Clicking with hard pedalling...

On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 09:33:34 -0500, jj wrote:

I'm riding a new Trek 1000 and it's now started clicking during harder
pedalling, mostly, it seems, when in the large chainring. Started about a
week ago.

My wild guesses a

loose pedal
loose chainring bolt
gimpy spd mechanism.

677
"Neil Brooks" wrote: (clip)can duplicate it while you're nose-to-cranks
(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
If it's caused by something flexing, you may be able to make the sound by
standing on the pedals with the brakes locked. If it's caused by something
clicking by something else, they I would put the bike on a trainer, so you
can ride it while someone else is nose-to-cranks.

If you can get the click to happen while you are not moving down the road, I
would suggest a stethoscope to help isolate it. Harbor Freight sells a
mechanic's stethoscope pretty cheap, and I have found it very useful around
all kinds of machines for locating squeaks and clicks.

jj wrote:
I'm riding a new Trek 1000 and it's now started clicking during
harder
pedalling, mostly, it seems, when in the large chainring. Started
about a
week ago.

It's aperiodic, and seems like something is flexing since the noise
does
not occur during every pedal stroke, but slightly -after- the
pressure of
the stroke, like 'pressure stroke - click - stroke, stroke - click'.
Often
it seems to happen in between the pressure stroke in pedalling, and
seems
slightly associated with the right side stroke.

I thought at first it could be the chain hitting the front der inner
flange, but it clicks in the middle chainring, also where the inner
flange
would seem to be further away from the chain. I haven't tested it in
the
small chainring b/c it's hard to put pressure on at that setting.

As soon as the pressure lets up, the clicking instantly stops, such
as when
I reach the crest of the first small hill I go up at the start of the
ride.
The bike has only 500miles on it.

Can I just safely ignore this, or is it likely something serious? How
would
I clue the LBS in to what is causing it?

Clicks are notoriously hard to track down, it's a process of
elimination. Some things to try:

Pedal standing up -- eliminate seat/clamp, seatpost/clamp
Pedal one legged -- eliminate cleat, pedal bearings
See if you can get the noise in all gear combo's.
Push/pull on bars try to get click.

Make sure chainring bolts are tight.
Make sure the cassette lockring is tight (also, no play in cassette).

Often this click comes from the BB/BB shell threaded interface. The
only way to quiet this is to remove and lubricate -- some say use
plumber's teflon tape.

In article ,
jj writes:
I'm riding a new Trek 1000 and it's now started clicking during harder
pedalling, mostly, it seems, when in the large chainring. Started about a
week ago.

It's aperiodic

Maybe a stiff chain link, causing the rear der
to flick when it passes through?

Stiff links can often be detected by, with the bike
stationary, turning the cranks backward and watching
the rear derailer for any sudden lurches.


cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

Check the crank bolts. If they are coming loose the clicking
indicates some wear is occuring and it needs to be stopped fast or
you'll end up replacing your crank/bb.

On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 09:33:34 -0500, jj wrote:



Can I just safely ignore this, or is it likely something serious? How would
I clue the LBS in to what is causing it?

TIA

jj

Hi, you don't have to "clue" the LBS, just take it in. The bike has
500 miles on it, and it's a Trek. From my limited experience, Trek
dealers seem to have decent service departments.

A good dealer who knows the bikes that they sell, might know just what
to tighten up or fix. Just describe the sound and let them at it.


Life is Good!
Jeff

jj wrote:
I'm riding a new Trek 1000 and it's now started clicking during harder
pedalling, mostly, it seems, when in the large chainring. Started about a
week ago.

It's aperiodic, and seems like something is flexing since the noise does
not occur during every pedal stroke, but slightly -after- the pressure of
the stroke, like 'pressure stroke - click - stroke, stroke - click'. Often
it seems to happen in between the pressure stroke in pedalling, and seems
slightly associated with the right side stroke.

I thought at first it could be the chain hitting the front der inner
flange, but it clicks in the middle chainring, also where the inner flange
would seem to be further away from the chain. I haven't tested it in the
small chainring b/c it's hard to put pressure on at that setting.

As soon as the pressure lets up, the clicking instantly stops, such as when
I reach the crest of the first small hill I go up at the start of the ride.
The bike has only 500miles on it.

Can I just safely ignore this, or is it likely something serious? How would
I clue the LBS in to what is causing it?

I regularly experience this kind of clicking under the circumstances
you describe, and it seems to be associated with a loose and/or
drying pedal axle/bearing assembly. I don't know what kind of pedals
you use, but I've had this problem ever since I started riding with
SPD pedals. (I also get it with WTB's "SPD-compatible" pedals.)
I've quieted the pedals by removing the axle and bearing assembly
from the pedal body--you'll need a special tool for SPD pedals--and
adding grease to the assembly, especially between the large plastic
sleeve and the axle where the clearance seems to increase as the
pedals age.

I doubt it's a serious problem, but it is annoying.

--
Bill Bushnell
http://pobox.com/~bushnell/

On Fri, 01 Apr 2005 21:49:04 GMT, Bill Bushnell wrote:

jj wrote:
I'm riding a new Trek 1000 and it's now started clicking during harder
pedalling, mostly, it seems, when in the large chainring. Started about a
week ago.

It's aperiodic, and seems like something is flexing since the noise does
not occur during every pedal stroke, but slightly -after- the pressure of
the stroke, like 'pressure stroke - click - stroke, stroke - click'. Often
it seems to happen in between the pressure stroke in pedalling, and seems
slightly associated with the right side stroke.

I thought at first it could be the chain hitting the front der inner
flange, but it clicks in the middle chainring, also where the inner flange
would seem to be further away from the chain. I haven't tested it in the
small chainring b/c it's hard to put pressure on at that setting.

As soon as the pressure lets up, the clicking instantly stops, such as when
I reach the crest of the first small hill I go up at the start of the ride.
The bike has only 500miles on it.

Can I just safely ignore this, or is it likely something serious? How would
I clue the LBS in to what is causing it?

I regularly experience this kind of clicking under the circumstances
you describe, and it seems to be associated with a loose and/or
drying pedal axle/bearing assembly. I don't know what kind of pedals
you use, but I've had this problem ever since I started riding with
SPD pedals. (I also get it with WTB's "SPD-compatible" pedals.)
I've quieted the pedals by removing the axle and bearing assembly
from the pedal body--you'll need a special tool for SPD pedals--and
adding grease to the assembly, especially between the large plastic
sleeve and the axle where the clearance seems to increase as the
pedals age.

I doubt it's a serious problem, but it is annoying.

They are SPD, Shimano 520s. I'll copy this info when I take it in to the
LBS for its 4 month initial maintenence. Thanks!

jj

Try tightening cranks or bottom bracket.
Ride on
Kim