General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Bike Clicking Rss Feed  
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2015-09-19 10:22 AM

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Master
2429
200010010010010025
Falls Church, Virginia
Subject: Bike Clicking
First off, I am an absolute bike noob. I have no idea what a bike is supposed to sound like, so school me! Second, we aren't talking about a road/tri bike here, if that makes any difference. I have a Linus Dutchi8. Her name is Peggy, and we buy groceries together.
Now, here's my issue. Whenever I pedal down with my left foot, there's this metallic clicking noise. As far as anyone knows, does this sound like a normal mechanical noise that bikes make? Perhaps it was just really quiet this morning so it was the first time I noticed it? Or could this be some kind of misalignment issue. Let me know if more information/pictures/etc are needed to help diagnose. I bought it used from a friend who basically never rode it, so I don't have a LBS yet or any bike-knowledgeable friends IRL. Much appreciated!!

ETA: I realize the absolute absurdity of someone who has been on BT for 10 years and has done three tris having no idea about bikes. Never to late to start over and take it seriously, right!

Edited by Atlantia 2015-09-19 10:27 AM


2015-09-19 12:39 PM
in reply to: Atlantia

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Master
2855
20005001001001002525
Kailua, Hawaii
Subject: RE: Bike Clicking
could be a loose crank arm or bad pedal if it's just making a sound with the left side. also the bottom bracket could have a problem,.

does it make the sound with only going up hills or all the time when pedaling ?

does the sound seem to come from where your foot is or somewhere else ?

is the pedaling smooth or is there a disturbance (grinding, clunk, etc) when the sound happens ?
2015-09-19 2:15 PM
in reply to: Atlantia

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216
100100
Subject: RE: Bike Clicking
If I'm not mistaken, that bike has a Shimano Nexus 8-speed internal-geared hub instead of a conventional rear derailleur. Lots of complicated things going on in that hub, I'd bet that's the source of your click. If so, I'd start by making sure the cable is properly adjusted. Here's a guide: https://aseasyasridingabike.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/a-simple-guide-...


If that doesn't fix it, you may have to re-grease the hub. It's a fairly complicated procedure, but not beyond the capabilities of a determined amateur. Guide here: http://cyclea2b.blogspot.com/2011/04/shimano-nexus-8-review-regreas...


2015-09-19 3:13 PM
in reply to: gary p

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Expert
2373
20001001001002525
Floriduh
Subject: RE: Bike Clicking
I'll bet on a loose crankarm.
2015-09-19 3:33 PM
in reply to: metafizx

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Master
2429
200010010010010025
Falls Church, Virginia
Subject: RE: Bike Clicking
Originally posted by metafizx

could be a loose crank arm or bad pedal if it's just making a sound with the left side. also the bottom bracket could have a problem,.

does it make the sound with only going up hills or all the time when pedaling ?

does the sound seem to come from where your foot is or somewhere else ?

is the pedaling smooth or is there a disturbance (grinding, clunk, etc) when the sound happens ?



The sound is all the time, and it sounds like it is coming from near my foot. There is no disturbance, all seems to be operating smoothly aside from the noise.

Originally posted by gary p

If I'm not mistaken, that bike has a Shimano Nexus 8-speed internal-geared hub instead of a conventional rear derailleur. Lots of complicated things going on in that hub, I'd bet that's the source of your click. If so, I'd start by making sure the cable is properly adjusted. Here's a guide: https://aseasyasridingabike.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/a-simple-guide-...


If that doesn't fix it, you may have to re-grease the hub. It's a fairly complicated procedure, but not beyond the capabilities of a determined amateur. Guide here: http://cyclea2b.blogspot.com/2011/04/shimano-nexus-8-review-regreas...




Yes, it is an internal hub. Would the sound be coming from the rear if the issue was in the hub? Or could an issue in the hub cause the sound to come from the pedal area?
Thanks so much for the guides! I would hope the hub wouldn't need to be re-greased already, since the bike has less than 150 miles on it. I guess there's no way to know how my friend stored it though.
2015-09-20 9:39 AM
in reply to: #5141851

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Expert
1484
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Subject: RE: Bike Clicking
Start at the pedals, then the crank, and lastly the hub. We have a bike with a Nexus hub on it in the house too. They are pretty sturdy and I'd expect different symptoms if the hub had some issue(s)


2015-09-20 10:56 AM
in reply to: Atlantia

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Master
6834
5000100050010010010025
Englewood, Florida
Subject: RE: Bike Clicking

I had something that sounds sort of the same out of my used Fuji shortly after I bought it a few years back.  It turned out to be a bottom bracket replacement. LBS took care of it and I think it was under $100 bucks all told.

