Originally Posted by
mesmertron
Bought this from a guy who worked in a shop so I have never taken it fully apart. Tried earlier tonight to pull the cranks from the BB but I think I need a crank puller because they didn't budge after I took out the hex bolts holding the crank arms on. I had the bike upside down and kept spinning the crank to and fro with the arms and the sound seemed to come from the BB housing rather than the spokes, or the seat post. The previous owner used it as a daily commuter so maybe it is just time to relube and replace the bearings.
thanks for all the input I'll try to take the BB apart completely tomorrow and see if the noise persists.
hmm the steamroller is newer, I would imagine it would be cartridge bearings for the bb. dunno how much there would really be to take apart
EDIT: you will need a crank puller, don't know of a way to get them off without one.
also, an overtight chain can make a sound, but i don't know if i would describe it as a creak, it's more of a chatter. it wouldn't necessarily be a constant noise either if the chainring is out of round (pretty common it seems, but some are better than others). when the poorly out of round part of the ring is pulling on the chain hard, it could make a funky noise. I like to keep at least 1/4" of play in my chain (dunno if that's too much or too little, but i don't feel it as play in the pedals). what i do is hold the chain in my finger and thumb and move it up and down to check play. I advance the chain (which witll obviously rotate the cranks) and check the chain tension as the chainring rotates. I'll find the tightest point and adjust tension to that point (so hopefully the most slack part is not worse than an inch or so, that's where I start feeling the slack in the pedals when pathetically attempting trackstands and whatnot)
oh, and seriously whenever you're holding the chain and it's moving, watch fingers and move very slowly, this will massacre digits (and i'll probably get berated for suggesting this or whatever)