Zonda Rattling Sound

Smokeyskelton

I got a new pair of Zonda clinchers.

I'm upgrading from stock wheels, so I'm not sure what to expect. However, I gave the wheels a quick spin in my hands and while the front wheel seemed fine there is what sounds like a slight rattling sound in the rear wheel.

The rattle is not loud but it sounds almost like there is something rattling round loose inside the wheel. Is this normal?

fat bloke

Betcha pounds to pence that you did what I did and didn't put on the supplied spacer. Which means your cassette isn't tightened on properly so the individual sprockets are rattling around.

As far as I can remember for ten speed cassette you need the zonda spacer AND the standard shimano spacer if you had one. Eg if you had mavic beforehand, there's a spacer hours on first behind the cassette, so you need that and the zonda specific one. If you're on 11 speed then you just put in on the zonda specific one.

Go to your back wheel and see can you rock the bottom smaller single sprockets over and back a bit. It's a funny rattle cos it only happens when you pedal the bike, it's hard to recreate it stationary.

Smokeyskelton

Thanks for your reply. You're a couple of steps ahead of me, as I haven't even put on the cassette yet!

I had just taken the wheels out to ogle them and give them a quick spin holding the plastic covers on each side. However, from what you are saying, that may well be the answer i.e. the rattling sound will continue until the cassette has been locked in place.

I'm still waiting for the cassette and lock tool, so the installation will have to wait for them to arrive.

I don't think there were any spacers with the wheels, I'll have to check again. Also I'm upgrading on a 9 speed sora, so I'll need 2 spacers presumably (assuming such things exist).

Thanks for your advice, you are a knowledgeable lot on here.

fat bloke

Smokeyskelton wrote: »

However, from what you are saying, that may well be the answer i.e. the rattling sound will continue until the cassette has been locked in place.

Hmmm. No in that case I don't know what it is. The rattle I got was all from the cassette. The individual sprockets weren't being tightened properly against each other without the spacer so they naturally rattled as metal will against metal.

Maybe you've a loose spoke or dodgy bearing or something. - basically it shouldn't be rattling I suppose if what I'm trying to say.

Smokeyskelton

Thanks for the reply. It's not particularly reassuring, but I'll have to look into returning them before I do anything else.

It was over a week before I opened them, as I was busy and now I'm going on holiday, so it's not ideal timing, but that can't be helped.

As I said the front wheel is nice and smooth with no rattle, but there is a distinct if relatively quiet rattle in the back wheel. I am far from knowledgeable, but it didn't sound good to me, so it's good to get a second opinion from someone with a little more experience.

Thanks again.

Lusk_Doyle

Is it the valve hitting the rim at the wheel goes around? A bit of tape around the valve where it comes through the wheel will do the trick.

Eamonnator

When you spin the wheel backwards, is the noise still there?

Smokeyskelton

Hi

No, it's not the valve. I can categorically state that as I haven't mounted anything on the wheels yet.

I just took off the sticker and let the wheel spin freely by spinning it while holding the plastic covers / widgets on each side.

The noise is there when I spin it either direction (again only in the rear wheel).

Lusk_Doyle

Put the sticker back on!

Smokeyskelton

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Put the sticker back on!

Doesn't seem to have fixed the problem.

omri

Smokeyskelton wrote: »

Doesn't seem to have fixed the problem.

Once you take the sticker thats it, putting it back might in fact make things even worse...

bax4556

its an extra spoke nipple inside the rim ie not attached to a spoke.should have been removed

Smokeyskelton

bax4556 wrote: »

its an extra spoke nipple inside the rim ie not attached to a spoke.should have been removed

That is pretty much what it sounds like. Almost like something small rattling inside the wheel itself (inside the rim). Not very loud but definitely constantly there and annoying when you've dropped a comparatively large amount of money on an upgrade.

I don't know if anyone else has any other ideas, but that sounds the most likely explanation so far.

So to return it under warranty may be the best course of action?