clicking noise when pedaling--cause?

[Ben Pfaff]

On my 2002 Trek 2300 with 9-speed Ultegra, I'm hearing a light
clicking noise on most revolutions of the pedals, when the right
pedal is approximately at 3 o'clock (as seen from the right side
of the bike). It doesn't occur (or I can't hear it) if I just
walk the bike, and shifting gears usually makes it stop for a
moment or two. It's not obvious to me what's causing it--any
ideas?

--
Ben Pfaff
http://benpfaff.org

 

[botfood]

On Apr 20, 12:11 pm, Ben Pfaff <[email protected]> wrote:
> I'm hearing a light
> clicking noise on most revolutions of the pedals, when the right
> pedal is approximately at 3 o'clock
-------
sounds like the BB is loose, or bearings are worn. Might just need
grease/adjustment if you have loose bearings. Try removing, repack
bearings if loose, and grease the outside of the shell even if they
are cart. Sometimes a little piece of grit gets between shell and
frame and clicks as the BB rocks when you pedal.

d

 

[[email protected]]

On Apr 20, 1:11 pm, Ben Pfaff <[email protected]> wrote:
> On my 2002 Trek 2300 with 9-speed Ultegra, I'm hearing a light
> clicking noise on most revolutions of the pedals, when the right
> pedal is approximately at 3 o'clock (as seen from the right side
> of the bike). It doesn't occur (or I can't hear it) if I just
> walk the bike, and shifting gears usually makes it stop for a
> moment or two. It's not obvious to me what's causing it--any
> ideas?
>
> --
> Ben Pfaffhttp://benpfaff.org

I had similar symptoms recently. At first, I thought it was the BB. I
think now that a couple of the bolts that hold the chainring to the
crank were loose - J.

 

[Ben C]

On 2007-04-20, Ben Pfaff <[email protected]> wrote:
> On my 2002 Trek 2300 with 9-speed Ultegra, I'm hearing a light
> clicking noise on most revolutions of the pedals, when the right
> pedal is approximately at 3 o'clock (as seen from the right side
> of the bike). It doesn't occur (or I can't hear it) if I just
> walk the bike, and shifting gears usually makes it stop for a
> moment or two. It's not obvious to me what's causing it--any
> ideas?

Could be the BB or the pedal bearings, or even sometimes the seat makes
clicking noises, so you could see if you still get it riding standing
up.

The solution is some kind of iPod.

 

[Joel Mayes]

On 2007-04-20, Ben Pfaff <[email protected]> wrote:
> On my 2002 Trek 2300 with 9-speed Ultegra, I'm hearing a light
> clicking noise on most revolutions of the pedals, when the right
> pedal is approximately at 3 o'clock (as seen from the right side
> of the bike). It doesn't occur (or I can't hear it) if I just
> walk the bike, and shifting gears usually makes it stop for a
> moment or two. It's not obvious to me what's causing it--any
> ideas?
>

If the seatpost/saddle clamps are tight and the bike hao a sealed BB my
first thought would be that either the BB wasn't tightened properly and has
loosened or the BB shell needs facing.

Cheers

Joel

--
Human Powered Cycles | High quality servicing
[email protected] | Low cost 2nd hand bikes
www.humanpowered.com.au | Bicycle re-use centre

 

[Bill Sornson]

Ben Pfaff wrote:
> On my 2002 Trek 2300 with 9-speed Ultegra, I'm hearing a light
> clicking noise on most revolutions of the pedals, when the right
> pedal is approximately at 3 o'clock (as seen from the right side
> of the bike). It doesn't occur (or I can't hear it) if I just
> walk the bike, and shifting gears usually makes it stop for a
> moment or two. It's not obvious to me what's causing it--any
> ideas?

Shoelace ticking the crank? FD cage ticking a chain pin? Saddle rail or
clamp?

Best bet (usual suspect) is a chainring bolt; not sure why only the 9:00
position would bring the noise. (They're easy enough to tighten; can't
hurt.)

 

[Ozark Bicycle]

On Apr 20, 2:19 pm, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Apr 20, 1:11 pm, Ben Pfaff <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > On my 2002 Trek 2300 with 9-speed Ultegra, I'm hearing a light
> > clicking noise on most revolutions of the pedals, when the right
> > pedal is approximately at 3 o'clock (as seen from the right side
> > of the bike). It doesn't occur (or I can't hear it) if I just
> > walk the bike, and shifting gears usually makes it stop for a
> > moment or two. It's not obvious to me what's causing it--any
> > ideas?
>
> > --
> > Ben Pfaffhttp://benpfaff.org
>
> I had similar symptoms recently. At first, I thought it was the BB. I
> think now that a couple of the bolts that hold the chainring to the
> crank were loose - J.

IME, chainring bolts are always the first thing to check when you have
these symptoms.

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Ben Pfaff:
>I'm hearing a light
>clicking noise on most revolutions of the pedals,

Happened to me twice.

First time it was a shoelace from one of my boots hitting the crank.

