Clicky crank....doing my head in

[dave_s13]

My spesh rockhopper 07 is doing my nut in with a loud click on every left downstroke. There's no actual mechanical resistance, just a click.

I don't have much of a clue regarding cycle mechanics so can anyone tell me what I need to do to sort it out? Any special tools/parts required.

Need it sorting before saturday too as I'm off to dalby forest, there's a LBS near work so would it be best to take it along there?

[R1 GTR]

I'm going to be of no help at all but, just out of interest, is it a Truvativ crank? Just curious as my '07 Hardrock has exactly the same problem! Loud click on the left downstroke! I've never thought much of it really, would be nice to find out what it is though.

[dave_s13]

R1 GTR said:

I'm going to be of no help at all but, just out of interest, is it a Truvativ crank? Just curious as my '07 Hardrock has exactly the same problem! Loud click on the left downstroke! I've never thought much of it really, would be nice to find out what it is though.

Rings a bell that yes m8.

I'll double check.

[dave_s13]

After a quick google it's not that one actually. It's a Shimano FC-M521 hollowtech blah blah.

No doubt your click has the same casue though.....watch this space.

[gbbird]

My LX on the Merlin Malt did this . After much investigation and swapping around, it turned out to be a dodgy pedal, not the crank. If you have another bike/set of pedals handy, prob worth checking.

g

[mat205125]

Allen bolt tight?

Bottom bracket done some miles?

[prand]

I am having similar craking noise with my Truvative GXP bottom bracket. (done about 1000k) It's not the pedals as they are make a different creaking noise (solved with some spray grease). The dry weather seems to make it worse. Nothing seems loose though.

Edited by prand on Tuesday 13th May 22:44

[john_p]

I had this and it was the pedal not spinning freely. A quick repack of grease and all solved.

Check both pedals and compare how long they spin for!

[dave_s13]

cheers. Will check tonight.

[rhinochopig]

Typically clicky cranks are caused by dry contact points (if the bearings in the BB are not shot). This is cured by some copper slip applied to the square taper / splines of the BB and if that doesn't cure it, then to the pedal thread.

It can also be suspension frame bushes and bearings.

[Alicat]

Interesting, I have an 07 Epic Marathon, mine has justed started to do the same. It is the XT Hollowtech cranks. I have checked all the bolts and no problems found. However, mine stops after about 5 miles.

I suspect it is the bottom bracket - done 1500 miles on it.

Alicat

[alphadog]

I had the same symptom that was down to clicky pedals - some WD40 resolved the issue for a while, but it came back so replaced the pedals and all good now!!

[RobDickinson]

alphadog said:

I had the same symptom that was down to clicky pedals - some WD40 resolved the issue for a while, but it came back so replaced the pedals and all good now!!

WD40 is a solvent not a lubricant.

[alphadog]

RobDickinson said:

alphadog said:

I had the same symptom that was down to clicky pedals - some WD40 resolved the issue for a while, but it came back so replaced the pedals and all good now!!

WD40 is a solvent not a lubricant.

Do you want to sue them or shall I over the third bullet point?

http://www.wd40.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1519

Edited by alphadog on Thursday 15th May 07:15

[john_p]

alphadog said:

I had the same symptom that was down to clicky pedals - some WD40 resolved the issue for a while, but it came back so replaced the pedals and all good now!!

Yeah you really need to repack the bearings in the pedals with proper grease. WD40 will remove the grease and only be a very short term fix.

It's an easy job to rebuild the pedals, just don't tighten them up too much.

[dave_s13]

Bear with me, I have no proper bike tools or "stuff"...but I took the end nuts off the pedals (they were packed with grease) and dropped a tablespoon of engine oil in there. Also managed to drop some engine oil into the bottom bracket. I realise this might not last too long.

Let it soak through for a bit by lying bike down on either side for a while.

Clicking has now gone, which is good. But is replaced by a creaking noise that hapens when going over rough ground. It's not mega loud but just enough to pi$$ me off a bit. It might be the seat bracket but need to double check.

Is it possible to get a silent running bike or should I just start wearing my iPod?

Thanks for the advice BTW

[gbbird]

I have some DMR V8s. Are you able to disassemble these to clean and regrease?

g

[Moose.]

gbbird said:

I have some DMR V8s. Are you able to disassemble these to clean and regrease?

g

I book marked this article a while ago:

http://steveukmtb.wordpress.com/dmr-v8-pedal-overh...

I really must get round to doing mine as they're horribly crunchy/loose at the moment.

[john_p]

dave_s13 said:

Clicking has now gone, which is good. But is replaced by a creaking noise that hapens when going over rough ground. It's not mega loud but just enough to pi$$ me off a bit. It might be the seat bracket but need to double check.

Is it possible to get a silent running bike or should I just start wearing my iPod?

First, get yourself some proper bike grease - much better than oil.

Rough ground - forks? Have they been greased ever? Possibly seatpost, try greasing that.

I did find the same though, I fix one noise and another one starts!

[dave_s13]

john_p said:

dave_s13 said:

Clicking has now gone, which is good. But is replaced by a creaking noise that hapens when going over rough ground. It's not mega loud but just enough to pi$$ me off a bit. It might be the seat bracket but need to double check.

Is it possible to get a silent running bike or should I just start wearing my iPod?

First, get yourself some proper bike grease - much better than oil.

Rough ground - forks? Have they been greased ever? Possibly seatpost, try greasing that.

I did find the same though, I fix one noise and another one starts!

Regreased the headset bearings with some proper teflon stuff from my LBS. Retightined and greased the seat clamp and post and wiped a little engine oil on the fork tubes. Bike is now creak free!.....for a while anyhow. I suspect the halfords monkey that put it together wasn't feeling too inspired that day.