Bicycle Mechanics - Yet Another Mystery Noise

As some of you may know, I am quite meticulous about my bikes. It is quite perturbing to me then, to find a new noise coming from my beloved Kinesis road bike.

Let me expand. The noise is best described as a metallic 'tick' every now and then, and developed overnight after no tinkering on my part. It is seemingly random.

At first, I thought drivetrain, but now I'm not even sure it can be 'narrowed down' to this even. It almost certainly isn't the bars or stem as the sound seems to originate toward the rear of the frame, though this could just be resonance through the frame tricking me. I have noticed that the tick occurs if I 'come off the power' sometimes, but this is not exclusively when I hear it.

It is really bugging me now, and I have stripped the drivetain off completely and re-fitted it and yet it still occurs. Could it be that the cable housing carrying the rear brake cable is tapping against my frame protector transfer? This is the only lead I have, and I thought I'd ruled it out, but just don't know what else to try.

Please please help me!

When you say random, are you saying that it is not rhythmic, in time with the rotation of a wheel or the cranks?

What drivetrain parts did you remove/replace/check?

Ever heard a loose spoke in a rear wheel? It's a pretty distinctive "tick" once you've had it pointed out. I'd check the spokes on your rear wheel, you might find one (or more) obviously loose.

Firstly, the sound is not rhythmic at all. It is one click every 10 seconds or every minute or every 2 minutes. There is no pattern. When I pedal, when I cruise, it's there, though more when I pedal, I'd say.

Secondly, I removed and checked torque values of: cranks, pedals, BB cups, cassette, front mech, rear mech.

Thirdly, no, I know the sound of my spoke ticks - on the Ksyriums they are very distinctive. My tick is much more 'frame' sounding, if you know what I mean. It is the exact sound of the rear brake cable slapping my frame, but I can't get it to stop when I damp the housing with foam.

It's a real puzzler! Thanks for the time guys, I really appreciate it.

seatpost clamp? bar/stem?

I tried the seatpost clamp. It's solid. Checked the saddle rails too, nothing budging. I'm 99% sure the bar/stem combo aren't to blame, but there is an element of doubt in my mind about them. You can really bounce on them though, there's no noise from them even when you try to snap them (not literally)! If it makes you guys feel better, my cycling buddies and owners of the LBS are stumped too.

If it makes you guys feel better, my cycling buddies and owners of the LBS are stumped too.

I never felt bad :)

Tracking down noises can be tough. Good luck!

I never felt bad :)

Glad to hear it, man, wouldn't want it getting the both of us down!!;)

After searching for WEEKS to find an annoying tick while on tour, I finally solved it by lubricating the crossover points on the spokes. These were weathered, plated spokes. Good stainless ones don't seem to be a problem. Worth a try?

Thirdly, no, I know the sound of my spoke ticks - on the Ksyriums they are very distinctive. My tick is much more 'frame' sounding, if you know what I mean. It is the exact sound of the rear brake cable slapping my frame, but I can't get it to stop when I damp the housing with foam.


What about the rear derailleur cable or housing? Have you tried damping that too? It should be under tension at all times such that it couldn't be causing this, but maybe in certain circumstances it is briefly detensioned enough to tick against the frame...maybe?

What about the rear derailleur cable or housing? Have you tried damping that too? It should be under tension at all times such that it couldn't be causing this, but maybe in certain circumstances it is briefly detensioned enough to tick against the frame...maybe?

My rear mech cable housing is held tight against the frame by a stretchy neoprene frame protector so I know that's out. I never thought of the actual cable slapping there though. Plus, the noise is much closer to me than at the rear mech. Just had another thought - could it be the cable guide at the BB shell? Anyone ever had noise from this?

The spoke crossover thing would have been a good one, but Ksyriums' spokes don't touch each other.

I'm being a real pain in the you-know-where now amn't I?! Sorry!

I think this thread should become an epic. From now on, anyone who has identified a noise coming from their bike should post the noise type and cause of that noise here.

An annoying noise encyclopaedia if you will!

A couple of things come to mind

Cable ferrules where the shift housings meet the barrel adjusters near the headtube (if you have bar mounted shifters of course). I once used metal cable housing ferrules, they eventually wore away in the barrel adjusters and made a terrible clicking noise.

