Is my BB on the way out already?

[MrJamie]

I've noticed my bottom bracket is creaking under load, like if I push down on the right pedal then gently rotate the cranks 180 degrees and push the left there is a slight click which happens with nearly every pedal stroke while cycling. It looks to the untrained eye like the BB is still in place.

The bikes quite new, just a couple of months and has only done 200 miles, but im also wondering if it could be something else? I can replicate it off the bike by pushing down hard on the pedals, so quite sure its somewhere in that immediate area. Any ideas?

 

[fossyant]

Have you beem cleaning and oiling the chain and cassette

 

[MrJamie]

Have you beem cleaning and oiling the chain and cassette

Not very often, but at least as much as my other Giant hybrid which has maybe 3k miles on it. The chain seems to move fine, no stiff links etc.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Any ideas?

Slip the chain off the chainset letting it rest on the bb shell, if it feels rough when you use your hand to turn the crank (i.e. don't turn the pedals) then there is something wrong with the bb, especially if the bb is of a reasonable make/model.

 

[Col5632]

Check your back wheel aswell cause when mine had a loose spoke it sounded like it was coming from the bottom of the bike, just a suggestion like

 

[Beebo]

I had this problem with a square taper BB after a bout 500miles, the LBS told me to remove the BB, clean it and grease the shell. I did this and the clicking went.

 

[MrJamie]

Thanks, all the bike specs says is that it's an FSA Cartridge. I'll investigate properly soon, so thanks for suggestions

 

[MrJamie]

I had a bit of a look, put the bike up on my workstand, checked for any cracks or obvious problems. I took the chain off and it would still click when I pushed down hard on either pedal, with foot off the other side. It would only click once on one side until I pushed down the other side until it 'clicked back', which to me implies that it wouldn't be an independent part of either side like the pedals, so im quite convinced its the bottom bracket. I've ordered a cartridge BB tool and have a crank puller so im going to see if I can tighten up the BB a little to resolve the problem. Any more tips/advice/ideas very welcome

 

[phil_hg_uk]

MIne did this and the first time it was one side what was working loose and the second time I took it apart and cleaned it.

 

[MrJamie]

I took the left crank off, tightened up the BB and the noises have gone away Thanks all.