Creeking sound from BB (or cranks?)
#1
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Creeking sound from BB (or cranks?)
When pedalling hard there is a sound from BB (at least it seems so). Like wood kreeking. Only when pedaling hard hard, when just spinning backwards there is no noise. When leaning hard on one peddal, or when pedalling hard there is the noise.
It is a Shimano triple crankset (tourney I think) and square tapper BB.
Any ideas what it is? Should it be fixed/replaced, or is it good to go as long as I don't mind the noise?
If it helps: pedals are greased, and when I'm off the saddle it is also heard, so it's not the saddle or the post.
It is a Shimano triple crankset (tourney I think) and square tapper BB.
Any ideas what it is? Should it be fixed/replaced, or is it good to go as long as I don't mind the noise?
If it helps: pedals are greased, and when I'm off the saddle it is also heard, so it's not the saddle or the post.
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Make sure the pedals, crank arms, chainring bolts, and all bottom bracket parts are tight.
Not good to ignore it.
Not good to ignore it.
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I just replaced my BB because it was making a bunch of noise especially when going uphill.
Manny
Manny
#4
Mechanic/Tourist
Lots of ideas about the source of a creak - you need to eliminate them one by one. If you jump to replacing the BB right away the creak may go away, but not necessarily due to the BB replacement.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html
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It was the BB. Went to the LBS to get a replacement, but they said it is good to go - won't die suddenly, might serve me 4-5 thousand kms more if I don't mind the noise. So I let it be.
#6
Mechanic/Tourist
I'd like to trust the shop's evaluation, but I don't. If you truly have a square taper BB there is nothing that would cause noise that would not need attention.
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The torque spec for the bottom bracket in the bottom bracket shell is around 30 ft/lbs. That's quite a bit. It's more than I would use if simply left to my own judgement. A lot of times a BB creak can be silenced by removing the BB, greasing the threads, and torquing it back in place.
If you don't have a torque wrench, imagine a 30 lb weight hanging off the end of a foot long wrench. Tighten it that much.
If you don't have a torque wrench, imagine a 30 lb weight hanging off the end of a foot long wrench. Tighten it that much.
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#9
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The torque spec for the bottom bracket in the bottom bracket shell is around 30 ft/lbs. That's quite a bit. It's more than I would use if simply left to my own judgement. A lot of times a BB creak can be silenced by removing the BB, greasing the threads, and torquing it back in place.
If you don't have a torque wrench, imagine a 30 lb weight hanging off the end of a foot long wrench. Tighten it that much.
If you don't have a torque wrench, imagine a 30 lb weight hanging off the end of a foot long wrench. Tighten it that much.
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Did he check the headset/stem? Quite often creaks can come from the headset/stem area & resonate through the frame. On a quil stem you can drop a little gear oil around the top of the headset nut & let it seep in. It doesn't take long to pull a stem & check the headset, either. Handlebars are another culprit. It usually pretty obvious when they are creaking, though. Check the torque on everything.
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What exactly do I need to measure to determine the BB size?
I have an alu mtb (29er) frame. With Shimano triple crankset (the one "beneath" Tiagra I think). Frame is some 4-5 years old, I guess it is BSA thread. Just not sure what I need to measure to determine whether it is 68 or 73.
I guess I'd have to remove cranks to measure the spindle length (110, 113, or wider)?
I have an alu mtb (29er) frame. With Shimano triple crankset (the one "beneath" Tiagra I think). Frame is some 4-5 years old, I guess it is BSA thread. Just not sure what I need to measure to determine whether it is 68 or 73.
I guess I'd have to remove cranks to measure the spindle length (110, 113, or wider)?
#12
Mechanic/Tourist
I realized my post above does not apply to a cartridge BB, and considering the age of the bike that is what you have. IF the BB is torqued to spec then what the mechanic said may be true.
#13
Still learning
The size is printed right on the bb cartridge. Unfortunately you have to remove it to see the spec. If you DIY, you need a 14mm socket, a crank puller, and a Park BBT-22 to fit inside the cups.
#14
Mechanic/Tourist
Yes, it's BSA thread, and BB width is easy - you just measure the width/length (not diameter) of the painted portion As for spindle length, it depends on how creative you are. Yes, once cranks are removed it's fairly simple to measure. With the cranks on it's still possible to determine the spindle length but would take some creativity to figure out how to do so.
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had a noisy BB once. LBS tightened it. took it for a long ride and it disintegrated. cheap enough to replace. go to another shop
#16
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My creaks were all from crank arms. Remove, clean, add some never seize to the square and the bolt and no more creaks. When I replaced my first BB, I didnt think to clean the arms at all, I just put them back on. Now I know better.
-SP
-SP