Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

pedal click problem

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

pedal click problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-11-10, 08:22 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 13
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
pedal click problem

On my fixed gear when I am trying to track stand I feel like a little click in pedals when I go from forwards to backwards. I have had this problem with my mountain bike before and it was just because one of the chain rings was loose so I tightened and it was all better. I've have tried that on my fixie and thats not the problem. Ive also made sure the pedals were tight.

Could I have a problem with the bottom bracket? or maybe the cranks are loose?

thanks in advance!
russelr is offline  
Old 05-11-10, 08:27 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times in 741 Posts
Do you ride in clipless pedals? If so it could be worn cleats moving in the pedals.

To check the bottom bracket, grab one crank arm and try to rock it side to side. If there is play that should locate it.
HillRider is offline  
Old 05-12-10, 06:48 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 13
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by HillRider
Do you ride in clipless pedals? If so it could be worn cleats moving in the pedals.

To check the bottom bracket, grab one crank arm and try to rock it side to side. If there is play that should locate it.
no i dont ride clipless because I mainly use it to commute back and forth to school so i just have pedals with toe straps.
russelr is offline  
Old 05-12-10, 09:27 PM
  #4  
Old fart
 
JohnDThompson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,777

Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.

Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3582 Post(s)
Liked 3,394 Times in 1,928 Posts
Chain slack can cause this. How tight is your chain?
JohnDThompson is offline  
Old 05-13-10, 12:39 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
vredstein's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Posts: 704

Bikes: '02 Lemond Buenos Aires, '98 Fuji Touring w/ Shimano Nexus premium, '06 Jamis Nova 853 cross frame set up as commuter, '03 Fuji Roubaix Pro 853 back up training bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Has this bottom bracket previously been used on another bike or used in a geared application?
I have no hard physics to back this up, but I have to wonder whether a bottom bracket can develop more wear/issues in a fixed gear setup, where it's subject to torque in two opposing rotational directions, versus just one in a geared bike.
vredstein is offline  
Old 05-14-10, 09:52 PM
  #6  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 13
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by vredstein
Has this bottom bracket previously been used on another bike or used in a geared application?
I have no hard physics to back this up, but I have to wonder whether a bottom bracket can develop more wear/issues in a fixed gear setup, where it's subject to torque in two opposing rotational directions, versus just one in a geared bike.
no bottom bracket has never been used except on this bike. I wonder though, I have the bike set up with the gear train on the left side vs the normal right side set up. I dont think this would cause an issue but i really dont know. the bike shop didnt stop me when i presented them with the idea.
russelr is offline  
Old 05-14-10, 09:52 PM
  #7  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 13
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
Chain slack can cause this. How tight is your chain?

Chain slack is good, pretty tight actually.
russelr is offline  
Old 05-15-10, 06:23 AM
  #8  
Mechanic/Tourist
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 7,522

Bikes: 2008 Novara Randonee - love it. Previous bikes:Motobecane Mirage, 1972 Moto Grand Jubilee (my fave), Jackson Rake 16, 1983 C'dale ST500.

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 486 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 11 Posts
If the description of a "little click" is accurate then the problem is very unlikely to be the bottom bracket or chain. That would be a lower pitch and felt as much as heard. The click is probably cranks that need to be torqued slightly more or possibly something between the spindle and crank arm mounting hole causing a poor mating. If tightening the cranks and pedals doe not work then remove both crank arms and completely clean all surfaces, including steel wool on the spindle and crank arm flats.
cny-bikeman is offline  
Old 05-15-10, 11:43 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
DannoXYZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Saratoga, CA
Posts: 11,736
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 109 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 6 Posts
I vote for crankarm bolts not tight enough. Not to start a holy-war debate, but did you put them on dry or greased? What torque did you tighten them down to? How do you know that?
DannoXYZ is offline  
Old 05-15-10, 12:10 PM
  #10  
Member
 
herbsandspices's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 48
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Is there any play in your pedals, when you grab them and try to move them up & down? They may need to be rebuilt or replaced. Clicks and creaks in your drivetrain are maybe the most annoying thing in the world. And when you fix them, it's maybe the best thing in the world. Wow, I just blew myself away.
herbsandspices is offline  
Old 05-15-10, 01:37 PM
  #11  
donut post
 
windup capybara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Called him at the coaster room!
Posts: 58

Bikes: RRRIIIIIIIPPPPPPYYYOOOOUUUUURRRRRMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
i have a similar problem, only i get the noise only when i'm applying a good amount of pressure on the non-drive side pedal. my guess is that this side sees more heavy use (i trackstand a lot, with my weight on this pedal). i rebuilt the pedals already, since it needed to be done anyways. next step, checking cranks, then chainring bolts, and if those don't work i'll look at the BB but i doubt it's that.
windup capybara is offline  
Old 05-15-10, 01:47 PM
  #12  
Mechanic/Tourist
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 7,522

Bikes: 2008 Novara Randonee - love it. Previous bikes:Motobecane Mirage, 1972 Moto Grand Jubilee (my fave), Jackson Rake 16, 1983 C'dale ST500.

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 486 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 11 Posts
Originally Posted by windup capybara
...i get the noise only when i'm applying a good amount of pressure on the non-drive side pedal.
Most likely the cause is in the left pedal/crank, but might still be on the right, as the the drive path goes from the left pedal down the crank to the spindle and then up the spider/chainwheel to the chain. The forces and drive path are not quite the same from the right crank to the chain so the right crank stress might not cause the click even if the source is on the right side (open to correction on this).

Last edited by cny-bikeman; 05-15-10 at 01:51 PM.
cny-bikeman is offline  
Old 05-17-10, 09:40 PM
  #13  
donut post
 
windup capybara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Called him at the coaster room!
Posts: 58

Bikes: RRRIIIIIIIPPPPPPYYYOOOOUUUUURRRRRMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by cny-bikeman
Most likely the cause is in the left pedal/crank, but might still be on the right, as the the drive path goes from the left pedal down the crank to the spindle and then up the spider/chainwheel to the chain. The forces and drive path are not quite the same from the right crank to the chain so the right crank stress might not cause the click even if the source is on the right side (open to correction on this).

interesting. the noise doesn't happen on the right side at all, so i'll keep this in mind.
windup capybara is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
FarHorizon
Bicycle Mechanics
12
12-02-14 10:22 AM
The Outlier
Bicycle Mechanics
6
08-12-14 04:04 PM
nrsmd
Bicycle Mechanics
14
06-13-12 05:31 PM
adamdouze
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
8
03-27-11 08:26 AM
MinustheCoop
Road Cycling
47
03-30-10 09:37 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.