Mountain Biking - tick tick tick

I just disassembled my bike in hopes of diagnosing a ticking that has been going on in what seems to be the crank drive side. When I had it apart I mean it was down to the frame and chainring bolts. I greased everything from the chainring bolts to the friction points between crank arms and chainrings. I checked and cleaned the pivots on the frame. I lubed the external BB cup threads, and the hollowtech shaft. I put on a new pair of pedals, installed a new stem and handlebar, new seat and am having no luck. The ticking is usually every revolution when it occurs which is not until i am climbing or pedaling with a bit more force. Only thing I cant rule out is a slap against my derailleur which it sounds nothing like.

when the cables compact the wires stick out of the housing check your cable housing especially around the RD. when the frame flexes the cable housing ticks.

when the cables compact the wires stick out of the housing check your cable housing especially around the RD. when the frame flexes the cable housing ticks.

Thats very helpful info even if its not the case. That is a cause that I have not heard yet.....Thanks a ton even if its not the cause. Ill let ya know!:thumb:

You don't have a ziptie that needs to be cut off around the BB area do ya?

You don't have a ziptie that needs to be cut off around the BB area do ya?

Not sure why i'd have a zip tie down there but I double checked;) I lubed the cable housings in every possible spot, but sadly that was not the issue. Im starting to think it may be some rubbing where my pivot clamps, clamp on to the races. When I had the clamps off even though the bearings were still smooth the inside of the clamp seemed to have been getting some wear. The specs call for green loctite which I did not apply. I kept them dry but think i might throw some red on!

Cable routing on the swingarm right behind the BB. Sorry.

Cable routing on the swingarm right behind the BB. Sorry.

no zippies back there

In my experience that sound usually means loose bb bearings..

In my experience that sound usually means loose bb bearings..

When I stand on the the pedals with the arms parallel to the ground leaning against a wall with the brakes on, it creaks on both sides. Im convinced its the crank or BB also. The thing is, is that this was my suspicion all along and and I lubed everything including the Bearing threads and the surface where the cups mate with the shell. How can this be? Could the sealed bearings themselves be making this god awful creaking/ticking? The bike is only 1 yr used.

When I stand on the the pedals with the arms parallel to the ground leaning against a wall with the brakes on, it creaks on both sides. Im convinced its the crank or BB also. The thing is, is that this was my suspicion all along and and I lubed everything including the Bearing threads and the surface where the cups mate with the shell. How can this be? Could the sealed bearings themselves be making this god awful creaking/ticking? The bike is only 1 yr used.

Lubing threads has nothing to do with preloading the bearings.. the bearings have too much play.

Lubing threads has nothing to do with preloading the bearings.. the bearings have too much play.

Are you implying that the bearings are shot or that they arent torqued sufficiently to the shell?

They aren't torqued sufficiently.. most likely. The cups in the shell and the cranks and spindle.

They aren't torqued sufficiently.. most likely. The cups in the shell and the cranks and spindle.

I just threw 435 in lbs. on both sides of the BB and im still getting screwed. I snugged the crap outta the small allens on the spindle too! the Chainring bolts have been wrenched on as well:(

So I figured it out. I was standing on the bike and forcing the tick pushing downward on the pedals. I bent over and started feeling the suspicious areas with my hand. Surprisingly the feeling was being generated most strongly in the swing arm. I felt all areas of the swing arm. The non drive side felt fine but from the BB area of the swing arm and back the drive side, it progressively got worse. Traced it back to the removable derailleur hanger/dropout. Guess it needed some new loctite and some more tension on the stabilizing screws! Thanks for all your help guys. So glad to have this kink worked out. Meanwhile I dont think my BB will ever come off again :roflmao2: