help me identify this issue :)

jon1981 · 11-10-2011 11:37am #1

Hi,

I posted a few weeks back moaning about how i left a bike in for its first service and it came back with more problems than it went in with... anyhow!

I noticed after the first couple of weeks a slight creaking coming from the left peddle. I brought it back and they could reproduce the sound when they put the bike on the rack. I took it away...

the sounds is getting worse but i have noticed it only happens when i put pressure down on the pedal, with each rotation i hear this creaking sound and its only on the left side crank arm.

any ideas what might cause this?

ThisRegard · 11-10-2011 11:39am

Could it be a creaky saddle ? Could explain why it's not reproduced on the stand and why only one side. I had a similar issue the first week out on my most recent bike, bugging the crap out of me until I figured it out.

jon1981 · 11-10-2011 11:45am

i thought that, and i tightened the saddle, its definitely coming from the that area of the bike around the crank arm and its only when im driving pressure through my left foot and also the creaking sound gets louder when I cycling and not sitting on the saddle. when i gently pedal the bike i don't hear it, once i pick up speed and start pedaling hard, the creaking sounds occurs like clockwork

Lumen · 11-10-2011 11:48am

jon1981 wrote: »

its definitely coming from the that area of the bike around the crank arm

All creaks sound like they originate from the bottom bracket. They often don't.

marketty · 11-10-2011 11:52am

Do you use clipless (ie clip on, confusing much?) pedals? I've noticed a creaking noise but I reckon it's coming from the hard plastic bottom of my shoe, not the bike

jon1981 · 11-10-2011 11:59am

hmmm i pretty sure its coming from down there, if im stationary and stand up on the pedals I can hear it creak. I use the basic kind of pedals, no clips, cleats any of that stuff!

barrmur · 11-10-2011 12:01pm

I have a similar problem but I think the noise, more of a squeek, is actually coming from my shoes rubbing on the crank arm when pushing hard up the hills. Any chance it is this?? Mine disappears when I make sure that no rubbing is taking place.

jon1981 · 11-10-2011 12:06pm

ill have to go somewhere where I can listen and look carefully at where the sound is coming from, hard to do that on the road while trying not to get a smack of a car. I just wear runners when im cycling. as I said im pretty sure its coming from the crank arm when I put hard pressure down, I could be wrong.

DirkVoodoo · 11-10-2011 12:06pm

First off, it is very difficult to identify an issue over the internet, especially when it is described as a pedal squeak. All anyone can do is steer you in the right direction, but without seeing the bike it is really all guessing. The best thing to do is to take it to a reputable mechanic.

Your bike is a Lapierre Shaper, correct? I'm guessing it has a sealed bottom bracket with a square tapered spindle? If so, then the crank arms are a press fit onto each side of the spindle. Creaking on one side only may indicate that the crank arm has not been fully pressed onto the spindle (up to 44 Nm of torque required, might need to check that) or it is simply a wonky pedal axle.

Again, hard to diagnose online.

CramCycle · 11-10-2011 12:09pm

jon1981 wrote: »

hmmm i pretty sure its coming from down there, if im stationary and stand up on the pedals I can hear it creak. I use the basic kind of pedals, no clips, cleats any of that stuff!

Try tightening the headset, this accounts for 98.1% of all sounds that cyclists believe to be coming from their BB/cranks/pedals FACT :P

but seriously, try this first.

jon1981 · 11-10-2011 12:11pm

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

First off, it is very difficult to identify an issue over the internet, especially when it is described as a pedal squeak. All anyone can do is steer you in the right direction, but without seeing the bike it is really all guessing. The best thing to do is to take it to a reputable mechanic.

Your bike is a Lapierre Shaper, correct? I'm guessing it has a sealed bottom bracket with a square tapered spindle? If so, then the crank arms are a press fit onto each side of the spindle. Creaking on one side only may indicate that the crank arm has not been fully pressed onto the spindle (up to 44 Nm of torque required, might need to check that) or it is simply a wonky pedal axle.

Again, hard to diagnose online.

yeah I realise its hard to diagnose online, was looking for potential things I could check before bringing it back. out of curiosity if the crank arm has not been fully pressed onto the spindle, can that lead to any serious damage from me cycling it in that condition?

DirkVoodoo · 11-10-2011 12:18pm

jon1981 wrote: »

yeah I realise its hard to diagnose online, was looking for potential things I could check before bringing it back. out of curiosity if the crank arm has not been fully pressed onto the spindle, can that lead to any serious damage from me cycling it in that condition?

Too tight or too loose, like a lot of mechanical fittings there is a "goldilocks" requirement, and not getting it just right is bad:

Jobst Brandt knows all.

Holyboy · 11-10-2011 1:09pm

Is it a giant bike?

jon1981 · 11-10-2011 1:19pm

no DirkVoodoo got it right, its a lapierre shaper

Holyboy · 11-10-2011 1:27pm

Oh missed that sorry!

moggs1972 · 11-10-2011 5:18pm

as has already been said a lot of squeaks/creaks on bikes sound like they are coming from the cranks/bottom bracket area. i had similar problem a year ago and by a process of elimination i narrowed it down to the front QR on the wheel. remove, clean and grease seatpost, make sure headset is adjusted properly (not too tight), remove pedals and grease threads, grease handlebar/stem contact areas and saddle rails where the are clamped. finally check QR's are tight and apply a little grease where they contact fork ends. BTW i should have started by saying buy a big tub of grease (and no i dont work in the grese industry!).

Carpenter · 11-10-2011 5:22pm

Holyboy wrote: »

Is it a giant bike?

I have a sound from my Giant why did you ask

kincsem · 11-10-2011 5:31pm

I agree with the comments about it being difficult to know where the problem is from the sound.
I brought my bike into Joe Daly a good while back. I'd parked in the Dundrum shopping centre car park, walked over to the shop, and told them about a rattle in my front wheel. They agreed to look it it so I went back to the car and got the bike. I was walking the bike across the shop with my hand on top of the headset when I felt the cap on the headset was loose. Embarrassing.

dermur · 11-10-2011 7:03pm

jon1981 wrote: »

I noticed after the first couple of weeks a slight creaking coming from the left peddle. I brought it back and they could reproduce the sound when they put the bike on the rack. I took it away...

the sounds is getting worse but i have noticed it only happens when i put pressure down on the pedal, with each rotation i hear this creaking sound and its only on the left side crank arm.

any ideas what might cause this?

My money's on loose left pedal - left pedal/crank is under much more stress than the right side. Even if it doesn't feel loose, take the pedal off, get some oil on the threads and put it back nice and tight.

help me identify this issue :)

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