new carbon frame, what`s the noise?
05-09-08, 08:14 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: in the land of nippon...
Posts: 290
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
new carbon frame, what`s the noise?
just got my first carbon frame, and there`s this strange noise - at first i thought it was the headset, but then maybe the seat tube area - then maybe around the BB? difficult to tell.
it sounds like a drumstick tapping on a desktop - pretty loud - no, really loud. at first it happened only when i wiggled the bars, then the next day - nothing. today it was back again. seemed to be maybe from the seat tube area. when it was put together the mechanic had to put in a shim, but it doesn`t sound like it could be that. i`ve checked all over for cracks, nothing. when i hold the brakes it`s all firm, and when i hit bumps it doesn`t seem to increase, sometimes there`s no noise.
driving me crazy... i trust the bike, bit it is starting to freak me out on descents... any ideas?
it sounds like a drumstick tapping on a desktop - pretty loud - no, really loud. at first it happened only when i wiggled the bars, then the next day - nothing. today it was back again. seemed to be maybe from the seat tube area. when it was put together the mechanic had to put in a shim, but it doesn`t sound like it could be that. i`ve checked all over for cracks, nothing. when i hold the brakes it`s all firm, and when i hit bumps it doesn`t seem to increase, sometimes there`s no noise.
driving me crazy... i trust the bike, bit it is starting to freak me out on descents... any ideas?
05-09-08, 08:24 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 591
Bikes: 2 LeMond road bikes and a Cannondale MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ride slowly up a hill to put pressure on the drivetrain and listen close to the BB area. Could have grit in there making some noise.
05-09-08, 08:29 AM
#3
Living the n+1
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Off the back
Posts: 2,745
Bikes: 2019 RM Blizzard, 2013 SuperX, 2007 Litespeed Vortex, 1970 Falcon Olympic, 2008 RM Metropolis IGH, 2004 Specialized Enduro, 2006 Langster
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Does it happen only when you pedal?
05-09-08, 08:33 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Bring warm clothing!
Posts: 2,443
Bikes: Colnago Dream, Kestrel Evoke, Giant XTC Hardtail
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
End of front derailluer cable hitting your crankarm when pedaling?
__________________
05-09-08, 08:35 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Grass Valley, CA
Posts: 2,544
Bikes: Time RXRS, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Could be a slipping seat post, handlebar, or stem. Or a crankarm hitting the front derailleur. If you have carbon spacers they might need some grease. Check your cassette, it could be loose.
Try to isolate the area where the noise comes from. Ride while pedaling until you hear the sound, then stop pedaling and see if the noise persists. That will take care of the BB. Put pressure on the bars, on the seat...
Noises can be difficult to pinpoint.
Try to isolate the area where the noise comes from. Ride while pedaling until you hear the sound, then stop pedaling and see if the noise persists. That will take care of the BB. Put pressure on the bars, on the seat...
Noises can be difficult to pinpoint.
05-09-08, 08:45 AM
#7
Keep on climbing
I had the rear brake cable (where it curves past the seatpost down to the brake mechanism itself) start whapping against the frame at one point (carbon fiber frame). That made a pretty disconcerting drum-beat sound. I fixed that one by re-cabling the rear brake (just made it a little tighter).
05-09-08, 08:53 AM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: in the land of nippon...
Posts: 290
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
ok guys, thanks for those suggestions - i`ll check it out tomorrow! many thanks....
(btw, not when i pedal specifically)
(btw, not when i pedal specifically)
05-09-08, 09:29 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,900
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I will repost my all time favorite way to find the exact location of bike noises. Get a buddie, put the bike in a stationary trainer. You ride and try to duplicate the noise while buddie with a carboard tube held up to his ear goes around the bike and defines where the noise is originating. Has also worked with the bike in a repair stand if the noise happens without rider pressure on the frame.
Just like a string and can phone.
Just like a string and can phone.
05-09-08, 09:35 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 7,481
Bikes: Too many to list!
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
https://https://www.sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html
Read the above. This has helped me to diagnose MANY a sound.
... Brad
RIP Sheldon
Read the above. This has helped me to diagnose MANY a sound.
... Brad
RIP Sheldon
05-09-08, 11:14 AM
#11
Zircon Encrusted Tweezer
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Marshfield, MA
Posts: 1,016
Bikes: Pivot Switchblade, SantaCruz Tallboy, SantaCruz Solo, Specialized Fatboy, Trek ProjectOne Madone, Fuji Altamira CX 1.1, Lemond Zurich
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
https://https://www.sheldonbrown.com/creaks.html
Read the above. This has helped me to diagnose MANY a sound.
... Brad
RIP Sheldon
Read the above. This has helped me to diagnose MANY a sound.
... Brad
RIP Sheldon
link breaky
05-09-08, 01:36 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 591
Bikes: 2 LeMond road bikes and a Cannondale MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
05-09-08, 01:44 PM
#13
175mm crank of love
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,387
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Carbon fiber frames fail without warning. Everyone knows it. It could be cracked. I would not ride it. It could explode and kill you and everyone standing within 10 feet of you. If it has any Campagnolo parts on it take them off. Leave the Non-Campy stuff on because its not worth much anyhow. Then you might want to look into breaking the chain stays off so no one one else is in danger and put it on the curb on trash day. You might want to look into an aluminum, steel or titanium frame. You'll be much safer and be able to sleep at night.
...just say'n
...just say'n
Last edited by RichinPeoria; 05-09-08 at 02:16 PM.
