Bicycle Mechanics - 'Squeecky' Titanium Frame.....HELP!

I have an Airborne Zeppelin and have put about 500 miles on it. Shortly after I started riding it, I noticed a small 'squeeck' in the general area of the bottom bracket. The sqeeck only occurs when the crank is in motion and there is weight on the bike.

I immediately took it back to my LBS. The official 'answer/fix' was that my pedals and the kneesavers that extend their distance from the crank were not greased well-enough when installed and the squeeck came from that. My LBS 'fixed' this and I didn't notice the squeeck for a few days. Now.....it is back and I personally removed, regreased and reinstalled my pedals and extension....and still squeeck. I have looked and tested all the parts I can imagine making a similar noise.

The 'unofficial' answer I got from one of the guys at my LBS was that titaniums generally make noises like this since they 'flex' more than other bikes. Also.....I weigh 210 lbs.....so the load is relatively heavy for a lightweight road bike.

Any ideas about my squeeck and how to make it go away? Is it a major bottom bracket problem? Or am I just flexing? Or am I too heavy?

Any help will be appreciated.

Peter

I would remove the cranks and bottom bracket, and put a heavy coat of anti-sieze compound on the bottom bracket threads, male and female, for starters. There are many other possible causes of squeaks and creaks, and I typed up some squeak-eliminating tips here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11606&highlight=creak Good luck! :)

Let me add that anti-sieze compound or Finish Line Ti-Prep are generally considered better than grease when you've got titanium surfaces to treat for creaking.

wear ear plugs. then u wont hear the squeak

and,don't buy flexy Ti.

[i]
The 'unofficial' answer I got from one of the guys at my LBS was that titaniums generally make noises like this since they 'flex' more than other bikes. Also.....I weigh 210 lbs.....so the load is relatively heavy for a lightweight road bike.

Any ideas about my squeeck and how to make it go away? Is it a major bottom bracket problem? Or am I just flexing? Or am I too heavy?
[/B]

First, I'd find another LBS. That line about ti frames making audible sounds due to flex is purest excrement.

Second, there's a good page on diagnosing once-per-revolution creaks and squeaks here: http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/creaking_and_squeaking.shtml

Third, Airborne is very supportive. You should call them, and/or post on their board at www.airborne.net.

RichC

Originally posted by mechBgon
Let me add that anti-sieze compound or Finish Line Ti-Prep are generally considered better than grease when you've got titanium surfaces to treat for creaking.
The reason to use anti-sieze or Ti-prep instead of grease is that grease won't prevent the dis-similar metals from bonding together!

Originally posted by roadbuzz

The reason to use anti-sieze or Ti-prep instead of grease is that grease won't prevent the dis-similar metals from bonding together! True indeed :) My opinion is that they also are the better creak-preventative with Ti frames, if it's the BB creaking in the BB shell or the seatpost creaking in the seat tube. Grease is much better than nothing and may get the job done too. :)

I would hope the Airborne was put together with grease or some type of antisieze, but you never know 'til you check, if the BB was installed at the factory. :(

Since I ride steel this may or may not be factual
but I do seem to recall hearing it.
remove bottom bracket, wrap plumbers teflon tape over
BB threads and reinstall.
I've read on Serotta Forum this does help in correcting
some of the squeak, and creaking of Ti frames.

Marty

I have an Airborne Carpe Diem and had IDENTICAL symptoms, but after 2500k.

I was sure it was the BB or cranks. I replaced BB

Turned out to be the seatpost!!!!

Took it out, re lubed it, stuck it back in - hey presto!

Look at the signs - cranks turning - weight on bike. I bet you don't get the squeek if you stand up on the pedals when going up a steep hill or sprinting. In that scenario you've still got turning cranks and weight on the bike, but you've removed the seat parameter. Give it a try


Stew

thats how i proved it was my BB when i had clicking. sat on the seat.. it clicked. sat off the seat, and it still clicked and the pedals were tight.

Please Help me with my squeak, I am desperate. I have a steel frame. When I pedal out of saddle, no creak. When I disengage from cleats while sitting, no creak. Just replaced saddle. I re-instlaled BB after greasing threads.

Daniel

does it creak when u r on the seat. u said it doesnt creak when urr not on seat. try greasing the seat post.

I always grease seatpost. Can shoes creak?

Thanks

Daniel

tighten pedals, loose chainrings, loose wheels, tension on the spokes is messed, maybe you need some teflon tape around the BB spindles instead of grease, tighten the cranks. As you can see, it can be almost anything.

I think that I can eliminate the BB since I get no squeaking when I am out of saddle. Sometimes the squeak stops for a while, then returns.

Daniel

Squeeking status:

Bike squeeks in and out of saddle. Seatpost (carbon fiber, NO lube) doesn't seem like the villian since I squeek out of the saddle as well.

Current LBS diagnosis.....speedplay pedals. Seems some parts (like bearings) on the inside of the pedals disintegrated (pedals are two+ years old) and my LBS has ordered a kit to do the fix.

LBS will also be 'tefloning' bottom bracket and checking alignment and appropriate lube of headset.

The Airborne staff was VERY helpful and called my LBS with a list of 'things to check and fix'......which they are doing. Stay tuned for update on what actually works......but the speedplays oozing small metal fragments when lubed looks like a likely culprit. Maybe I didn't lube them often enough.

But I want to be certain that the bottom bracket and headset are not eating themselves up....seems as though that could lead to a real big breakdown.....literally.

Thanks for all the help......update as soon as LBS does the checks and fixes that the Airborne staff prescribed.

Peter

Just FYI, if the seat tube is undergoing torsional flex, it will still have the potential to creak on the seatpost even when your weight's not on it, because the seat tube rotates on the seatpost's unclamped end. Best grease I've used for carbon fiber is GripShift lube, FWIW.