Clicking noise on folding pedals

[mulleady]

Hi I have a Downtube 9 speed FS. Great bike but the pedals make a regular and very invasive clicking noise when I cycle and start pedalling. The cranks are totally silent when I revolve them when off the bike. any advice much appreciated.

[tgzzzz]

I just replaced my [8H Stomp]pedals with 160 miles on them. 2 ball bearings disintegrated on one side. There was lube present. I've also got some rust on small parts and bolts. My guess is that Chinese steel isn't as good at ours.

[brakemeister]

clicking noise can come from strange places..... just for kicks check if it is clicking when you are standing up as well.... ( if it stops it just might be a too loose saddle )

thor

[nigelme]

I have the IX FS Downtube and that click occured on the right pedal soon after delivery - after about 6 or 7 hours of light use some bearings literally crumbled. Unfortunately there is no access to the mechanism through the plastic so I replaced them with some old Lyotard pedals off of my silly big-wheeled bike; these are amazing - I've had them for 20 years and they still spin wildly at a slight push. I also bought some MKS Promenade de-mountable pedals, which are fine. I find, in general, I rarely need to remove them from my Downtube anyway.

[Foldable Two]

Last week the clicking I heard for two days on my Dahon S1 quickly became a rather wobbly pedal.

The visible bearings were OK, so I dis-assembled the pedal and found that there were several bearings missing on the internal end of the spindle. Since I don't really fold it much (it's my go-to-the-store bike) I purchased a set of Forte pedals from the local Performance Bike shop for $14.97. They seem to work pretty well with my size 13-14 shoes. They are definitely a lot lighter.

[Bacciagalupe]

I highly doubt that any bike pedals are made in the US. Last I checked, even Dura-Ace is made in Taiwan.

I don't think the problem is that Chinese make cheap stuff, it's that Downtube kits their bikes out with cheap components. :P

[tgzzzz]

I highly doubt that any bike pedals are made in the US. Last I checked, even Dura-Ace is made in Taiwan.

I don't think the problem is that Chinese make cheap stuff, it's that Downtube kits their bikes out with cheap components. :P

I agree totally, and stand corrected.:o

[DVC45]

The left pedal on my VIIIH broke after only about 20mi. I called Dr. Yan and a replacement was sent with no charge (' took a month to ship, though). So far, the replacement is holding up pretty well (fingers crossed).

[mulleady]

I highly doubt that any bike pedals are made in the US. Last I checked, even Dura-Ace is made in Taiwan.

I don't think the problem is that Chinese make cheap stuff, it's that Downtube kits their bikes out with cheap components. :P

That's a cheap sideswipe at Downtube and not a very constructive comment. I commute on a DT VIII every day in London. I use it on roads and occasionally cycle in 19 miles on off-road towpaths of the Grand Union Canal to central London. I wouldn't call the DT cheap overall. Actually, it represents fantastic value for money. As much as I like Bromptons I wouldn't pay over $1300-1500 for one and I don't like the new 6 speed gear switching mechanism. I haven't had a puncture on the tyres since I've owned the DT, The frame is sturdy and Sturmey Archer 8 speed hub gears aren't exactly a cheap option to include in a bike at the pricing point I paid. In fact some of my colleagues who use Bromptons have admired the look and respect the ride of my DT. They nearly fell off their seats when they heard the price I got it for. It's a credit to DT that they tend to get compared with bikes twice their price.

As for Chinese manufactured components, they make all sorts. I've been to the huge trade fairs and Chinese manufacturing standards tend to depend on the vision and commitment of the factory owner and senior management to servicing more sophisticated overseas markets. Therefore you get everything from defective rubbish and poor service to world class grade manufacturing in China. It is impossible to stereotype the Southern Chinese manufacturing phenomemon.

Thanks to the others for your useful comments. I guess it's the bearings in this case and will change the pedals.

[tgzzzz]

I guess it's the bearings in this case and will change the pedals.

res ipsa loquitur ... the thing speaks for itself

[rhm]

Wow, I feel lucky! The pedals on my Downtube Mini lasted well over 1000 miles. They seem to be identical to the pedals on my Strida that are still okay after 2000 miles.

As for advice, I would guess it's okay to keep riding it, but wouldn't go on a long ride in the middle of nowhere using the 'clicking' pedal. Sooner or later that pedal is going to fail. Failure will present itself, in my experience, with a loud CRACK after which the pedal will not turn. The pedal will not fall apart or explode; but if you keep pedaling a completely-seized-up-pedal, it will unscrew itself from the crank and fall off after five or ten revolutions. I would try to fold the bike up and hop on public transport before that happens.