It is never too late to start  

2015-09-20 11:51 AM
in reply to: 0

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Master
2406
2000100100100100
Bellevue, WA
Subject: RE: Bike Clicking

Originally posted by magic Start at the pedals, then the crank, and lastly the hub. We have a bike with a Nexus hub on it in the house too. They are pretty sturdy and I'd expect different symptoms if the hub had some issue(s)

Start at the rear wheel skewer, then the pedals, then the crank, and then the hub.

If your rear wheel skewer is not tight enough, then you can get clicking / creaking sounds from the drivetrain. Usually won't be constrained to just one side though. And it varies with rear dropout design.  My Trek 5200 never does it, on my P3C it's the first thing I check if I hear a creak.

Oh, and check for non-mechanical sources of clicking.  Like a toe strap from your shoe whacking the crank arm.  You probably already checked that, but it's worth pointing out.



Edited by brucemorgan 2015-09-20 11:53 AM
2015-09-20 2:03 PM
in reply to: Atlantia

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Master
3127
2000100010025
Sunny Southern Cal
Subject: RE: Bike Clicking

How's your left knee and ankle?    Oh wait, you're not old enough yet for that set of problems.

2015-09-20 7:05 PM
in reply to: Atlantia

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Master
2855
20005001001001002525
Kailua, Hawaii
Subject: RE: Bike Clicking
Originally posted by Atlantia

Originally posted by metafizx

could be a loose crank arm or bad pedal if it's just making a sound with the left side. also the bottom bracket could have a problem,.

does it make the sound with only going up hills or all the time when pedaling ?

does the sound seem to come from where your foot is or somewhere else ?

is the pedaling smooth or is there a disturbance (grinding, clunk, etc) when the sound happens ?



The sound is all the time, and it sounds like it is coming from near my foot. There is no disturbance, all seems to be operating smoothly aside from the noise.




My guess it is a bad pedal bearing. I've had this happen too. If it's what I'm thinking, there is a distinct "click" every rotation.
Annoying but nothing else but a sound.

I've just bought new pedals when it happened, and voila, problem solved.
2015-09-21 9:05 AM
in reply to: metafizx

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New user
246
10010025
madison, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Bike Clicking
Back in my bike mechanic days, this was a very common occurrence.
Chances are good that it is a loose crank arm on the spindle. If the bike was put together without grease on the spindles, the crank arm will only go on so far before it binds and feels tight. Then as things get "broken in" it slips a little (and we are talking about thousandths of an inch) causing a little play when you stroke on that side. I'm guessing the sound is a single, distinct "tick" each time you push down on that pedal. If you pull up do you also get a "tick"?
The quick fix is just to tighten that arm. Usually a 14mm socket will fit in there after you remove the dust cap. This is probably just a temporary fix. The proper fix would be to pull the crank arm and grease the spindle of the bottom bracket, then reinstall the arm. You can't pull the crank arm without a crank arm puller (only shops and bike geeks like me have them).
Hope that helps.


2015-09-21 9:16 AM
in reply to: pwoolson

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Extreme Veteran
3025
2000100025
Maryland
Subject: RE: Bike Clicking

pedal bearing or bottom bracket, if its that noticeable the LBS should be able to identify it in a jiffy.

2015-09-21 6:35 PM
in reply to: pwoolson

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Master
2429
200010010010010025
Falls Church, Virginia
Subject: RE: Bike Clicking
Originally posted by pwoolson

Back in my bike mechanic days, this was a very common occurrence.
Chances are good that it is a loose crank arm on the spindle. If the bike was put together without grease on the spindles, the crank arm will only go on so far before it binds and feels tight. Then as things get "broken in" it slips a little (and we are talking about thousandths of an inch) causing a little play when you stroke on that side. I'm guessing the sound is a single, distinct "tick" each time you push down on that pedal. If you pull up do you also get a "tick"?
The quick fix is just to tighten that arm. Usually a 14mm socket will fit in there after you remove the dust cap. This is probably just a temporary fix. The proper fix would be to pull the crank arm and grease the spindle of the bottom bracket, then reinstall the arm. You can't pull the crank arm without a crank arm puller (only shops and bike geeks like me have them).
Hope that helps.



Thanks for the specificity!
I went to tighten the crank arm and noticed that the left pedal was quite a bit "sticky" feeling compared to the right. Perhaps this is the bearing other posters have mentioned? I'm going to see about adjusting the pedal and see how it sounds when I ride on Wednesday.
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