Another creaky crank...!!!

[som3blok3]

Hi all.

I know its been mentioned just a few times before but I'm different, please read.

I've got a Boardman Hyprid Comp which I love to bits, great bike. For the first 800 miles or so, everything was tight, no creaks, squeaks rattles or clanks. Perfect. A few weeks back the BB developed a creak on the drive side so I started do do some investigating into what it could be, the things I've tried in the last few weeks have gone from simple and cheap to totally ott and expensive, in-between each point should say 'still makes a noise', just couldn't be bothered to right it each time!!

Bought an Icetoolz tool kit to take the BB out and re-grease.

Repeated step one with more grease.

Bought a torque wrench and all the bits to correctly torque all bolts on the drive train.

Bought and fitted a new BB and chainset.

Took them off today and re-greased.

I'm at the end of my tether(?)!!

Basically I've gone from a Truativ powerspline and Truro crank to a Shimano Hollowtech 2 BB and 105 5700 chainset, still the same noise from the right foot. click-click, creak click-click. Only under load and only sitting down, not standing up. Tightened pedals, cleats etc I'm stuck, HELP!!!

 

[som3blok3]

Oh and a new chain.

What else can it be, really??

 

[potsy]

Saddle? Seatpost? Pedal? Shoe?
Very frustrating I expect but it could be something totally unrelated to where you think the noise is coming from.

 

[Oldbloke]

Had the same creaking which I thought was the BB, turned out to be the seatpost which was a fraction loose.

Are you sure it's the BB?

Terry

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Noises such as this can emanate from almost anywhere, but appear to originate from somewhere else.

You must systematically eliminate all sources of noise. Work from front to back. Look at things like sokes creaking where they cross. (Apply a spot of oil). Ensure the QR skewers are tight. Check out the bar to stem joint, stem to steerer joint and apply a spot of lube (assuming no carbon parts).

Same thing with BB brackets. Grease the threads and splines. Grease saddle to seat post joints. In this way you will eventually eliminate the squeaks. Don't forget that what appears to be one noise may actually be a combination of squeaks.

Best of luck.

 

[som3blok3]

Thanks guys. I haven't checked the seat post but apart from that the rest has been checked and double checked.

The thing that makes me more convinced its the BB or BB housing is the fact that if I put a slight bit of load on the drive side pedal it creaks a little, but if I stomp really hard, ie up hill in saddle, it creaks even more.

What about the tapping and facing of the BB housing? I can't see why it should be this as it was fine from the factory.

I can wind the BB cups in most of the way by hand so I'll rule that one out but what is 'facing'.

I presume its removeing paint from the face that the BB cups ends up against, although again, it was fine from the factory?!?!

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

My 100% sure it was the crank noise was an over tightened front quick release skewer...
A dab of WD40 and a re tighten not to fierce and its been lovely ever since, but I would have bet my life it was the bottom bracket

 

[Gerry Attrick]

There are only a finite number of joints on a bike. As I said, check each one methodically and you will find the culprit.

 

[chris-s]

I was convinced I had a squeaky bb, tried a whole host of things to work it out. Turned out to be a creaky seat post!

Chris

 

[som3blok3]

Thanks again all!

I'm now thinking seat post. In the 5 months and 1000+ miles I've done, I've only bothered with it once, when I bought a new saddle.

Thinking about it even more, the amount of mucky/salty water and stuff thats been thrown up at it in the past few weeks, that could well be the cause. The hex head bolts do look a little furry (no mudguards !)
The bike gets a good stripping and cleaning every week but I've left the saddle alone as it's in the perfect place.

Still not sure why it would only creak on the drive side down stroke, although why no creaking when I'm out the saddle..? The more I ponder the more I want to run to the shed with the grease tub!

First thing tomorrow its getting stripped and greased....

 

[rusty bearing]

My old bike had the same sort of problem, traced it to the cassette lockring not being torqued up allowing the cogs to move enough to creak. Worth checking

 

[Woldwanderer]

Sounds very much like the seat post from what you've said. Was probably the first lesson I learnt when trying to solve those horrible annoying squeaks that can spoil a ride.

 

[User6179]

Had this on my bike and the bottom bracket shell eventually cracked at the non drive side but it made the noise when i put pressure down on drive side .

I just had a new hollowtech crank fitted about a week before aswell.

Get someone to put pressure on the drive side pedal and get your ear a bit closer to where you think the noise is coming from.

 

[pawl]

I had a similar problem. Checked all the transmission. Problem still there.Finaly cleaned and lubed seat post and saddle clamp. Problem solved.Try riding out of the saddle if creak persists problem is possibly coming from saddle clamp/seat post.Good luck

 

[chris-s]

Still not sure why it would only creak on the drive side down stroke, although why no creaking when I'm out the saddle..?

Exactly what I had, so I can understand how confused you feel! What did it for me in the end was whilst sitting giving a hard 'wiggle' on the seat which made a slight creak.

Chris