Annoying "tick" noise.



Simon1987

New Member
Jul 6, 2014
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Hello people, i'm new and just created this account to get some advice about some annoying noise i'm experiencing while riding my bike. I hope this is the right section for this subject also.

The noise seems to be coming from either the pedal('s), the crank bearings or the front wheel or both. This morning i tried to clean the areas out with some GT85 and applied some grease, but it still persists.

I've got some pictures of my bike here that i hope might help.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i120/lichking_photos/IMG_0771.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i120/lichking_photos/IMG_0773.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i120/lichking_photos/IMG_0774.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i120/lichking_photos/IMG_0775.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i120/lichking_photos/IMG_0776.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i120/lichking_photos/IMG_0777.jpg

Please ask if you need any more details and i greatly appreciate any advice you can give. Thank you for your time
 
This may not be the cause of your tick but since you mention the front wheel, an often overlooked culprit is a front hub skewer that just needs a coat of grease, especially if you ride in the wet. This used to happen on my Mavic Ksyriums and it took a savvy mechanic to figure it out - others had toyed with the BB (where it actually sounded like it was coming from), the handlebar/stem junction, yada yada yada...
 
Ticks can be hard to diagnose. I have had tics caused by: seat rails, chainrings, quick releases, bottom brackets, rear rack and most recently a cracked frame.

Make sure all the bolts and QRs are torqued correctly and then its is a process of elimination to find the source.
 
Sorry to jump in on this topic, but I have a similar tick that I can't find either. Mine seems to only ever happen at 100+ watts and then it ticks nearly every time the left pedal comes within a few degrees of the top of its path. I can usually get close to 140W if I keep my cadence very smooth but if my pedal stroke start to get uneven it'll come back.

Again, sorry to throw my problem in with the OP's, but maybe my description will help OP diagnose what's causing his ticking noise.
 
Both posters: Remove your pedals, grease threads and re-install to correct torque.

As stated above, ticks, clicks, creaks and squeaks can come from about anywhere on the bike that parts move or can be forced into movement.

Check the bottom bracket out for proper bearing pre-load and to make sure all parts are tight. Check the crank arms for tightness and the chain ring bolts.

Check the headset, the stem clamps, the seat rails, etc.

If the pedals, themselves, are suspect, try riding with a replacement or borrowed pair.
 
Does it stop when you stop pedaling? Lift the bike and spin the wheel each one in turn. Put it on a trainer and ride it slowly while someone kneels alongside to see if they can hear it. Lots of things to do to isolate the noise before you have to go through the complete bike. I had a ticking that turned out to be the seatpost!
 
Originally Posted by adenough
Does it stop when you stop pedaling?
Does it stop when the bike stops moving?
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Originally Posted by oldbobcat
Does it stop when the bike stops moving?
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Oh damn... was my wrist watch!
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Just kidding... though since I'm now done with work & school for the next 3 weeks (when I move to Japan from the US)... I'll have time to take a wrench to it tomorrow. And for me it only ticks when pedaling... there's nothing when coasting over even the nastiest of bumps. But I'll start with pedals and work my way through the bike from there.... for all I know it could be the spring the the cleat catch......
 
Suggest you check for the noise by static loading. Push the bike front wheel into a handy wall, and put pressure on the crankarms with your hands or feet while listening for the tick. Try with the left pedal in the "tick position" first, then alternate to the drive-side to flex the frame to the other side. If you can reproduce the tick this way while moving an ear around the bike, bet you'll be able to locate the cause.