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clicking sound while pedaling

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Old 10-12-11 | 06:35 PM
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clicking sound while pedaling

Hi everyone, I would greatly appreciate it if someone could help me diagnose some sounds my bike is making:

I get fairly loud clicking noises when I pedal. It's hard to tell what kind of pedaling causes it. But sometimes there's even a few in rapid succession (often when going over a bump) and then it's almost a ratcheting sound. It's not just a matter of a certain pressure on the pedal, but it's more likely if there's more pressure it seems.

It's almost like the chain slips a little; I feel it, not just hear it.

here are a couple videos of the clicking in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI_DULoAtQU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0McFGl0XRw

Let me know what you think, or if you want any other info. thanks

(I've searched for a while - the BB seems to be blamed in other threads, but I don't see why it would kind of snap like that or do the rapid clicking sometimes)
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Old 10-12-11 | 06:54 PM
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From: Des Moines

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

I looked at the first video, but it didn't tell me much.

First things I would try:
1. Remove the pedals from the cranks and replace with another set.
2. Take the chain off the crank and spin the crank.

If neither of these isolated the problem, I would begin to suspect chain rings or chain ring bolts.
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Old 10-13-11 | 05:20 AM
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It looks like it has a kickstand though your camera is only showing the right hand side of the cycle.
Anyway, if it does have a kickstand, your left pedal is hitting it.
Just move it in and tighten it up.
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Old 10-13-11 | 12:13 PM
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From: Jacksonville Florida

Bikes: Raleigh Glacier MTB/Commuter. Cannondale CAAD5, Windsor Timeline fixed gear

If you have the tools to do it (or you can get the tools to do it pretty cheap). I just had what looks to be the same issue. I just removed my cranks and cartridge bottom bracket, and greased all the threads and put it back together. I no longer have this clicking. Im not sure if I just got lucky, or if this is a common thing to happen. So for ~$20 in tools, I got it fixed for less than the LBS would charge for a new BB if thats what they would have changed.

Also, if you do decide to get the tools, pay the extra $2 for the Park crank puller, dont get the Nashbar one and have it brake on you like I did... I didnt notice the prices were so similar, or I would have gotten the park the first time!
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Old 10-13-11 | 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by MyBikeGotStolen
I just removed my cranks and cartridge bottom bracket, and greased all the threads and put it back together. I no longer have this clicking.
Could be what I had, where the previous owner overtightened the crank arm to the square taper spindle creating a bigger crank hole. For me the looseness between the two metal joints under stress, is what was causing the clicking. I replaced the faulty part with a Shimano Sora crank and I dont have that clicking anymore.
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Old 10-13-11 | 10:24 PM
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Originally Posted by oldroads
It looks like it has a kickstand though your camera is only showing the right hand side of the cycle.
Anyway, if it does have a kickstand, your left pedal is hitting it.
Just move it in and tighten it up.
yeah, the kickstand is loose and that's what i thought at first, but it's definitely not the kickstand.
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Old 10-13-11 | 10:26 PM
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Originally Posted by MyBikeGotStolen
If you have the tools to do it (or you can get the tools to do it pretty cheap). I just had what looks to be the same issue. I just removed my cranks and cartridge bottom bracket, and greased all the threads and put it back together. I no longer have this clicking. Im not sure if I just got lucky, or if this is a common thing to happen. So for ~$20 in tools, I got it fixed for less than the LBS would charge for a new BB if thats what they would have changed.

Also, if you do decide to get the tools, pay the extra $2 for the Park crank puller, dont get the Nashbar one and have it brake on you like I did... I didnt notice the prices were so similar, or I would have gotten the park the first time!
did you ever have multiple clicks in rapid succession where it sounds like someone ratcheting something?
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Old 10-14-11 | 01:31 AM
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From: Binghamtony,NY

Bikes: 2011 Trek 7.3 FX

I had a similar thing going on with my Trex 7.3FX for me it was just a matter of tightening things back up as they had came loose after about 500 miles of riding. I did take it to the LBS to have them deal with it because the bike was only 3 months old essentially.
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Old 10-14-11 | 07:41 AM
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I've got a click in my left pedal when the left pedal gets to the bottom only when riding. If I turn the pedals by hand with the bike upside down there is no click.

Any suggestions?
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Old 10-17-11 | 05:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Decatur_Tide
I've got a click in my left pedal when the left pedal gets to the bottom only when riding. If I turn the pedals by hand with the bike upside down there is no click.

Any suggestions?


Time to replace the pedals, or rebuild them.
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Old 10-17-11 | 05:38 AM
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click

i had that prob last week on the cargo bike i just put together lots of clicking it turned out to be the crank needed to be tightened no more click.
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Old 10-17-11 | 09:04 PM
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Originally Posted by nsinkov
did you ever have multiple clicks in rapid succession where it sounds like someone ratcheting something?
Nope, the only time I heard the clicking was when I was quickly accelerating, or climbing a hill or and other reason to be applying a harder force than just a normal cruising. (Can you tell I am in the middle of physics/dynamics homework, lol?).

I always had the click in the exact same 1/8th of a turn from my non-drive crank being straight up.
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Old 10-19-11 | 02:38 PM
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I had this issue with a new crank and new pedals. Thought it was the bearings. But, it turned out to be caused by pedal threads in crank arm, because when I switched pedals and then switched back to teh originals teh sound dissappeared. I relubed the threads so it was either that or the other pedal modified the threads in the crank slightly.
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