Creaky Crank

gravelmuncher said:

R600 compact cranks on a Cannondale CAAD9. Started to hear a
'creaking' under loading of the left crank arm, maybe after the first
100km. Raised the issue with the guys at LBS - who suspected it was
something else doing the creaking - pulled the post, stem, forks out
and greased and re-fitted. Still creaking, so pulled the cranks out,
re-greased and re-fitted - silent again.

<SNIP>

Quoted message said:

Anybody got any thoughts on this one??

Left hand cup of a sealed BB can creak if not tightened properly. So can
old/work/loose pedals. Another common cause is the saddle rail bolt.

Cheers

Joel

--
Human Powered Cycles | High quality servicing and repairs
[email hidden] | Affordable second hand bikes
(03) 9029 6504 | Bicycle reuse centre
www.humanpowered.com.au | Mechanical and on-road training and instruction

Quoted post said:

Left hand cup of a sealed BB can creak if not tightened properly. So can
old/work/loose pedals. Another common cause is the saddle rail bolt.

Fair call, but the BB cups have been removed and re-fitted 3 times - so i'll give the LBS wrench the benifit of the doubt that he's got it right at least once. Pedals have been checked. Saddle is silent - especially when I climb out of it.

Something is working loose somehow, as it's silent for a while after the cranks have been removed/re-fitted, but then it start's creaking again under load.

gravelmuncher said:

Quoted message said:

Left hand cup of a sealed BB can creak if not tightened properly. So
can
old/work/loose pedals. Another common cause is the saddle rail bolt.

Fair call, but the BB cups have been removed and re-fitted 3 times - so
i'll give the LBS wrench the benifit of the doubt that he's got it right
at least once. Pedals have been checked. Saddle is silent - especially
when I climb out of it.

Something is working loose somehow, as it's silent for a while after
the cranks have been removed/re-fitted, but then it start's creaking
again under load.

cannondale bb threads are cut a little large in my opinion. this makes
creaking real hard to prevent because the bb is never really snug. i'd
try a layer of teflon plumbers tape and see what happens - it'll fill
the threads a little.

gravelmuncher said:

R600 compact cranks on a Cannondale CAAD9. Started to hear a 'creaking'
under loading of the left crank arm, maybe after the first 100km.
Raised the issue with the guys at LBS - who suspected it was something
else doing the creaking - pulled the post, stem, forks out and greased
and re-fitted. Still creaking, so pulled the cranks out, re-greased and
re-fitted - silent again.

LBS suspects the rear wheel, but I know that aint where the sound comes
from. I take the wheel back to the wheelsmith for a chat. He
demonstrates to me that it isn't the wheel.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. I ask them to upgrade the
BB, although they assure me it's not the BB. They pull it down and
replace the BB - silent again.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. LBS fingers the blame at
the left crank arm, and returns to Shimano for warranty exchange. Fit
new arm, silent again.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. I haven't bothered to
take it back to the shop for another session, and I get the impression
that they're tired of chasing the creak. Still, it's pissing me off as
I wasn't expecting something like this from a brand new bike - and from
such calabre as a Cannondale.

Anybody got any thoughts on this one??

Square taper cranks seem to work dependably and quietly for most riders.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Andrew Muzi mused:

Quoted message said:

gravelmuncher said:

R600 compact cranks on a Cannondale CAAD9. Started to hear a 'creaking'
under loading of the left crank arm, maybe after the first 100km.
Raised the issue with the guys at LBS - who suspected it was something
else doing the creaking - pulled the post, stem, forks out and greased
and re-fitted. Still creaking, so pulled the cranks out, re-greased and
re-fitted - silent again.

LBS suspects the rear wheel, but I know that aint where the sound comes
from. I take the wheel back to the wheelsmith for a chat. He
demonstrates to me that it isn't the wheel.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. I ask them to upgrade the
BB, although they assure me it's not the BB. They pull it down and
replace the BB - silent again.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. LBS fingers the blame at
the left crank arm, and returns to Shimano for warranty exchange. Fit
new arm, silent again.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. I haven't bothered to
take it back to the shop for another session, and I get the impression
that they're tired of chasing the creak. Still, it's pissing me off as
I wasn't expecting something like this from a brand new bike - and from
such calabre as a Cannondale.

Anybody got any thoughts on this one??

Square taper cranks seem to work dependably and quietly for most riders.

Apparently, even for those who repack their BB every time they ride in
the rain. A press fit would not seem the method of choice for something
that is frequently disassembled, however.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!

"jim beam" wrote: (clip) i'd

Quoted message said:

try a layer of teflon plumbers tape and see what happens - it'll fill the
threads a little.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And reduce the tendency for rain water to leak in ;-)

In article
<[email hidden]>,
gravelmuncher
<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

R600 compact cranks on a Cannondale CAAD9. Started to hear a 'creaking'
under loading of the left crank arm, maybe after the first 100km.
Raised the issue with the guys at LBS - who suspected it was something
else doing the creaking - pulled the post, stem, forks out and greased
and re-fitted. Still creaking, so pulled the cranks out, re-greased and
re-fitted - silent again.