Quick release / axle / droput interface - often mentioned as a noise spot.

Saddle mounting (or the saddle itself)

Best of luck with fonding the problem - I know how you feel about new noises, the're a bugbear until the cause is found.

Cheers,

Ed

^^ Great suggestions. Thanks Ed, I'll give them a try. The ferrules I briefly checked but they could be the cause as I haven't ridden with the cables damped at this point yet.

These "What is that sound" threads are always a hoot. The guy who suggests that you have a chipmunk living inside your frame is usually correct.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a strange ticking noise too. It drove me nuts trying to figure out where it was coming from. Guess what - it was the bike lock and cable fixed to my saddle rail that was swinging and clunking against the seat post. Absolutely madening, but I remember having the experience before, so at least I got a chuckle out of it when I realized the culprit.

These "What is that sound" threads are always a hoot. The guy who suggests that you have a chipmunk living inside your frame is usually correct.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a strange ticking noise too. It drove me nuts trying to figure out where it was coming from. Guess what - it was the bike lock and cable fixed to my saddle rail that was swinging and clunking against the seat post. Absolutely madening, but I remember having the experience before, so at least I got a chuckle out of it when I realized the culprit.

Nice! Yeah, you always laugh when you find the culprit, it's just so hard to do find it! And yeah, I've already anticipated the chipmunk-in-frame style responses too! This thread should be fun now, as I've tried everything sensible that I can think of. That reminds me, I must go and check the ferrules on the downtube as was earlier suggested.

Keep posting the wackiness BF-ers, I'll be sure to try anything you suggest and report back very regularly!

pedals/cleats? check tightness and lube of both-maybe??

Matt, I have the same type metallic sound. It's coming from the cassette. Big ring in front, third from top in back only. Sounds like tink, tink. Happens a little more than 3/4's of full pedal revolution. Chain's been cleaned, cassette cleaned, etc. Any thoughts?

^^^In this case, I'd recommend checking your lockring to be sure it's torqued down pretty good. If any of the cogs are loose enough to be moving against the freehub body, they'll do some harm eventually. The tinking sound might indicate a cog that's able to move, when it shouldn't. The other possibility is that the freehub body itself can make a noise, but it's typically more of a clicking or knocking sound, not a tink. Not out of the question though.

I'm being a real pain in the you-know-where now amn't I?! Sorry!

Not at all! We love stuff like this!! We live for this! :D

Here's another question--although, I see that you are an OCP-er, so undoubtedly the answer is no--but I'll ask anyway. Do you have any sort of frame pump or other attachment to the frame?

I guess we also don't have to have you check your valve stem caps, 'cause I'm sure you don't have any. :p

I to am anal about noises, some that have puzzled me in the past were caused by:

1) crached seatpost ( at the clamp I'm a clyde!)
2) " mung" between the steerer and fork
3) jacket zipper fob whacking into the zipper ( won't admit to how long this one took to resolve!!!!!)
4) FD cage hitting the crank arm

Good luck
John

I had a past problem with my saddle/seatpost that I couldn't find for a while (thought it was the bb, headset, etc.). it made a noise when I went over bumps in the road, def didn't sound like it was coming from under my butt tho. noise on the bike can def be deceiving

Matt, I have the same type metallic sound. It's coming from the cassette. Big ring in front, third from top in back only. Sounds like tink, tink. Happens a little more than 3/4's of full pedal revolution. Chain's been cleaned, cassette cleaned, etc. Any thoughts?

Possible wear on the cassette ring, otherwise, this is typically a torque-cured problem. Shimano recommend something like 35-50Nm for the lockring, I personally use 50Nm dead, you will never ruin a lockring by tightening to 50Nm as long as you grease it. Definitely not cassette derived in my case though, far too hollow-sounding to not be something on the frame's main triangle I think.


Not at all! We love stuff like this!! We live for this!

Here's another question--although, I see that you are an OCP-er, so undoubtedly the answer is no--but I'll ask anyway. Do you have any sort of frame pump or other attachment to the frame?

I guess we also don't have to have you check your valve stem caps, 'cause I'm sure you don't have any.

