Mechanics --- HELP

Mtventoux said:

I have a 'tick' sound every pedal stroke with the right side. When a lot of pressure on the pedal, especially out of saddle, the tick turns into a creaking sound at the bottom of every stroke! This is driving me nuts. i have since changed the chain, removed and regreased the crank arms, and tightened all the chainring bolts. The only thing I have not tuned up was the bottom bracket, as I could not get it apart.

The cranks are Ultegra 9 speed, 2003 model.

Any thoughts?

It's for sure the BB, though I had a clicking noise early on with my new bike which turned out to be the pedals needing some grease on the threads, so keep that in mind if you tighten up/tune up the BB and the click doesn't stop.

It sounds like it IS the BB. make sure it is torq'd to ~35 ft lbs. If that doesn't help you may be in for a new BB. They tend to go after rides in the rain.
Good luck,
Matt (from a shop in Texas)

When a lot of pressure on the pedal, especially out of saddle, the tick turns into a creaking sound at the bottom of every stroke! This is driving me nuts. i have since changed the chain,

I just fixed this problem on my bike.I completeley tore down the drive train,but after all said and done I believe i was my right side pedal. It was stiffer to rotate than the left one. Upon disassemble I found the outer bearing in excellent shape, but the inner bushing of the pedal was working it's way toward the crank;which was causing the pedal to bind. I pressed the bushing back into the proper place and relubed/re-assembled. Just like new, but if the bushing moves again it is time for new pedals.

I re-installed the bottom bracket with teflon tape and it was torqued to 350 in/lbs. The crank arms were relubed and torqued to 300 in/lbs. If you have square taper cranks the don't get lubed. Also the rear casstte was torqued to 350 in/lbs (40N/M).

Problem went away. Not sure what cured the creak, but I suspect the pedals,since that was the only problem I found.

If you can't get Bottom bracket out you might want to take it to a bike shop. If the bottom bracket is smooth and has no play in it, you might not need to mess with it. Remember to loosen the left side first(right hand thread) and the the drive side(left hand thread). Also good to soak it with a pentrating oil, to help it break lose.

Sorry, lenghty reply but hopefully it will help.

Like others said my guess would be the BB. Its hard to diagnose exactly where the problem occur on the drive train since there are so many possible problem points. If you can recreate the sound while inside and have someone listen for it is helpful. I will face the bike to a wall and put stress on the cranks as if pedaling. Sometime I just tear everything down and clean and reinstall just to be sure. So don't drive yourself crazy in not being able to find the problem right away you are faced with a situation that can be tricky at times. I relate to the sound making you nuts nothing ruins a ride more than a noisey bike. I of course worry that I am destroying some valuable part with every creak I hear. Ther reward in fixing it is silence on a morning ride. Love that.

Mtventoux said:

I have a 'tick' sound every pedal stroke with the right side. When a lot of pressure on the pedal, especially out of saddle, the tick turns into a creaking sound at the bottom of every stroke! This is driving me nuts. i have since changed the chain, removed and regreased the crank arms, and tightened all the chainring bolts. The only thing I have not tuned up was the bottom bracket, as I could not get it apart.

The cranks are Ultegra 9 speed, 2003 model.

Any thoughts?

Yes, don't just tighten the chainring bolts - completely disassemble the chainrings and grease the bolts, the nuts, and anywhere two surfaces meet. It's a pain, but I have fixed several mystery creaks like this. You have to remember that anywhere two surfaces can rub can also creak/tick/ping/(or whatever).