Mystery Creaking / Crunking on new Al/CF build
 

I've got the classic what's that horrible creaking sound issue. I have checked the previous postings but though I'd post the symptoms for the sleuths on this board. The bike is a new build Scattante frame with CF fork.
Al frame
CF fork
Octalink BB and crankset

The sound resonates in the frame - more of a loud crunk than a mild creak. It was getting progressively worse. I was able to significantly tighten down crankset bolts without any change. The bike has a few older parts but basically has 40 miles on it

It:

• usually but not always under heavy pedalling (eg. hills, starting in higher gear)
• does not seem timed with chain
• does not occur pedaling backwards
• only occurs when pedaling
• occurs standing or sitting
• sounds like BB issues or freewheel issues I've had on other bikes

The first ride, 20 miles, was quiet. I had a headset issue but the LBS resolved it. The second ride was on a different wheelset and different brake calipers. I plan to swap out wheelset again to see if the bike quiets down. If it is the wheelset, what should I check?

Thanks!

Ahh the elusive noise. Have fun with that.

My guess would be BB installation; make sure you got enough grease and thread locker in the appropriate places.

Try to eliminate the front end from consideration, by coasting and horking on the bars, sitting and standing. Eliminate the back end / cassette by switching wheels, and the saddle/post by standing, that leaves BB/crank/pedals. Pedals don't make that kinda noise, so I suspect BB/crank. Typically it's an installation issue ( hello torque wrench, hello mfr instructions ).

It is one of your quick releases for sure! Change them by aluminum ones, get a pair from a friend if you can. Or just put a lot of oil in the QR mechanism. New QRs are made of plastic so they tend to get noisy because the material gets worm out a little bit. I'm using a 20+ years old mavic ones now.

Hope this solve your problem :)

I put another wheelset on and the creaking was not as bad. I loosened the QR and it increased. Encouraged, I returned home and installed the original wheelset with new hex-head release skewers. It creaked. When I took the wheelset off the lockring and a couple cogs fell off too!
Aha - I put the second wheelset on with the new skewers, and took off for work again. It started creaking again! Both the frame and BB are new but what else could it be?
I took another bike but the mystery remains. For the first 15 miles the bike was silent, now it's not, dang!

Found the creaking noise source! The breakthrough came when I noticed the noise was occurring around the 2 oclock area of the right crank. The cartridge BB wasn't torqued completely (though very tight). The left was also slightly loose.