or sprinting, for example). It happens on both left and right down pedaling and is coming from the general bottom bracket area ... spinning lightly does not make the sound, with greater force, still spinning, I get a little bit of creak.
Has anyone experienced this kind of noise? I've looked for any cracks in the frame, without seeing anything obvious. I plan (unless someone has an interesting revelation for me) to take the pedals, crank and BB off and inspect it to see if I can see anything. I've recently replaced one crank bolt (that had fallen completely out), and I'm kind of suspecting that, though most recently everything seemed tight/fine.
Any thoughts ... any idea what kind of breakdown I might expect if I do nothing (with an Oly race this coming weekend)?