LBS suspects the rear wheel, but I know that aint where the sound comes
from. I take the wheel back to the wheelsmith for a chat. He
demonstrates to me that it isn't the wheel.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. I ask them to upgrade the
BB, although they assure me it's not the BB. They pull it down and
replace the BB - silent again.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. LBS fingers the blame at
the left crank arm, and returns to Shimano for warranty exchange. Fit
new arm, silent again.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. I haven't bothered to
take it back to the shop for another session, and I get the impression
that they're tired of chasing the creak. Still, it's pissing me off as
I wasn't expecting something like this from a brand new bike - and from
such calabre as a Cannondale.

Anybody got any thoughts on this one??

Stop fixing it and locate the creak.

--
Michael Press

In article
<[email hidden]>,
gravelmuncher
<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

R600 compact cranks on a Cannondale CAAD9. Started to hear a 'creaking'
under loading of the left crank arm, maybe after the first 100km.
Raised the issue with the guys at LBS - who suspected it was something
else doing the creaking - pulled the post, stem, forks out and greased
and re-fitted. Still creaking, so pulled the cranks out, re-greased and
re-fitted - silent again.

LBS suspects the rear wheel, but I know that aint where the sound comes
from. I take the wheel back to the wheelsmith for a chat. He
demonstrates to me that it isn't the wheel.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. I ask them to upgrade the
BB, although they assure me it's not the BB. They pull it down and
replace the BB - silent again.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. LBS fingers the blame at
the left crank arm, and returns to Shimano for warranty exchange. Fit
new arm, silent again.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. I haven't bothered to
take it back to the shop for another session, and I get the impression
that they're tired of chasing the creak. Still, it's pissing me off as
I wasn't expecting something like this from a brand new bike - and from
such calabre as a Cannondale.

Anybody got any thoughts on this one??

Stop fixing it and locate the creak.

--
Michael Press

Quoted post said:

Stop fixing it and locate the creak.

Wow...such insight.

I'll give the teflon tape a shot.

"gravelmuncher" <[email hidden]> wrote
in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'll give the teflon tape a shot.

gravelmuncher

My wife would probably ask if plumbers teflon tape would hold up in the
rain. ...just like she asked one day whether it would be a good idea for me
to get the plumbing pipes I just bought out of the bed of my truck in case
it rained over night.

J

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

On Oct 19, 8:46 pm, gravelmuncher <gravelmuncher.2yq...@no-

mx.forums.cyclingforums.com said:

R600 compact cranks on a Cannondale CAAD9. Started to hear a 'creaking'
under loading of the left crank arm, maybe after the first 100km.
Raised the issue with the guys at LBS - who suspected it was something
else doing the creaking - pulled the post, stem, forks out and greased
and re-fitted. Still creaking, so pulled the cranks out, re-greased and
re-fitted - silent again.

LBS suspects the rear wheel, but I know that aint where the sound comes
from. I take the wheel back to the wheelsmith for a chat. He
demonstrates to me that it isn't the wheel.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. I ask them to upgrade the
BB, although they assure me it's not the BB. They pull it down and
replace the BB - silent again.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. LBS fingers the blame at
the left crank arm, and returns to Shimano for warranty exchange. Fit
new arm, silent again.

After the next 100-ish-km, creaking returns. I haven't bothered to
take it back to the shop for another session, and I get the impression
that they're tired of chasing the creak. Still, it's pissing me off as
I wasn't expecting something like this from a brand new bike - and from
such calabre as a Cannondale.

Anybody got any thoughts on this one??

--
gravelmuncher

I own two Cannondales - 2000 CADD4 and 2004 Optimo. Both have given me
the same creaking problem from the BB. I have used Shimano Ultegra
6500 and DA 7700 and FSA bottom brackets. To rid the noise I have
faced the BB shell, then apply a thin coat of grease (Teflon)* or
equal to the cup threads and torque to spec. Added note: check
chainring bolts. Hope this helps.
Rick in Tennessee

Quoted post said:

I own two Cannondales - 2000 CADD4 and 2004 Optimo. Both have given me
the same creaking problem from the BB. I have used Shimano Ultegra
6500 and DA 7700 and FSA bottom brackets. To rid the noise I have
faced the BB shell, then apply a thin coat of grease (Teflon)* or
equal to the cup threads and torque to spec. Added note: check
chainring bolts.

I sat and watched as the LBS wrench did all of these things - seems this is a bit of a Cannondale feature, and they've been selling them for years. Nice to know they're on the right track. I called them today to organise a time to get some Teflon tape on the threads, and they're keen to give it a shot.

In article
<[email hidden]>,
gravelmuncher
<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Stop fixing it and locate the creak.

Wow...such insight.

Oh. You only want advice that agrees with
your preconceptions. All else is treated
with disdain. How dare I promote a plan
that requires hard work.

Quoted message said:

I'll give the teflon tape a shot.

Whatever.

--
Michael Press

Quoted post said:

Oh. You only want advice that agrees with
your preconceptions. All else is treated
with disdain. How dare I promote a plan
that requires hard work.

You strange little man. Once you figure out WTF you are on about, don't hesitate to fill the rest of us in.

In article
<[email hidden]>,
gravelmuncher
<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Oh. You only want advice that agrees with
your preconceptions. All else is treated
with disdain. How dare I promote a plan
that requires hard work.

You strange little man.

Solved the creak yet?

--
Michael Press