Crankarm clicking

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dee.jay

dee.jay

Network Ninja
Location
Wales
I've noticed over the past 2/3 rides that the left crankarm clicks when it gets to about the 11 o' clock position. This is if you are looking at the bike side on (left side on)

It happens regardless what gear, so I don't think it is directly transmission related, but the clicking is annoying. Hasn't gotten louder or anything, but it also doesn't always do it.

I thought maybe it was the pedal, but it's in too exact a position for it to be wobble in the peddle.

This is on a relatively new Cotic Roadrat.
 
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dee.jay

dee.jay

Network Ninja
Location
Wales
Some quick googling reveals this could be to do with the bearing in the pedal. It's not a very old set of pedals, Shimano M520's. However, as I don't think I'll be getting back into clipless pedals anytime soon, I will probably replace these with a pair of flats.
 
Eribiste

Eribiste

Careful with that axle Eugene
Location
Eckington, Worcestershire
Lots of things to check over. I had a regular clicking noise that had me foxed for a while, as it occurred on rides but not whilst on a stand. It turned out to be the cable end on the front derailleur making very light contact with my shoe! A tweak of the cable end and there it was, gone.
 
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dee.jay

dee.jay

Network Ninja
Location
Wales
Yes I've tried to think it through and I do believe the pedal is the first hit. I've never been fussed on the clips so it's a good excuse to get a new pair and rule that straight out :smile:
 
Yellow Saddle

Yellow Saddle

Guru
Location
Loch side.
It is usually the BB that's doing the clicking, the crank not having any moving parts itself. The 11 'O clock position (as viewed from the right) is where your power stroke starts and is a typical sign of a BB that needs removing, cleaning and refitting. that usually only happens with external BB cup adapters, not square tape BBs. What type of crank/BB do you have on there? BTW, we call it a crank, not crank arm. Left crank or right crank or crank set if referring to both cranks.
 
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dee.jay

dee.jay

Network Ninja
Location
Wales
Yellow Saddle said:
It is usually the BB that's doing the clicking, the crank not having any moving parts itself. The 11 'O clock position (as viewed from the right) is where your power stroke starts and is a typical sign of a BB that needs removing, cleaning and refitting. that usually only happens with external BB cup adapters, not square tape BBs. What type of crank/BB do you have on there? BTW, we call it a crank, not crank arm. Left crank or right crank or crank set if referring to both cranks.
Click to expand...

I believe I have external BB cup adapters - it looks like this: -

externalbb.jpg
 

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Yellow Saddle

Yellow Saddle

Guru
Location
Loch side.
OK, the problem is almost certainly the BB. Have a look at my suggestions here:

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/yet-another-clicking-noise.180541/#post-3707578
 
Yellow Saddle

Yellow Saddle

Guru
Location
Loch side.
0-markymark-0 said:
How easy is it to replace?
Click to expand...
Very easy if you can screw stuff (in a mechanical way). You need to:

1) Remove the crank with a allen key and mallet/baseball bat.
2) Unscrew the two BB cups using a BB cup remover - a special tool unfortunately, but cheap.
3) Keep your wits about you because the right hand one unscrews in the righty loosey style rather than rightly tightey style.
4) You need some copper compound to smear on the threads when you replace it.
5) You need to understand torque in order to replace the crank because it has to pinch bolts which MUST be tightened evenly and incrementally.
 
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dee.jay

dee.jay

Network Ninja
Location
Wales
@Yellow Saddle

Many thanks for your words of wisdom. I have replaced the pedals but to no avail. I have now bought all the tools I need to get my cranks off the bike, and will remove the BB, clean, grease and refit. Hopefully this will cure it as the clicking is now getting worse, though seemed to go away for a bit.

Am I OK to keep riding the bike in the interim or should I wait until it's repaired?
 
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