Bicycle Mechanics - Simple BB/Crank question...take it in?

I've searched the forums and have found TONS of possible answers but not sure if they apply to me...just need a to point me in a direction.. I know this has come up many-o-times so sorry for repeating.

Got a Shimano crank on my commuter bike and ride about 40mi a day. When i pedal up-hill there's creaking just from the left side, only when I down stroke.. is this the "crank" or the BB?
As you can probably tell, I'm a way novice at bike repair.. cranks are pretty foreign, but I'm a pretty good auto mechanic so it doesn't scare me..
Should I just take it in or is there something simple like tightening something? It seems like i'm taking in my bike ALL the time... $70 here, $50 there.. it adds up for sure! so if there is anything I can research and do @ home I'll give it a try..

One recommendation I heard was take out the first thing in the crank and wrap teflon tape around the threads.. but I'm not sure what they mean,..
anyone know a site/direction to take?

Thanks

I've searched the forums and have found TONS of possible answers but not sure if they apply to me...just need a to point me in a direction.. I know this has come up many-o-times so sorry for repeating.

Got a Shimano crank on my commuter bike and ride about 40mi a day. When i pedal up-hill there's creaking just from the left side, only when I down stroke.. is this the "crank" or the BB?
As you can probably tell, I'm a way novice at bike repair.. cranks are pretty foreign, but I'm a pretty good auto mechanic so it doesn't scare me..
Should I just take it in or is there something simple like tightening something? It seems like i'm taking in my bike ALL the time... $70 here, $50 there.. it adds up for sure! so if there is anything I can research and do @ home I'll give it a try..

One recommendation I heard was take out the first thing in the crank and wrap teflon tape around the threads.. but I'm not sure what they mean,..
anyone know a site/direction to take?

Thanks

first of all, the creak could be anything. see the park tools website for tips on that.

now, cranks and grease/teflon are controversial. some people say you don't need grease, others say you do. some like teflon tape, some don't. anyway, it probably is simply a matter of tightening things or regreasing threads. so take out your cranks (both), grease them up, put them back in. if you can take out the bottom bracket and grease that up too, all the better. then do the same with the pedals. forget about teflon tape. grease works just as well and you probably have it handy already.

sd

Be careful. If you are lucky, the crank is a bit loose on the spindle, or the cup is moving in the BB. However, it is also possible that the crank is developing a crack at either the pedal eye or the spindle eye; this obviously is a big potential danger. The pedal itself can also give rise to creaking.

first of all, the creak could be anything. see the park tools website for tips on that.

now, cranks and grease/teflon are controversial. some people say you don't need grease, others say you do. some like teflon tape, some don't. anyway, it probably is simply a matter of tightening things or regreasing threads. so take out your cranks (both), grease them up, put them back in. if you can take out the bottom bracket and grease that up too, all the better. then do the same with the pedals. forget about teflon tape. grease works just as well and you probably have it handy already.

sd


Thanks for the posts.. sheez! why does it seem that bike repair is so much more complicated than anything else.. It must be the intimidation factor when you gotta work on the "baby"
eric!

You didn't say what kind of bottom bracket. If it's a newer cartridge bottom bracket, I'd be more likely to suspect the crank/spindle interface or the pedal/crankarm interface. For a reason that I can only guess at, lots of brand new bikes come with inadequately torqued left crankarms.

Thanks for the posts.. sheez! why does it seem that bike repair is so much more complicated than anything else.. It must be the intimidation factor when you gotta work on the "baby"
eric!

do it once, and after that it doesn't seem complicated at all... it's intimidating at first but totally comfy after..

sd

You didn't say what kind of bottom bracket. If it's a newer cartridge bottom bracket, I'd be more likely to suspect the crank/spindle interface or the pedal/crankarm interface. For a reason that I can only guess at, lots of brand new bikes come with inadequately torqued left crankarms.


Yah the more people I talk to the more it just sounds like a crank arm. I got a torque wrench and I'll go to parkTools web site and get the proper lbs setting and try that on it..
Thanks

torque wrench is good, hopefully u've got one that fits the tools too. otherwise, just make sure it's really tight. these components (bb, pedal, crank) are the highest torqued comps on the bike.

sd

Creaking sounds are hard to locate. I had a saddle that was creaking and it sounded like it was coming from the crank area. Make sure your creak is there standing or seated. If so, check all the fasteners in the crank area, including BB retainer, crankarms, and pedals. Check the BB shell and the rest of the frame - especially near the BB - for any cracks, but it's most likely something needs tightened.

My SPD shoes creak in the pedals. Lube your clipless pedals or tighten the cleat on the shoes.

Creaking sounds are hard to locate. I had a saddle that was creaking and it sounded like it was coming from the crank area. Make sure your creak is there standing or seated. If so, check all the fasteners in the crank area, including BB retainer, crankarms, and pedals. Check the BB shell and the rest of the frame - especially near the BB - for any cracks, but it's most likely something needs tightened.


Thanks everyone. I torqued the crank arm and it stopped the creak.. shew!