[EvilV]

I just replaced my [8H Stomp]pedals with 160 miles on them. 2 ball bearings disintegrated on one side. There was lube present. I've also got some rust on small parts and bolts. My guess is that Chinese steel isn't as good at ours.

I guess it's the price they are made for rather than a geographical issue. I just can't work out how some of the things I buy from China make any money at all, especially since they have to be shipped right around the planet and pass through the hands of a string of middle men. I can buy TWO pedals for my Merc for £5.50 - I mean TWO. They are crap of course, but it would cost more than £5.50 to ship a turd from here to China - much more. I'm running some rather nice non folding pedals on my Merc at the moment, I don't fold it right down, so I don't need a folding pedal. There are some quite nice folding MKS pedals that I might buy, but they are MUCH more costly.

http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/products.php?plid=m8b34s367p1241&rs=gb

[jakub.ner]

Hello Mulleady,

Sometimes a pedal clicks when it's not tightened enough. In this case the click is very regular. Tighten the pedals and see if the click goes away.

[mulleady]

Thanks Jakub that fixed the problem. While I've learnt a lot about folders as a cyclist I'm still on the beginner's part of the learning curve when it come to maintenance!

[carmat3]

Lucky that I found this thread. My two month old DownTube IX, has started to make the clicking noise on the right pedal when on the bike riding. I will try tightening as see if that solves the problem..

[jur]

As much as I like Bromptons I wouldn't pay over $1300-1500 for one and I don't like the new 6 speed gear switching mechanism.Well now there's an interesting statement.
I suppose you didn't suffer from foldinitis at that stage. What did you pay for your raw laquer one? :roflmao2:

[EvilV]

That's a cheap sideswipe at Downtube and not a very constructive comment. I commute on a DT VIII every day in London. I use it on roads and occasionally cycle in 19 miles on off-road towpaths of the Grand Union Canal to central London. I wouldn't call the DT cheap overall. Actually, it represents fantastic value for money. As much as I like Bromptons I wouldn't pay over $1300-1500 for one and I don't like the new 6 speed gear switching mechanism. I haven't had a puncture on the tyres since I've owned the DT, The frame is sturdy and Sturmey Archer 8 speed hub gears aren't exactly a cheap option to include in a bike at the pricing point I paid. In fact some of my colleagues who use Bromptons have admired the look and respect the ride of my DT. They nearly fell off their seats when they heard the price I got it for. It's a credit to DT that they tend to get compared with bikes twice their price.

As for Chinese manufactured components, they make all sorts. I've been to the huge trade fairs and Chinese manufacturing standards tend to depend on the vision and commitment of the factory owner and senior management to servicing more sophisticated overseas markets. Therefore you get everything from defective rubbish and poor service to world class grade manufacturing in China. It is impossible to stereotype the Southern Chinese manufacturing phenomemon.

Thanks to the others for your useful comments. I guess it's the bearings in this case and will change the pedals.

Bravo there Mulleady.

I get sick of these remarks about 'Chinese Crap' on the one hand and pompous swipes at bike manufacturers who produce bikes at fantastic bargain prices. 'Oh,' they say, 'This Downtube (Merc) (Strida clone) is rubbish.' normally neglecting to mention that someone put it together for about a quarter of the expected price a western manufacturer would expect, and omitting to mention that he annoying part can be replaced for £10, still leaving the proud owner hundreds of pounds in pocket over an alternative. I don't have any Downtubes, but it amazes me that such useful products can be made and shipped to the states, then shipped back to England, taxed, and sold for 2/3 the price of the only British made folder that I know of, or even less.

It seems to me that the Chinese can do whatever you like and are prepared to pay for. You order crap - they make it for you and sell it cheaper per pound than cow manure. You order quality and pay the price, and you get it.

The same carping negativity has afflicted the comment on the Olympics. All the focus is on the fact that a kid mimed to a song sung by a less pretty girl, or that on a bad day (fog) they substituted a pre-filmed and cgi enhanced scene of a firework display arranged earlier in case of problems. What they don't comment on is that the Chinese spent 24 billion pounds on staging the show, won the vast majority of the gold medals and have put on the best Olympics ever staged. Britain in contrast, plans to spend about £7billion in 2012.... I hope we don't end up looking embarrassed when it looks crap.


EDIT:

Ugh - it's an old thread and here am I ranting and raving six months after the remarks were made..... [Reminder to self - CHECK POSTING DATES BEFORE ENGAGING IN TIME WASTING RANTS]