Creaking crank arm

[mynydd]

every now and then the left had crank arm starts creaking loudly. I've tracked this down to the two nuts that tighten it onto the crank. It's a right pain to be honest. Any reason why I shouldn't use a bit of loctite to stop them loosening? Any other suggestions would be most welcome.
It seems as soon as I sort out one creak or click, another appears!
Thanks

 

[Gravity Aided]

Remove nut and crankarm, grease them, and replace. Tightly.

 

[mynydd]

Thanks, have done this several times, I'm pretty big - so they are very well tightened (I worry about overdoing it tbh)
Oh well, will re do it agin later
I keep having noise issues with this bike, never had a problem with bikes in the past, must be because I use it so much. Still annoying though.
Thanks again

 

[Gravity Aided]

Saddle rails or pedals? I'm larger as well, and have had bottom bracket like noises from both.

 

[mynydd]

It's definitely the crank arm nuts
Thanks

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I had one and so convinced it was, chainset bolts BB bolts ect, turned out to my cleat and clip for some reason after a while they start to creak and only on the right, might have something to do with its the one that is least unclipped.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Two nuts? Is it a Hollowtech?
If so, check the pre load adjuster is not too tight.

 

[albal]

Crankbolts on Hollow tech torque to12-15 nm. I'd check your pedals, re-grease and try again.

 

[mynydd]

Thanks both have just stripped it down, greased and re torqued up to about 14nm. Will find out if it's worked on way to work on Wednesday. Have to drive for first time in a month tomorrow
Pardon my ignorance but what is the pre load adjuster?
Thanks

 

[mrandmrspoves]

On a hollowtech crank it is the little plastic serrated circle that fills the hole in the middle and adjusts the load on the bearings. It needs to be hand tight only. There is a little plastic tool to adjust this by hand - but a 20pence will do in an emergency. The black bit in this picture.

 

[mynydd]

Brilliant, thanks. I had no idea, I had just assumed it was a cap. Could well be to tight actually. Will check in the morning

 

[mynydd]

Thanks for the above @mrandmrspoves just watched a you tube tutorial and saw instantly where I'd gone wrong when I changed the bb a few weeks ago. I'd simply tightened up the pinch bolts and then screwed in, what I thought was a dust cap! (I now know it's a pre load adjuster)
Popped out to the workshop and have re done it properly - you live and learn
Thanks again

 

[mrandmrspoves]

As you have watched the you tube video, you hopefully did it in the right order.. but just in case: 1) Loosen both crank arm securing bolts.....because they need to be loose for the pre load cap to work. 2) Tighten the pre load cap to finger tightness only. The correct tool costs about £2 - but 20p does ok. 3) Tighten the crank arm bolts to specified torque.
If you had got the pre load too tight, that would be the likely cause of the creaking. Hopefully you will be ok having now adjusted it correctly - but it is possible to have knackered the bearings by running them too tight.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Check your knees

 

[betty swollocks]

If I were you, I'd take the whole bb assembly out and thoroughly clean and re-grease and then re-assemble.
Winter's coming!