xfimpg

Hi Folks

My Anthem X creaks big time and much more noticeable when climbing. It's especially noticeable while pedaling when my right pedal is in front. I can make it creak on demand, which sounds like a good thing but it's not. Arrrggg!
When I'm coasting, I don't hear a thing.

I have
- greased the crank arm joints and bolts
- greased the pedals and axle joint to the crank arm
- taken all the chainrings apart and greased the bolts (like really really grease)
- greased all of the joints of the K4 suspension, except for the bolts that secure the rear shock (because i don't hear it creak when i jump up and down on it)
- as a precaution, took my seat stem apart and clean it and the seat, regreased it.

Help!!! Anyone have any ideas when this could be coming from?

RobertFrapples

Your knee?

xfimpg

Good idea! Should I use grease or oil?

BurnNotice

Crank is my first culprit. But you looked at that. Have you looked at weld joints to see if there are any stress fractures?

xfimpg

Very good point. I've skimmed over it, but i'll take a much closer look. Thanks

never

Did you grease/teflon tape the bottom bracket cups?

dminor 

WD-40.

electrik

grease the bb threads? check for wear on the bb bearings? swap pedals?

urbanknight

This is why I let the LBS install bottom brackets for me. Almost every one I have ever installed has developed a creak within a few months. Too bad the LBS put my last set of cranks on so tight, I don't think they're ever coming off.

electrik

Did you grease the bb spindle/bb cup interface if external bb cranks? It needs heavy marine grease as it washes out.

xfimpg

The bb is the only area I haven't touched yet. The bike is new from March 2010 so I didn't suspect the bb area.

Folks, is there anything I should know before I open up the BB? Will bearings fall out?

xfimpg

Won't that wash away if I fall in a creek or river?

dminor 

Should displace the water - - kinda like Moses and the Red Sea?

xfimpg

RIC0

My KHS will creak and it's always the main pivot behind th bottom bracket that the rear triangle connects too.

xfimpg

Thanks
I greased the bb and will take it out for a spin today.
If it's still creaking, I will grease the joint you mentionned.

BurnNotice

Hopefully it will fix it. If not and it keeps driving you crazy does your LBS not have a free adjustments for a period of time? If so let them squirrel over it.

xfimpg

Yep, i've brought it to them once and they cleaned and regreased the areas that I told them I had already done. Duh.
If it comes to the brink of insanity, i'll leave it with them for a few days.
I just get the feeling it's one of those things where you're better served by doing it yourself. Avoids the half hour drive just to get there too.

dahut

I just got a new saddle which I like. It fits well. But it has a creak in it, too.
The creak comes when Im really pushing it - so when I hear it I know Im working.


Thats how I live with it.

JLStout

You might also take your stem off and grease the stem area. I had a creak on my singlespeed from there.

dahut

Why not - Ill give it a try

xfimpg

I had a creaking in my seat area until I realized that it had to do with my seat being all the way back - something about the rails being on an angle.
As it turns out, I was too far back anyways! So problem resolved.

EDIT: Sorry, not "being on an angle", but the front area of rails as they begin to curve up towards the front of the seat, than angle area was tightened to the stem.

dahut

My saddle is at the rear most point, according to the markings on the rails. However, it might be a skosh to far. I'll try moving it.
Thanks, folks!

xfimpg

A good test is to stand on one side to the bike and apply weight using your hands to the front of the saddle then the back, simulating a climb. If it creaks, it,s in that general area.

xfimpg

So I took apart and greased both rear screws of the suspension, did the same with the seatpost clamp (again), and took it out for a spin this afternoon.

Now it creaks and multiple creaks at that, like 4 or 5 creaks at the same time, always when my right foot is in front during the pedal cycle.

Interesting was that I didn't hear it creak until about 30 minutes into the ride. After that, it's all I could hear! ARRRGGGH!!!!