Believe it or not, I do have valve caps! Here's proof (see thumbnail). I have no pumps or other frame attachments though, I must confess. I am quite OCP on that one!


I to am anal about noises, some that have puzzled me in the past were caused by:

1) crached seatpost ( at the clamp I'm a clyde!)
2) " mung" between the steerer and fork
3) jacket zipper fob whacking into the zipper ( won't admit to how long this one took to resolve!!!!!)
4) FD cage hitting the crank arm

Good luck
John

Seatpost is ok, I checked that first along with saddle. 'Mung' is one that I will be checking, however, that is a great suggestion. The others do not apply to me, but are still good for our little encyclopeadia we have here!

Another one I forgot to add to the list was my helmet strap, which has caused mystery noises in the past but is not the culprit this time round.

Thanks again for all the suggestions. I've not been out today as the weather here is pretty terrible. Keep posting though guys, I'll get the suggestions tested asap.

My bike stopped making all these random noises when I stopped riding it. Now it sits in my room and I smile at it at regular intervals. If you want to ask why I stopped riding, it's because of this bloody respiratory infection I've had for a while.. but it's waning so I plan on getting at least one or two good rides in before Ann Arbor freezes solid.

Just my advice.. maybe you'd be happier not riding it?

As some of you may know, I am quite meticulous about my bikes. It is quite perturbing to me then, to find a new noise coming from my beloved Kinesis road bike.

Let me expand. The noise is best described as a metallic 'tick' every now and then, and developed overnight after no tinkering on my part. It is seemingly random.

At first, I thought drivetrain, but now I'm not even sure it can be 'narrowed down' to this even. It almost certainly isn't the bars or stem as the sound seems to originate toward the rear of the frame, though this could just be resonance through the frame tricking me. I have noticed that the tick occurs if I 'come off the power' sometimes, but this is not exclusively when I hear it.

It is really bugging me now, and I have stripped the drivetain off completely and re-fitted it and yet it still occurs. Could it be that the cable housing carrying the rear brake cable is tapping against my frame protector transfer? This is the only lead I have, and I thought I'd ruled it out, but just don't know what else to try.

Please please help me!
Yeah, I had this happen to me. The bike just irregularly clicked and clicked no matter what I tried. It took me three months to find out that it was a hairline crack on my bottombracket shell!

Get your magnifiying glass out and examine your frame carefully for anything that looks like a jagged scratch. Mine was tiny.

" mung" between the steerer and fork

I had a non-rhythmic 'creak' that began as a once in a while thing, increased in frequency and volume to the point that it eventually drove me crazy.

I tightened everything I could think of, everything I had ever loosened. Nothing worked, and I became very concerned about the near term life expectancy of my vintage Champion #2 frame.

Finally I pulled the Technomic stem, regreased the quill, and reinstalled. Creak cured. I had previously tightened down the stem bolt without removing it, and that had not worked.

Funny thing, the stem was only nine months old, and it was greased at time of install, but had developed substantial surface 'mung' in the interim. Perhaps due to daily summer riding when it was so incredibly humid.

Good luck. Hope its the 'mung'.

Firstly, the sound is not rhythmic at all. It is one click every 10 seconds or every minute or every 2 minutes. There is no pattern. When I pedal, when I cruise, it's there, though more when I pedal, I'd say.

if the noise is there when you don't pedal. It's not drive train realated.

* My 1st thought is your Q/R may be way to tight and your hubs are squeeling for help.
* Not sure what wheel set you have. But next would be Sokes realates. Nipples moving in the rim. Or if they are crossing have worn a grove. {1/2turn and tighten them**
* Frame stress? or pull and lube with grease Seapost / Stem / handlebars in stem.

* ??? You Bottom Bracket could have find some play. Remove and also grease this one.
* Pedals will have it's own play. Have another set. Put those on will take that question out. Also try a different set of wheels just for a test ride.

Just my advice.. maybe you'd be happier not riding it?

NEVER!!!!!!! I love my bike only very marginally less when it creaks!


Yeah, I had this happen to me. The bike just irregularly clicked and clicked no matter what I tried. It took me three months to find out that it was a hairline crack on my bottombracket shell!

Get your magnifiying glass out and examine your frame carefully for anything that looks like a jagged scratch. Mine was tiny.

