Creaking from the drive train

[martint235]

Ok this one is driving me nuts now. Whilst using the 53 chainring and the 4th largest cog in the cassette and using the 39 chainring and the largest 5 cogs in the cassette, I get a creaking noise between 12 and quarter past on both sides on each pedal stroke. It's not a clicking noise, it's longer than that, definitely a creak. However in these combinations of cogs I'm not putting a particularly large amount of power through the drive train, certainly nowhere near as much as 53/11 for example but I don't get the noise in that gear.

I took the bottom bracket off at the weekend and cleaned and greased any bits I could get to (largely the "axel" between the cranks and the inner surface of the BB). No difference.

Any ideas?

 

[Sittingduck]

Sounds weird...

How about pedals/cleats? Worth trying the same experiment in trainers or alternative shoes? Maybe stick diff pedals on and try, just as a process of elimination? Not that I would think both pedals or cleats would develop this at the same time but worth a go...

Is it an Ultegra Hollowtech II chainset/BB?

 

[PpPete]

Square taper ?
Cranks could be very slightly rounded off... not visibly so, but enough for slightest movement which causes creaking. You can reduce the movement & creaking by tapping the cranks on to the tapers with a wooden mallet and then winding the securing bolts up really really mega tight. Long term though - its going to be new cranks, because they are never going to be perfect.

 

[martint235]

Yeah sorry should have said it's a hollowtech bb with ultegra chainset. I don't think it's pedal related as it's both in exactly the same arc and not in all gears. I would expect any noise to get louder as I put more power in but this doesn't seem to be the case

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Had almost exactly the same this week.

My chainring bolts , well 2 of them won't tighten up properly (long story), anyway a squirt of WD40 sorted this, until my new bolts arrive this week.

 

[martint235]

Had almost exactly the same this week.

My chainring bolts , well 2 of them won't tighten up properly (long story), anyway a squirt of WD40 sorted this, until my new bolts arrive this week.

I think my crank bolts are ok but I'll check them again.

I'd expect those to make a noise across the range though. It's the fact this noise occurs on so few gears and when I'm not putting power down that's bugging me!!

 

[Sittingduck]

something to do with the cassette / freehub?

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I think my crank bolts are ok but I'll check them again.

I'd expect those to make a noise across the range though. It's the fact this noise occurs on so few gears and when I'm not putting power down that's bugging me!!

Mine would not do it on the big ring at the front or if I was pedalling lightly on the smaller chain ring.
I was absolutely convinced it was the BB as I had had it replaced a week earlier, but it was the bolts.

On Sunday I got the car out of the garage and cycled up and down the road squirting wd40 or taking things off until I finally squirted the chainring bolts and then it went.

 

[screenman]

Is it still noisy when you are out of the saddle, over 45 years of cycling have taught me that a lot of noises come from the seat pin or saddle rails. So always worth a check first as they often sound like they are coming from the BB or even headset.

 

[martint235]

Mine would not do it on the big ring at the front or if I was pedalling lightly on the smaller chain ring.
I was absolutely convinced it was the BB as I had had it replaced a week earlier, but it was the bolts.

On Sunday I got the car out of the garage and cycled up and down the road squirting wd40 or taking things off until I finally squirted the chainring bolts and then it went.

Right. I have some WD40 kicking around, I will give it a go!!!! Cheers

 

[rusty bearing]

Also check tightness of the cassette lockring.....

 

[martint235]

Also check tightness of the cassette lockring.....

I'll have a look but wouldn't that affect all gears across the range?

The WD40 thing didn't work but I haven't given up on it yet. I'll take them all off at the weekend (and the cassette) and give them a good clean.

 

[Moodyman]

Don't expect immediate results. Here's what I did:

Cleat to shoes, Shoe to pedals, pedal to crankarm, crankarm to bottom bracket.

Take each section apart, clean, re-grease and put back before moving to the next.

If this doesn't sort it, then lube and tighten saddle bolt. Seatpost clean, regrease and re-install.

I also did this with pannier & mudguards bolts.

Turned out it was a loose bolt on my kick stand - discovered by accident when doing something else.

 

[Globalti]

It's the saddle rails. The noise always seems to come from the BB area.

Come back on here and tell us we're right.

 

[2Loose]

I am placing my bet on the pedal threads needing a bit of grease... as this was the cause of my latest BB noises