Creaking sounds and sealed bottom brackets...

[br5968]

I've got an annoying creaking sound coming from my right pedal/crank as it goes 'over the top' in each revolution. It's louder when I'm putting more pressure on it, but there all the time.

My immediate thought was that the bottom bracket perhaps needed greasing, as this was what caused a similar noise on an old bike. However, my current bike's a Gazelle, and the owners manual says:

"The pedals of your bike are attached via cranks to the bottom bracket,
which basically looks after itself. Both the bottom bracket and the pedals
are manufactured in a “sealed” fashion. This means that you never have to
grease them"​

It goes on to say

"However, it’s still worth it to pay some attention to these parts once in a
while. The cranks have to be fixed tightly, for instance, and shouldn’t have
any play. If they do, you will hear an annoying cracking sound during
cycling or feel the play"
​

I've tightened the cranks as much as I can - the right one had a tiny bit of give in it, but I'm still getting the noise - no worse or better than before.

I haven't jet washed it or anything silly like that. Given the bottom bracket is sealed, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what it might be. Anyone any ideas?

 

[bpsmith]

Noises always tend to sound like they are coming from the BB, when they can actually be coming from anywhere.

Give everything a good clean. Not with Pressure Washer, as you also noted above obviously.

Then gently check that everything around that area is relatively tight, but be careful not to over tighten. Could remove pedals and grease the threads before refitting as a start and work from there.

I had this on my Giant. Ended up removing the crank to clean out debris between crank arm and BB. Greased and refitted. Same with pedals. Then tightened front derailleur bracket, Chainring bolts, bottle cage bolts, seatpost, saddle, and rear derailleur jockey wheels and hanger. Creak has now gone.

Happy hunting...

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

This is exactly the same problem I have with my 'new' road bike ever since it and I found the ground (from stationary - the chain slipped badly). My right leg went into the chainrings and came out bloodied and since then as the right pedal comes up and over 12 o'clock I get a click. But I have also noticed that I have to cycled for about 500m when the bike is cold for this click to happen (lulls you into thinking it has gone and then restarts each and every time I go back out on the bike...)

My OH has cycled with me and is definite that the noise is coming from the BB on the right hand side... but...
I have a Hollowtech BB and am on the point of taking the thing back to the shop. It is only 4-5 months old and driving me mad now!

 

[Brommyboy]

Possible causes: under tightened crank bolt; dirt on square taper of spindle; under tightened chain ring bolts; shoe or cleat on pedal; chain touching front dérailleur cage; saddle rail or seat pin clamp; etc, etc! After all that, it could be within the BB.

 

[br5968]

Fixed it...! Took the pedals and cranks off, greased everything, stuck it all back on... creak gone. Ahhh.....

Hardest bit was getting the bloody chain case back on

Oh, and £6.99 for a tub of grease at Hellfrauds(!)

 

[mattobrien]

I had what sounds like a similar problem on my last bike. LBS found the problem was a slightly knackered BB. They machined the face of the frame that accepts the BB and then placed a new BB on the bike. All fixed and running smoothly and more importantly quietly.