bike is making clicking noises while pedaling
#1
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bike is making clicking noises while pedaling
i hate to post a thread about noises because its obviously hard to diagnose on a forum but i'm hoping someone can help.
my bike, for the past month or two has been making an annoying clicking noises when pedaling. frequency seems to be once every revolution. i have a Jamis Ventura Sport (low end) with Sora components. pedals are still the original sneaker style with toe clips.
i turned the bike upside down and rotated the pedals with my hands and the noise is not there. it only seems to make the noise while i'm putting a load on it.
occasionally (about 3% of the time) i'll be pedalling and the noise will go away and there will be nice smooth revolutions...but then a minute later it comes back. again it is almost all of the time. the clicking appears to be in sync with my revolutions of the pedals.
i have done a visual inspection and everything looks fine. does anyone have any advice on what i look at? any guesses on what the problem may be?
thanks and as always i appreciate your help.
my bike, for the past month or two has been making an annoying clicking noises when pedaling. frequency seems to be once every revolution. i have a Jamis Ventura Sport (low end) with Sora components. pedals are still the original sneaker style with toe clips.
i turned the bike upside down and rotated the pedals with my hands and the noise is not there. it only seems to make the noise while i'm putting a load on it.
occasionally (about 3% of the time) i'll be pedalling and the noise will go away and there will be nice smooth revolutions...but then a minute later it comes back. again it is almost all of the time. the clicking appears to be in sync with my revolutions of the pedals.
i have done a visual inspection and everything looks fine. does anyone have any advice on what i look at? any guesses on what the problem may be?
thanks and as always i appreciate your help.
#2
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Very helpful and informative article: https://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=98
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sounds like a bottom bracket issue....but as you already know, its very hard to diagnose a problem like this over the computer....I suggest you take it to your LBS for an evaluation....I had a similar issue that ended up being a hairline crack in my crank.
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Turn signal still on?
If not, then best to ask here: https://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...aysprune=&f=10
If not, then best to ask here: https://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...aysprune=&f=10
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I had the same issue with mine, and I use the same parts. What happens is dirt collects up in the chain/pedaling area and creates a "clicking" noise. What you want to do is completely clean the chain, cassette, and pedal area. After that put a coating of either w-d40 or grease around the area. Good luck.
#7
Keep on climbing
I had the same issue with mine, and I use the same parts. What happens is dirt collects up in the chain/pedaling area and creates a "clicking" noise. What you want to do is completely clean the chain, cassette, and pedal area. After that put a coating of either w-d40 or grease around the area. Good luck.
As for the clicking... I'm guessing that something in the BB area is working its way loose. Dis-assembling, regreasing and tightening that portion of the bike isn't hard, but it does require a couple specialized tools. Give your chain a good cleaning, and if that doesn't resolve your clicking, take it down to your LBS and ask them to take a look.
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Last time I had that noise it was a bent crank, the spindle that held the crank together. Lucky it was caught it before it snapped. Might be worth checking out, only takes a minute to take the crank out. Mine started as only a clicking noise than started to have some play in the crank.
#12
Spin Meister
Those I know it seems counter intuitive to what you're hearing, check:
1) Saddle
2) Seat post - try lightly greasing
1) Saddle
2) Seat post - try lightly greasing
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Yeah, give the chain a thorough cleaning. Also, the chain may be stretched, and the resulting slack can cause a "clicking" or grinding noise. Those bottom brackets are made pretty well, but it nevertheless could be the problem.
#16
Uber Goober
Thought I'd answered this- someone else must have just asked the same question.
Anyway, the clicking sound on my bike was one of the pedals- check there.
Anyway, the clicking sound on my bike was one of the pedals- check there.
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Going out on a limb here, but do you have a cadence sensor and magnet? Those can make ominous clicking sounds.
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Some "doh" type things:
Shoe laces
Front derailleur cable end whacking crank.
"Obvious" type things:
Bottom bracket loose
If square taper, the crank may be slipping on the spindle, in which case the crank is toast
If outboard, the cups may need to be shimmed.
More subtle things:
Spokes
Wheels
Loose freehub
Even more subtle things:
Bar/stem interface
Stem/fork interface
Headset adjustment
I know some of these don't sound like you'd get them on each revolution, but you'd be surprised what happens as your pedal stroke torques your bike laterally.
Shoe laces
Front derailleur cable end whacking crank.
"Obvious" type things:
Bottom bracket loose
If square taper, the crank may be slipping on the spindle, in which case the crank is toast
If outboard, the cups may need to be shimmed.
More subtle things:
Spokes
Wheels
Loose freehub
Even more subtle things:
Bar/stem interface
Stem/fork interface
Headset adjustment
I know some of these don't sound like you'd get them on each revolution, but you'd be surprised what happens as your pedal stroke torques your bike laterally.
#20
Senior Member
Try this, it made me look like an idiot when I didn't think of it and took my bike to the LBS for a very rythmic clicking under load...make sure your pedals are tight. It wouldn't make the noise when on the work stand, only when I was on the bike.
#21
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Make sure the front derailleur isn't rubbing against the chain. Try looking at different angles/different loads, that just may be it.
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My most recent aquisition has inexpensive pedals and 300 miles
into ownership it too developed a "once per rev click". Someplace
on BF's I read a post detailing all the scary posibilities and the
post ended with this advise. Go after the easy stuff first.
So I sprayed some Triflow into the pedal bearings and it cured the
problem. What a relief.
So my advise...check all the visual alignment stuff mentioned in this
thread (you guys really know your stuff), clean up the bike, check
for loose parts and then if you still have the noise start lubricating
parts before you start tearing down the BB etc.
into ownership it too developed a "once per rev click". Someplace
on BF's I read a post detailing all the scary posibilities and the
post ended with this advise. Go after the easy stuff first.
So I sprayed some Triflow into the pedal bearings and it cured the
problem. What a relief.
So my advise...check all the visual alignment stuff mentioned in this
thread (you guys really know your stuff), clean up the bike, check
for loose parts and then if you still have the noise start lubricating
parts before you start tearing down the BB etc.
#24
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Try the easy stuff first. Clean/lube your drivetrain and pedals. Also check the seat post. If that doesn't help, move on to the bottom bracket. Based on your description, I'd guess it's the pedals.
#25
Has coddling tendencies.
Sweet Relief! I finally solved a nagging creaking issue. It began 3 months ago and gradually got worse. It creaked specifically while I was standing and pedaling hard. I looked all the usual suspect locations - pedals, crank arms, chain ring, bottom bracket, even fork steerer. I tried every which way to figure out where it was coming from, but no luck. Worst case scenario in my mind was an unidentified crack somewhere on the lightweight aluminum frame. One of the welds perhaps. Then today after a long climb I noticed that the rear wheel was slightly off center between the stays. After loosening the quick release, I recentered it and tightened up the QR to avoid any more slippage. Then for sh*ts and giggles I decided to test ride it and pedal hard to maybe see if... sure enough, the creaking went away! It was the rear wheel all along. QR wasn't tight enough.