Mystery creak

ScottishDan said:

Wondered if you folks could shed some light on a creaking noise from my bottom bracket area (or so it would seem). The creak happens when you are pushing hard. So far I have eliminated:

1. Sealed bottom bracket unit - replaced it
2. Pedals - replaced them
3. Bottom bracket in tight enough - tightened
4. Cranks on tightly enough - tightened

What else? Can the cassette make a noise when it is under load or could the frame crea if there was a small crack in it. Your thoughts appreciated.

Dan

The fun thing about creaking is that it can be so hard to solve 'cuz so often the creak originates no where near where you thought it did. You should:

-check that skewers are tight
-make sure you have grease or teflon tape on the bb threads
-check stem torque and hs preload
-then check everything else.

ScottishDan said:

Wondered if you folks could shed some light on a creaking noise from my bottom bracket area (or so it would seem). The creak happens when you are pushing hard. So far I have eliminated:

1. Sealed bottom bracket unit - replaced it
2. Pedals - replaced them
3. Bottom bracket in tight enough - tightened
4. Cranks on tightly enough - tightened

What else? Can the cassette make a noise when it is under load or could the frame crea if there was a small crack in it. Your thoughts appreciated.

Dan

Seated or standing? Check your saddle. You might be surprised.

Quoted post said:

I had the same problem and it ended up being my front wheel bearing .

Yeah, I agree that you might be surprised. When I get that creak, more often than not its the seatpost/saddle. Every so often the seatpost needs to be taken out, wiped down and retorqued. Same goes for the saddle clamps. For me, does the trick every time.

If you've checked the other spots that might be suspect, check there.

Mine turned out to be where the gear cable sheaths met the frame. Try oiling these.

I've also had creaks from the seat post, fixed with grease and the head stem and spacers, fixed with wd40.

Problem is, you think the creaking is coming from somewhere else.

Yes its so frustrating, no matter where you put your ear to on the frame, that's where its seems to be coming from😠 Think I may have cracked it though. I suspect the lockring holding the cassette on wasn't torqued quite enough.

No doubt another creak will come along to replace it!

Thanks for the advice
Dan

try lubricating your chain, this solved my creaking problem yesterday...

chain seemed okay but it was a process of elimination..

MountainPro said:

try lubricating your chain, this solved my creaking problem yesterday...

chain seemed okay but it was a process of elimination..

Nah, you just didn't hear the creaking because of the thunderstorms 🙂
Did the black run at Glentress yesterday and the heavens opened just after the summit, I didn't hear any creaking after that either.

It's your knees mate.

Wheelist

wheelist said:

It's your knees mate.

Wheelist

thats my knees you can hear..

yep, got caught in the rain on Sunday afternoon....BIG thunderstorm here in Ayrshire..

Glentress, is it as good as people say?

MountainPro said:

thats my knees you can hear..

yep, got caught in the rain on Sunday afternoon....BIG thunderstorm here in Ayrshire..

Glentress, is it as good as people say?

Well as a relative newcomer to mountain biking, I cannot compare it to too much. Its conenient because it's 15 miles down the road from me. The red run is the popular option. Its undeniably man made and has moderate traffic which doesn't seem to be too much of a problem. The downhill has a huge grin factor, everyone seems to love it.

I did the black run for the first time on Sunday and was really impressed, it's quite rocky and undulates more so you get a consistent workout for the whole course (29km). Some downhill bits were too technical for me so I walked them. The best bit about the black run is the lower traffic volume and the greater variety of terrain and landscape. Its easy going in some bits and nuts in others. The Hub cafe at the bottom also does an excellent plate of nachos for £2.50!
Did you know that Glentress is now Scotland's third busiest tourist attraction 🙂

ScottishDan said:

Well as a relative newcomer to mountain biking, I cannot compare it to too much. Its conenient because it's 15 miles down the road from me. The red run is the popular option. Its undeniably man made and has moderate traffic which doesn't seem to be too much of a problem. The downhill has a huge grin factor, everyone seems to love it.

I did the black run for the first time on Sunday and was really impressed, it's quite rocky and undulates more so you get a consistent workout for the whole course (29km). Some downhill bits were too technical for me so I walked them. The best bit about the black run is the lower traffic volume and the greater variety of terrain and landscape. Its easy going in some bits and nuts in others. The Hub cafe at the bottom also does an excellent plate of nachos for £2.50!
Did you know that Glentress is now Scotland's third busiest tourist attraction 🙂

The IMBA international mtb association reckons its one of the best (if not the best) mountain bike tracks in the world... imba.com12 22 05 scotland.htmlOpen ↗

thats great, i'll have to visit one day....show you young'uns a thing or two.. 😄

alienator said:

The fun thing about creaking is that it can be so hard to solve 'cuz so often the creak originates no where near where you thought it did. You should:

-check that skewers are tight
-make sure you have grease or teflon tape on the bb threads
-check stem torque and hs preload
-then check everything else.

Also try the following (as they have all sounded like a BB creak on various bikes of mine):

- put a wee bit of grease on the fork tips and rear drop outs - minute movement between axle and tip/drop out can resonate through the frame.

- Strip down your headset and re-grease. Also grease any spacers on the stem.

- check the frame for cracks - I had a cracked seatstay but there was no hint it was cracked from the way it rode.

Mountainpro - you don't have to try too hard to show some folks a thing or two at Glentress; there's a lot of people there who buy £2000+ bikes just to pose at the cafe. Its hilarious watching some of them huffing and puffing their way up the tamest of gradients 😄 . Wouldn't mind learning some tricks myself - like how to ride down steep gravelly slopes without wussing out.

Balderick - Cracked frame is the thing I was most worried about, I noticed that at some stage in my bikes life (mid 90's stumpjumper pro), the chain had got trapped between the chain wheel and the chainstay and put a nice gouge in the frame. I don't think its cracked but is there anyway to tell for sure? The creak seems to be a lot better though by virtue of having a tightening up and greasing session.