Mysterious Ticking Noise

icedtea

So I have a ticking noise, constantly from my gears.

Anyone have an idea of what caused it or how to fix it?


Also, the bike is refusing to go into eigth gear, are these related?


Thanks in advance,

Icedtea

Darkglasses

Probably yes. It sounds like you generally just need to give your gears, front and back, a bit of a service. You can bring the bike into a shop and it will be an inexpensive fix, but it is well worth learning how to do it yourself early on. All you'll need is a few allen keys and a phillips head screwdriver, and a bit of patience. Youtube and Google are your friends.

The reason you can't shift into eighth is most probably because your rear derailleur cable has stretched over time, and needs to be tightened very slightly. The clicking probably caused by the rear or front derailleur moving slightly out of place, and needs to be indexed. I assume it's only when the chain is moving, and not when you are freewheeling?

icedtea

yes only when cycling!

Will try that, is there anywhere online that might have detailed instructions? 7


Thanks again!

Darkglasses

Yeah, a whole bunch of places!

I would suggest watching maybe like 3 or 4 of these videos at least, so you get a good idea of what's going on. Any videos with loads of views and likes should be reliable enough.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=set+up+rear+derailleur

And for reading, Sheldon Brown is pretty much the most respected source there is.

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

The Sheldon Brown website is generally very in-depth and occasionally kind of exhausting to read, but it is absolutely correct and if you stick with it, you'll have a well-above average understanding of bike mechanics.

I've accumulated a good few books on bike maintenance, I often give them out to friends because I just think it's so handy to have a book to thumb around with oily hands or whatever. If you see a nice looking cheap one in a book shop at the weekend, I'd recommend picking it up, you'll be glad of it more often than you'll imagine!

If you're having trouble following the videos, just try to isolate the problem as best you can and I'll get back to you. Put the bike up on a stand, or if the worst comes to the worst turn the bike upside down, and change through all the gears while looking carefully at what exactly what's happening at the chain. You will probably start to see what the problem is with the derailleur positions and/or cable tension. But it helps to know how derailleurs work. Trust me though, it's very simple! It's really just a cable and a spring!

Darkglasses

If you are going to have a good look at what exactly is going wrong, the kinds of things to watch out for are -

Is the chain hitting something? Is the chain in a fairly straight line between the front chainrings and rear cogs? Is there problem with the chain itself? Are the derailleurs putting the chain in right positions? Are the derailleurs moving the chain too much or too little when switching gears? Can the derailleurs move far enough over to get to eighth gear (or beyond, if you have more than eight gears)?

Darkglasses

Remember though, micro-adjustments are the answer to micro-problems! Use the barrel adjustors!

diomed

Are you wearing a watch?

diomed

http://jimlangley.net/wrench/keepitquiet.html

icedtea

That's exactly what I was looking for, thanks everyone!

nomdeboardie

I'm afflicted with tickings that only occur when actually sycling - nothing to see or hear when looking at or spinning the drive train with the bike unloaded /stationary Have messed around with the cable tension and set-stops a bit to no avail. Had it in a bike shop a couple of years ago without eliminating the issue(s)

icedtea

Decided to bring it into a shop in the end, know the owner so shouldn't be too expensive.

I mainly commute on the bike so I'm no expert.... maybe when I have money I'll get a better bike!