I hope so much it's not that, but the thought had crossed my mind. I'm in denial but I will go over the frame right now with a very fine toothcomb just to settle my mind!


Good luck. Hope its the 'mung'.

Thanks, I hope so too, and thanks for the insight, I may well have to remove the forks and bars/stem to check this tomorrow.


if the noise is there when you don't pedal. It's not drive train realated.

* My 1st thought is your Q/R may be way to tight and your hubs are squeeling for help.
* Not sure what wheel set you have. But next would be Sokes realates. Nipples moving in the rim. Or if they are crossing have worn a grove. {1/2turn and tighten them**
* Frame stress? or pull and lube with grease Seapost / Stem / handlebars in stem.

* ??? You Bottom Bracket could have find some play. Remove and also grease this one.
* Pedals will have it's own play. Have another set. Put those on will take that question out. Also try a different set of wheels just for a test ride.

I have Ksyrium Elites (see photo in earlier post). Like I said, I'm very sure the sound isn't 'spokey' and rather definitely 'framey.' That's why I'm worried. I have tried new pedals and have removed the BB cups twice now!

UPDATE: Again, the weather was crap today so I've not been out to test any new suggestions. Weather.com says 40% chance of light rain tomorrow so I'll try to get out if I can. I'm pleased with the thread though, you guys are really good at this!

Good luck. You have a warranty just in case?

Good luck. You have a warranty just in case?

I do, a five year job of which three remain. I've looked over the frame but I can't see anything suspect just yet. I'm gonna have another go though, it's difficult to spot first time something so small.

Oh, by the way, weather.com's 40% can from now on be construed as 100%. On and off rain all day today as well. I just can't catch a break!

Update for you guys:

I finally got a good day, so I tried all the things you suggested. I removed the forks and headset, where I found a LOT of crap. Bingo, I thought. So I cleaned all that out, carefully avoiding packing the sealed bearings with grit, regreased the lot and slapped it all back together. Took it for a ride, and sure enough, the damn noise is still there!

I'm now thinking of rerouting my cables, just in case they are to blame. I might even try removing all cables bar the front brake so I can eliminate them properly from the inquiry.

I would appreciate any other thoughts from the BF community. This may drive me mad yet!

ipod.

^^^when you exhaust all other possibilties^^^ It's the worst but it happens. I would check your rear axle, free hub and the oft over looked pedal axles too. Remove, clean and reseat BB and cranks. Pull seat post and wipe down, put a dab of light oil on both saddle rails. Be very methodical, make a list and check them off as you go.

edit: if it is your frame the creak will usually become louder as the crack expands.

I bought a new Salsa Las Cruces CX bike in June. It had an annoying, irregular "tick". I rode the bike for about 2000 miles thinking about the problem. Could it be the FSA compact crank/rings BB? I hoped not. Could it be a hidden stress crack in the frame? I could make the sound when I pushed down on the top tube, sometimes. I could make the sound when, while off of the bike, I pushed horizontally on the BB with my foot. I could make the sound pushing down on the seat.

Finally this last week, I was burning down some newly made single track when I met a group of trail builders from ptag, Dirt Rag Magazine and other enthusiasts. I mentioned the problem to one of the guys and he said that it is probably a seat post binder bolt. So even though I had tightened and removed the seat post before, I decided to lube the cylinder-shaped pivot bolt and the bolt itself.

Bam problem solved. It is like having an new bike all over again.

I know that you checked your seat before, but it might be worth a second look.

^^^when you exhaust all other possibilties^^^ It's the worst but it happens. I would check your rear axle, free hub and the oft over looked pedal axles too. Remove, clean and reseat BB and cranks. Pull seat post and wipe down, put a dab of light oil on both saddle rails. Be very methodical, make a list and check them off as you go.

edit: if it is your frame the creak will usually become louder as the crack expands.

Or better yet, try a different wheelset. That way you can eliminate the spokes, axle, and anything wheel related.
If the creaking is still there, maybe change the crankset and pedals.

That is, if you have spares or a friend that can let you use their stuff.

Man, I feel for you. bike noise is very frustrating.

Good Luck...
-gas

Maybe it's your knee. Although since it is not rhythmic, perhaps you suffer from the rare condition of patella clickus arrhythmicus.

