Clicking bottom bracket on new bike - help!

[sionhughes]

Hi all,

Last week I picked up my new Cannondale Synapse from my friendly local Evans store. After about 60 miles I started to hear a clicking from the bottom bracket, so I took it back into Evans. I left it with them for an evening, and their mechanic removed the bottom bracket and bearings, cleaned it and reinstalled it. Picked the bike up yesterday but didn't go out and play last night due to torrential rain. Within a mile of starting my commute the clicking returned and stayed for the majority of my 11 mile commute. I say majority because on nice freshly paved smooth surfaces it doesn't click at all, but anything else it definitely clicks.

Has anyone any advice of what it could be, what the solution could be or what I should be pushing Evans to do?

Thanks in advance!

 

[gbb]

Just check the FD cable end isn't sticking out at an angle and striking the crank as it rotates past...it can happen.

 

[Citius]

Has anyone any advice of what it could be, what the solution could be or what I should be pushing Evans to do?

Push Evans to do a better job of repairing the BB, which is where the clicking will be coming from.

 

[raleighnut]

Take it back to em, tell em to sort it out or replace it.

 

[sionhughes]

Push Evans to do a better job of repairing the BB, which is where the clicking will be coming from.

Take it back to em, tell em to sort it out or replace it.

I'm going to pop back to Evans on my cycle home tonight. Worst case is I leave it there and get the Mrs to pick me up! I'm really concerned about the fragile nature of the BB30 this early on!!

 

[ColinJ]

Unfortunately, there are thousands of BB30 complaints on the Internet. Just search for "BB30 noise" and see what I mean!

I don't like the design but have it on my new Cannondale CAADX. At the moment, it is not making any annoying noises, but if it starts then I will look at putting a different type of BB in.

 

[sionhughes]

Unfortunately, there are thousands of BB30 complaints on the Internet. Just search for "BB30 noise" and see what I mean!

I don't like the design but have it on my new Cannondale CAADX. At the moment, it is not making any annoying noises, but if it starts then I will look at putting a different type of BB in.

I've found them from my Googling in the last few days. But surely it shouldn't be creaking this early on it's life?

 

[ColinJ]

I've found them from my Googling in the last few days. But surely it shouldn't be creaking this early on it's life?

It shouldn't, but some of them do! There are people offering all sorts of suggestions on how to fix the problem. Some seem to be more successful than others. As you say though - a new bike shouldn't be noisy so back to Evans with it!

I started noticing noisy carbon fibre bikes a few years back as riders were going past me on sportive events. I found out about BB30 noises after that

 

[Globalti]

Is it an FSA crankset? If so, the noise is made by the BB axle fretting inside the inner journals of the bearings. Get them to pull it apart and smear Bearing Fit compound on the axle where it goes inside the bearings. That cures it.

 

[cyberknight]

Is it an FSA crankset? If so, the noise is made by the BB axle fretting inside the inner journals of the bearings. Get them to pull it apart and smear Bearing Fit compound on the axle where it goes inside the bearings. That cures it.

Interesting
My FSA crankset with hollowtech BB has started making noises on the down stroke on the left side, i checked seated /standing/ freewheeling and it only clicks ( getting louder ) on that phase.

 

[sionhughes]

Is it an FSA crankset? If so, the noise is made by the BB axle fretting inside the inner journals of the bearings. Get them to pull it apart and smear Bearing Fit compound on the axle where it goes inside the bearings. That cures it.

Yes it is an FSA Crankset!

The guys at Evans took it out again yesterday and that has seemed to fix it. All was good for the 14 miles or so home from there. They also said there was a little play in the headset so that was tightened up too in case that was conributing

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Hi all,

Last week I picked up my new Cannondale Synapse from my friendly local Evans store. After about 60 miles I started to hear a clicking from the bottom bracket, so I took it back into Evans. I left it with them for an evening, and their mechanic removed the bottom bracket and bearings, cleaned it and reinstalled it. Picked the bike up yesterday but didn't go out and play last night due to torrential rain. Within a mile of starting my commute the clicking returned and stayed for the majority of my 11 mile commute. I say majority because on nice freshly paved smooth surfaces it doesn't click at all, but anything else it definitely clicks.

Has anyone any advice of what it could be, what the solution could be or what I should be pushing Evans to do?

Thanks in advance!

I know you now have it fixed but...

...I had this same issue on my Giant TCX after 4000 miles it started clicking L.H.Side downstroke.

Stripped/regreased twice to no avail.

Solved by very slightly over-tightening the L.H.Side pre-load cap before tightening up the crank-arm.

 

[derrick]

My wife had the same problem with her first cervelo. went back to cycle shop half a dozen times, in the end after a few little chats they decided to give her a new bike, She has done a fe thousand miles on it know and it sterted the dreaded click a couple of weeks ago, I have just fitted a different make of bb will see how it goes,
http://www.madison.co.uk/products/c...essfit-30-bottom-bracket-ceramic-bearing-red/
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/modern-bbs-are-rubbish.185165/

 

[Globalti]

There's a popular idea that BB30s click and graunch because the bearings move in the frame bushes but this isn't the case. The alloy axle flexes in the inner bearing races causing clicking and graunching sounds. Grease cures it for a few miles but it comes back. Bearing Fit compound cures it permanently, or until you next dismantle it. Clean the axle and smear the compound inside the LH bearing race and on the outside of the axle on the RH drive side so that it doesn't get wiped off as you reinsert the axle.

 

[ColinJ]

What IS bearing fit compound? Does it set hard? If so, how would you replace worn out parts when it became time to do so?

I have never seen inside BB30 so I do not know how it all fits together, or what this compound would do. I could imagine using something like Loctite to stop the bit that is pressed in moving.