Front Ksyrium is "plinking".

[Globalti]

As I climb out of the saddle I get the occasions "plink" from the front wheel spokes. The Ksyriums are about 2000 miles old and are otherwise dead true and the spokes evenly tensioned. With the wheel in the forks I can displace the rim both ways by about 5mm total with thumb pressure.

I have inspected the hubs and rims of both wheels in minute detail and can see nothing worrying. I have checked the frame all over and pulled and pushed the carbon forks in all directions, producing no sounds. I tightened the chainring bolts and they all turned by a few degrees but were evenly tight.

Worth tightening those spokes or just keep an eye on it? I can do traditional wheels but am a little wary of the blade spokes and special nipples on these Ksyriums.

 

[monnet]

Could be one of two things:

1) The fact it sounds like there's lateral movement, get that plastic spanner type thing that came with the wheels (the one that has some little plastic protrusions on it. That will fit into the hub on one side (you'll see on one side there are six small holes which rotate with the hub). Tighten it by about a 1 eighth turn. See how much movement you have then, if necessary repeat.

2) Less likely, as you've checked and also the wheel is true, but it could be a spoke coming loose. Check at the hub end as well as at the nipples.

I wouldn't tighten the spokes - I'm no wheel builder but I had trouble with Ksyrium after a stack and one LBS (with an excellent wheelbuilder) were reluctant to take it on as the tensions involved are unusually slack, making it very difficult to build. Fortunately the other LBS have more experience with them and did a good job for me (1 year and 4000 hard miles later it's still rock steady). FWIW Mavic will charge you £90 for a rebuild, so be careful! Anyway, I reckon the first solution I gave is the most likely (unless it's your computer sensor - which has caused me worry in the past!)

 

[accountantpete]

I'd just give each spoke a fraction of a tighten and see how it goes.

You will need a special spoke key for the nipples - I made my own blade holder.

I find it difficult to tighten without twisting the spoke so I simply hold the spoke and then firstly undo (very slightly) the nipple - you should hear a click. Then reverse the proceedure and add a bit more to tighten.

 

[fossyant]

Which Ksyrium wheel ?

If you have 5mm play either side of rim, that points to bearing preload. Does it clunk when you press the rim. I can't displace either Aksiums or Ksyrium Equipe's (the bottom Ksyriums).

I have had to adjust my rear Ksyrium for pre load though as I had a little movement - 1-2mmwhen new

 

[Globalti]

Thanks. It's definitely not bearing movement although the bearings for the front wheel are surprisingly rough. It's just flex in the wheel.

 

[rustychisel]

don't bugger with spoke tension!!

2 possibilities, odds on it's the second, a well known noise to Ksyrium owners
1. remove front wheel, clean axle stubs and dropouts, smear a little grease on axle stubs and reinstall. [noise is more 'creaky']
2. Zycral spokes? drop of oil in each spoke junction at rim and at hub. Carefully wipe of excess. Ride the bike. [noise is metallic 'ping']

 

[YahudaMoon]

Sounds like a foreign object or something in the walls of the rim could be a possibility ?
If so. Remove tyre/inner-tube, remove rim tape and see if the foreign object will fall out of one of the holes in the rim.

John

 

[Globalti]

No, it's definitely the familiar old "plink" that you get from the spokes when you build a wheel and you press down on the rims to stress-relieve it or when you first ride a newly-built wheel that hasn't been properly stress-relieved.

The noise is only very occasional, probably once every few revolutions when I'm climbing out of the saddle.

Rustychisel - do you have the same experience then? Yuo write that a drop of light oil solves the problem - could it be that the very high spoke tensions are causing the noise when the wheel flexes slightly, as it inevitably will when you're out of the saddle?

 

[rustychisel]

yes, especially after riding in rain, and rear wheel more predominant.

Caveat: assuming it's not computer magnet on FW or derailleur cage on RW. I think you could do a search and turn up many instances.

 

[Globalti]

Thanks, useful info. I think I will just live with it then!

One thing I have become very careful about since I took up road riding is regular inspection of frame and wheels; I don't want something breaking while I'm tearing down a hill at 40 mph or rattling over a cattle grid.