Bottom bracket clicking/creaking. How much to fix?

[Mark Mitchell]

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I noticed approx 100mi ago that I'd get a click from my BB as the left
crank passed through the 11-10 o'clock position. I didn't think too much
of it as I thought that the sound was actually my shoelaces hitting the
frame. (Most of my riding is done in very quiet conditions)

I was wrong, it's gotten a bit worse. Now it's more like a 2-3 clicks
close together, or a very small creak.

The bike is a late 90's Trek 6000. (don't remember the exact year I bought
it)

My questions. This is probably the BB, right?

I don't have the tools (or knowledge) to replace it myself, how cheaply can
I hope to get away with at LBS? (I only have one in reasonable driving
distance)

Assuming it is a BB, how long can I let this go before I do expensive
damage?

Thanks,
Mark

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[ie]

I would take it to a good bike shop to have them look at it....might not be
a big thing, but it could be. A good wrench should be able to throw it into
a work stand and evaluate fairly quickly. Greater possibility of it being
serious if you have not had it worked on since it was new...could be bottom
bracket...could be loose chainring bolts...could be the bottom bracket
shell... might be solved with a little lock-tite or a few turns of a wrench.
It's better to find out now than when to wait and chance losing the bottom
bracket or crank or frame....That silly old thing...a stitch in time saves
nine.....

Hope it's nothing serious!
Cheers!
ie



"Mark Mitchell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
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> I noticed approx 100mi ago that I'd get a click from my BB as the left
> crank passed through the 11-10 o'clock position. I didn't think too much
> of it as I thought that the sound was actually my shoelaces hitting the
> frame. (Most of my riding is done in very quiet conditions)
>
> I was wrong, it's gotten a bit worse. Now it's more like a 2-3 clicks
> close together, or a very small creak.
>
> The bike is a late 90's Trek 6000. (don't remember the exact year I
bought
> it)
>
> My questions. This is probably the BB, right?
>
> I don't have the tools (or knowledge) to replace it myself, how cheaply
can
> I hope to get away with at LBS? (I only have one in reasonable driving
> distance)
>
> Assuming it is a BB, how long can I let this go before I do expensive
> damage?
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
>
> - --
> Remove both wrongs to make the email address right.
>
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[Chalo]

Mark Mitchell <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> I noticed approx 100mi ago that I'd get a click from my BB as the left
> crank passed through the 11-10 o'clock position.
....
> I was wrong, it's gotten a bit worse. Now it's more like a 2-3 clicks
> close together, or a very small creak.
>
> The bike is a late 90's Trek 6000. (

Aluminum frame? If so, it may just need the BB pulled out, threads
greased, and reinstalled. Cheap. The cranks have to come off first,
and that's a good opportunity for an experienced shop mechanic to
inspect the components for cracks or other problems.

It could be anything from loose chainring bolts to a cracked frame,
though. If you are overdue for a tune-up, now would be a good time to
get one. A decent LBS will be likely to include the bottom bracket
removal/replacement in the deal if you make sure to ask for it.

Chalo Colina

 

[Dave Pushee]

Mark Mitchell wrote:

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> I noticed approx 100mi ago that I'd get a click from my BB as the left
> crank passed through the 11-10 o'clock position. I didn't think too much
> of it as I thought that the sound was actually my shoelaces hitting the
> frame. (Most of my riding is done in very quiet conditions)
>
> I was wrong, it's gotten a bit worse. Now it's more like a 2-3 clicks
> close together, or a very small creak.
>

Another possibility to consider is the pedal. I had a similar sound at
about the same point in crank rotation. Eventually, I tightened the
left pedal to the crank arm. Click went away.

- Dave

 

[Paul Ricklefs]

I'll second the pedal possibility. I had the same thing happen on two sets
of pedals before I went out and bought some high end pedals. Give the
pedals a wiggle to see if there is any play in the bearings.