Second time it was a cracked crank - which came apart in use.
--
PeteCresswell

 

[Dale Klanchnik]

"Ben Pfaff" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On my 2002 Trek 2300 with 9-speed Ultegra, I'm hearing a light
> clicking noise on most revolutions of the pedals, when the right
> pedal is approximately at 3 o'clock (as seen from the right side
> of the bike). It doesn't occur (or I can't hear it) if I just
> walk the bike, and shifting gears usually makes it stop for a
> moment or two. It's not obvious to me what's causing it--any
> ideas?
>
> --
> Ben Pfaff
> http://benpfaff.org

Yesterday I noticed a regular clicking while pedaling.
I suspected a pedal that was not tight as I had this happen a couple of
times before.
I tried pedaling with one foot, and the noise stopped when I pedaled with
only the left foot.
I removed the right pedal, cleaned and greased the threads and reinstalled.
The noise was gone.
The pedal seemed plenty tight when I removed it, but I'm guessing it was not
quite tight enough.
It's not clear to me what might have loosened it.
Dana

 

[Bill Sornson]

Dale Klanchnik wrote:

> Yesterday I noticed a regular clicking while pedaling.
> I suspected a pedal that was not tight as I had this happen a couple
> of times before.
> I tried pedaling with one foot, and the noise stopped when I pedaled
> with only the left foot.
> I removed the right pedal, cleaned and greased the threads and
> reinstalled. The noise was gone.
> The pedal seemed plenty tight when I removed it, but I'm guessing it
> was not quite tight enough.
> It's not clear to me what might have loosened it.
> Dana

Sounds like you just had a speck of dirt in the threads or something.

 

[Ben Pfaff]

"Bill Sornson" <[email protected]> writes:

> Ben Pfaff wrote:
>> On my 2002 Trek 2300 with 9-speed Ultegra, I'm hearing a light
>> clicking noise on most revolutions of the pedals, when the right
>> pedal is approximately at 3 o'clock (as seen from the right side
>> of the bike). It doesn't occur (or I can't hear it) if I just
>> walk the bike, and shifting gears usually makes it stop for a
>> moment or two. It's not obvious to me what's causing it--any
>> ideas?
>
> Shoelace ticking the crank? FD cage ticking a chain pin? Saddle rail or
> clamp?
>
> Best bet (usual suspect) is a chainring bolt; not sure why only the 9:00
> position would bring the noise. (They're easy enough to tighten; can't
> hurt.)

Thanks to everyone who helped me find the problem. I tried a few
different things: checked the chainring bolts; checked the saddle
rails and clamps; thought about the pedals, but didn't get my
pedal wrench out to try it.

Then as I was coming home yesterday I realized that it was
actually a shoelace. I had assumed that it wasn't after watching
my right shoelace and seeing it not come anywhere near anything
metal when the clicking noise occurred, but I'd completely not
thought about it being my left shoelace clicking against the left
chain stay, which is what it turned out to be. So, basically,
I'm an idiot; nothing new.
--
"MONO - Monochrome Emulation
This field is used to store your favorite bit."
--FreeVGA Attribute Controller Reference

 

[Tom Nakashima]

"Ben Pfaff" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Bill Sornson" <[email protected]> writes:
>
>> Ben Pfaff wrote:
>>> On my 2002 Trek 2300 with 9-speed Ultegra, I'm hearing a light
>>> clicking noise on most revolutions of the pedals, when the right
>>> pedal is approximately at 3 o'clock (as seen from the right side
>>> of the bike). It doesn't occur (or I can't hear it) if I just
>>> walk the bike, and shifting gears usually makes it stop for a
>>> moment or two. It's not obvious to me what's causing it--any
>>> ideas?

>> Shoelace ticking the crank? >>

> Thanks to everyone who helped me find the problem. I tried a few
> different things: checked the chainring bolts; checked the saddle
> rails and clamps; thought about the pedals, but didn't get my
> pedal wrench out to try it.
>
> Then as I was coming home yesterday I realized that it was
> actually a shoelace. I had assumed that it wasn't after watching
> my right shoelace and seeing it not come anywhere near anything
> metal when the clicking noise occurred, but I'd completely not
> thought about it being my left shoelace clicking against the left
> chain stay, which is what it turned out to be. So, basically,
> I'm an idiot; nothing new.

LOL....That was the best bicycle related problem solver I have
ever heard. No you're not an idiot, but I do have to question
cs.stanford.edu.
-tom

 

[Bill Sornson]

Tom Nakashima wrote:
> "Ben Pfaff" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> "Bill Sornson" <[email protected]> writes:
>>
>>> Ben Pfaff wrote:
>>>> On my 2002 Trek 2300 with 9-speed Ultegra, I'm hearing a light
>>>> clicking noise on most revolutions of the pedals, when the right
>>>> pedal is approximately at 3 o'clock (as seen from the right side
>>>> of the bike). It doesn't occur (or I can't hear it) if I just
>>>> walk the bike, and shifting gears usually makes it stop for a
>>>> moment or two. It's not obvious to me what's causing it--any
>>>> ideas?
>
>>> Shoelace ticking the crank? >>
>
>> Thanks to everyone who helped me find the problem. I tried a few
>> different things: checked the chainring bolts; checked the saddle
>> rails and clamps; thought about the pedals, but didn't get my
>> pedal wrench out to try it.
>>
>> Then as I was coming home yesterday I realized that it was
>> actually a shoelace. I had assumed that it wasn't after watching
>> my right shoelace and seeing it not come anywhere near anything
>> metal when the clicking noise occurred, but I'd completely not
>> thought about it being my left shoelace clicking against the left
>> chain stay, which is what it turned out to be. So, basically,
>> I'm an idiot; nothing new.
>
> LOL....That was the best bicycle related problem solver I have
> ever heard. No you're not an idiot, but I do have to question
> cs.stanford.edu.
> -tom

As usual, the Maryland grad figured it out first! (My trailer park pals are
/so/ proud...)