I have a recently purchased modern light touring bike but since the design is the same on Vintage bikes as well wanted to ask about the JIS crank set I am using. I purchased it from Velo Orange and installed them on a IRD BB cartridge. One of the retaining rings loosened so I had to pull the left crank arm and re tighten it. I now find that there is a consistent click on the left side like you would get with a loose arm. I have snugged the bolt down pretty good - the sound, which you can feel through the pedal, goes away occasionally if I let off pressure but any degree of force and it appears. It happens at about the 3 0 clock position when the crank arm is almost parallel to the ground. This all started after reinstalling the arm so it seems quite obvious. The bolt is an allen head design and the key I use is fairly large but not too long. I do not want to torque down on it more than is necessary and the effort so far seems like it should be enough. Is this a somewhat common occurrence? Certainly takes away any thought of riding.

Is it possible the click is coming from your pedal?

Noah Scape - I was just thinking about that possibility a few moments ago before reading your post and it was slightly loose, enough to require being snugged down. Thank you for your thoughts on the matter. I will try riding the bike later and hopefully that will solve it. A bit bushed from riding yesterday.

I'd definitely switch pedals before I blamed the crank, pedals have so many different places where they can cause a clicking noise.

I seem to go through left crank arms like nobodies business. I am going to replace one this weekend. I've tried blaming the pedals on numerous occasions and have never succeeeded.