--


Paul Ricklefs

"Dave Pushee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Mark Mitchell wrote:
>
> > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> > Hash: SHA1
> >
> > I noticed approx 100mi ago that I'd get a click from my BB as the left
> > crank passed through the 11-10 o'clock position. I didn't think too
much
> > of it as I thought that the sound was actually my shoelaces hitting the
> > frame. (Most of my riding is done in very quiet conditions)
> >
> > I was wrong, it's gotten a bit worse. Now it's more like a 2-3 clicks
> > close together, or a very small creak.
> >
>
> Another possibility to consider is the pedal. I had a similar sound at
> about the same point in crank rotation. Eventually, I tightened the
> left pedal to the crank arm. Click went away.
>
> - Dave
>

 

[Mark Mitchell]

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On 2004-07-09, Chalo <[email protected]> wrote:
> Mark Mitchell <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> I noticed approx 100mi ago that I'd get a click from my BB as the left
>> crank passed through the 11-10 o'clock position.
> ...
>> I was wrong, it's gotten a bit worse. Now it's more like a 2-3 clicks
>> close together, or a very small creak.
>>
>> The bike is a late 90's Trek 6000. (
>
> Aluminum frame? If so, it may just need the BB pulled out, threads
> greased, and reinstalled. Cheap. The cranks have to come off first,
> and that's a good opportunity for an experienced shop mechanic to
> inspect the components for cracks or other problems.
>
> It could be anything from loose chainring bolts to a cracked frame,
> though. If you are overdue for a tune-up, now would be a good time to
> get one. A decent LBS will be likely to include the bottom bracket
> removal/replacement in the deal if you make sure to ask for it.
>
I must admit that I've neglected this bike. I've put (at a guess) 2000
miles on this bike and never done any work other than patching tubes,
replaced brake blocks and tires.

I broke the chain and cleaned the bike up today. Two of the four chainring
bolts were somewhat loose. Also there is a kind of shield thing between
the smallest chainring and the frame. When I cleaned, I found a small rock
wedged between this and the chainstay. Don't know if that could have cause
my noise.

Mark

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[Mark Mitchell]

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On 2004-07-09, Dave Pushee <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Mark Mitchell wrote:
>
>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>> Hash: SHA1
>>
>> I noticed approx 100mi ago that I'd get a click from my BB as the left
>> crank passed through the 11-10 o'clock position. I didn't think too much
>> of it as I thought that the sound was actually my shoelaces hitting the
>> frame. (Most of my riding is done in very quiet conditions)
>>
>> I was wrong, it's gotten a bit worse. Now it's more like a 2-3 clicks
>> close together, or a very small creak.
>>
>
> Another possibility to consider is the pedal. I had a similar sound at
> about the same point in crank rotation. Eventually, I tightened the
> left pedal to the crank arm. Click went away.
>
> - Dave
>
On your advice I checked that, tight.

Mark

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Remove both wrongs to make the email address right.

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[Zoot Katz]

Sat, 10 Jul 2004 01:40:50 GMT,
<[email protected]>, Mark Mitchell
<[email protected]> wrote:

> Two of the four chainring bolts were somewhat loose.

"creak"

> Also there is a kind of shield thing between
>the smallest chainring and the frame. When I cleaned, I found a small rock
>wedged between this and the chainstay.

"click"

http://www.trafficlife.com/page7.html
--
zk

 

[El Calaverada]

Before you 86 the bottom bracket, try tightening your crank bolts. That's
usually where the creaking comes from. Take care -

Mark Mitchell <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> I noticed approx 100mi ago that I'd get a click from my BB as the left
> crank passed through the 11-10 o'clock position. I didn't think too much
> of it as I thought that the sound was actually my shoelaces hitting the
> frame. (Most of my riding is done in very quiet conditions)
>
> I was wrong, it's gotten a bit worse. Now it's more like a 2-3 clicks
> close together, or a very small creak.
>
> The bike is a late 90's Trek 6000. (don't remember the exact year I
bought
> it)
>
> My questions. This is probably the BB, right?
>
> I don't have the tools (or knowledge) to replace it myself, how cheaply
can
> I hope to get away with at LBS? (I only have one in reasonable driving
> distance)
>
> Assuming it is a BB, how long can I let this go before I do expensive
> damage?
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
>
> - --
> Remove both wrongs to make the email address right.
>
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> bDsrnYkzvXqV+FuHvKOnVH4=
> =YImC
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>