Creaky cranks
 

I have DAce 7600 cranks on a UN54 BB and they recently started creaking almost every time I pedal. I found them to be a bit loose and tightened them some more, but when I tighten them, they creak too. Is this normal? Creaking from me pulling the spindle into the holes in the cranks with a bolt or is something really wrong? When I ride after tightening the cranks,the creek seems to have gone away except for one every now and then, but the creaking from tightening them still worries me.

Are you 100% sure its your cranks? Many times its your saddle or sometime but sounds like your cranks...try standing up in the saddle and see if it gives you the same noise...

c h a i n r i n g b o l t s

+1

Probably your reflectors or valve caps.






SRSLYTHO. Did you lube the spindles/install properly to spec? Have you checked your seat/pedals/chainring?

Did you great the spindle before you installed the cranks? I had the same issue with my cranks creaking, I took them off today and found both of them to be cracked at the spindle, I highly doubt that happened to you.

^ That sounds pretty severe, what crankset and bb were you using?

Wait...aren't DA 7600s ISO? The Shimano UN54 is JIS and you may have ruined the interface on your crank arms.

At any rate, never grease a square-taper spindle. Ever.

busted bearings in the hub will also make sounds of death

unfortunately, sometimes crank arms can be ruined by riding with them loose. You will know if they keep loosening up.

Sheldon seems to think going both ways is OK:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bbtaper.html

Especially if you installed ISO arms on a greasy JIS spindle.

You'd think that when buying DA cranks he would have gone and bought an appropriate BB instead of going for the cheapest BB

I installed ISO 75s on an ungreased JIS spindle. The cranks came with a UN54, or else I would have looked for a matching BB. I hope they're ok... I assumed if it was good enough for Sheldon, it should be good enough for me.

The saddle is fine, and my chainring bolts are tight. I didn't lube the spindle. I thought that it was bad to. Tightening the cranks made it creak a lot less, but it also creaked as I tightened it. No torque wrench. Just by feel. I'm scared to tighten them a bit more to see if it'll make the creaks go away completely.

Great? What does that mean?

I used to have Pake cranks. This BB works for now. However, I've been thinking about the HATTA BB though... Maybe I'll pick it up next month.

The BB might work "for now" but it's also ruining your fancy crank arms.

Ignorant question: Why not? What end does the lead to?

There is a lot of debate on that question. I lean towards the grease side

I've always been told to grease it, so I use a tiny bit, I figure it can't hurt. So far it hasn't caused any issues yet. a


I'm using cheap Origin 8 cranks I picked up over the summer and a Shimano UN54. There are cracks where the crank arm attaches to the spindle.

It can cause a crank arm to slide too far onto a square-tapered spindle when tightened, leading to overtightening and eventually ruining the interface.

I hear people say that, but I know other people who have been around bikes longer than I've been alive and they have never had an issue with lightly greasing the spindle.

Phil told me to grease their spindle.

And DA 7600 is JIS or JIS short taper.

Dry fit everything else unless otherwise suggested by manufacturer.

Wait, so my cranks still creak...

Have you checked your pedals? I once had creaking cranks years ago, but in fact it wasn't the cranks but my clipless pedals. Try tightening them a little if you are still having the problem. Then let us know how it turned out.

Thank you.