(I'm joking, of course, since I also get very annoyed by all of the little noises that my bike makes from time to time, and its usually almost impossible to tell where they come from. And my left knee does click every once in a while...)

Maybe it's your knee. Although since it is not rhythmic, perhaps you suffer from the rare condition of patella clickus arrhythmicus.

(I'm joking, of course, since I also get very annoyed by all of the little noises that my bike makes from time to time, and its usually almost impossible to tell where they come from. And my left knee does click every once in a while...)

My left knee clicks all the time. :( It's pretty f'd up and there's not much I can do about it except wait for it to fail.

Matt

There's one other possibility - have you checked your wheel bearings? I have known problems in this area manifest themselves as an irregular "tick" sound. Once, I forked out a fortune to have a bottom bracket replaced, only to discover that cones in the rear wheel bearing were badly pitted... On two other occasions I have had noise from front hubs due to the similar problems.

I can't abide unusual noises, as a consequence I grease more or every fastener thread and component interface on assembly. This helps in particular if the bike is likely to see wet conditions.

Good luck & happy (noise) hunting,

Ed

It once took me weeks to figure out the strange irregular ticking noise from my bike. Turns out the plastic end from my shoelace was hitting the crank. It did happen coasting as well. Just a thought.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/318_bar_stemR1.jpg

Put a tiny bit of Teflon lube on all you Al threads, sometimes there "dry". do this to all stressed bolts. i had a similar problem. it takes time for the Al to "absorb" the oil.

Okay, my turn. I've had this loud click when I stand up. Always on the right side, always at the TOP of the stroke. Some guy I meet riding says just take off the pedal, regrease the threads, and put it back on. He said he's been seeing this a lot with the new Shimano cranks, for some inexplicable reason. Skeptically, I tried it today. The noise is gone!!!

I've had all these just this year that gave me hard to solve noises:

1. Rear replacable der. hanger was loosened from a chain break and was squaking
2. Cleats loose
3. Crank arm loosened - drive side
4. Joint between stem and hb. Grease solved this one. Does not work if the parts are carbon
5. Loose spoke
6. The worst to slove was getting caught in a rainstorm. Everything got soaked. Went to ride and got a weird squeak. It was the leather(fake I think) shoes. Drove me nuts because I was looking for a drivetrain problem.

Wow!!! You guys have been real busy for me, that's so kind of you.

I've been out on the trusty winter steed a lot this last week so not had time to post updates on the squeak. I will try the teflon thread lube as this needs to be done anyway. Also, what exactly do you mean, slagjumper, when you say to grease the cylindrical pivot bolt and the bolt itself. I'll try that as well. I'm still well gutted that the mung I cleaned out of my headset was not the cause by the way. I'll be reeling for a time yet, too!

The silver lining: The lengthy search and regrease process will in all likelihood, by the time you kill the mystery noise, result in your bike running beautifully. I know it did mine after pedal bolts, crank arm bolts, chainring bolts, stem bolt, handlebar clamp bolt, brake lever mounting bolts, shifter mounting bolts, downtube cable stop bolts and finally isolation and extermination of the culprit--regreasing the stem quill. Too bad pictures can't convey the elusive and enchanting sound of silence.

Apologies if this is a daft idea, but...could you put your bike up on a trainer? I'd think that would let you get your ear close while a friend pedals, wouldn't it? Or would the trainer be so noisy it'd mask the sound? (I've never used a trainer, so I don't know)

^^ LOL!:D

Didn't really think of that! I'm out today on the culprit as it's a real sunny day here. Gonna try more (MORE!) grease now and then set out.

Expect a progress report in about 6 hours.

.......^^^the tension is mounting.....

....and mounting...

When I bought my first road bike, I was crazy about maintenance and any noises. Well the LBS mechanic used always joke that the "tick" I was hearing was from my watch. Two attempts later, and the noise was found to be from the headset.

Matt, here is a question, do you have to be riding the bike, or just sitting on it for the noise to happen?

Could it be something with your sensor on the front fork? I know some of thoses sensors make a ticking noise as the magnetic switch turns on and off. Could also be the magnet on the spoke making contact with the sensor. Just a thought.