Clicking when pedalling hard

Quoted message said:

.... I can hear a faint click on each pedal push when
I'm pushing hard

its you. You're worn out. Check yourself in for a service and greasing.

or if its the bike, it could the the crank arms (that the pedals attach
to) are not tight on the bottom bracket. Usually you pop off the plastic
dust cover and there's a big Allen bolt inside.

The other suspect is a loose bottom bracket, which is a £10-special-tool
job.

Phil

Phil Clarke said:

Quoted message said:

.... I can hear a faint click on each pedal push when
I'm pushing hard

or if its the bike, it could the the crank arms (that the pedals attach
to) are not tight on the bottom bracket. Usually you pop off the plastic
dust cover and there's a big Allen bolt inside.

Why would that click on the right pedal? Torque from crank arm to
chain doesn't go via that interface, so I wouldn't expect it to click.
When I've experienced a loose connection on the right crank, it has
manifested itself as a click on the left pedal only.

How about similarly-loose bearings in both pedals?

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

[email hidden] wrote on 01/09/2006 21:23 +0100:

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Specialized Hardrock a few weeks ago from a bike shop
which is a long way from my home. I just got it back from a free
service, and noticed I can hear a faint click on each pedal push when
I'm pushing hard on both right foot and left foot pushes. It's only a
faint click and isn''t heard when cruising along, only when pushing
hard. Can anyone say what it could be? I really don't want to take the
bike all the way back to the shop if it's something trivial and I can
fix it myself.

Given you say it happens on both pedal strokes (which virtually rules
out the cranks or pedals) I would suggest either the bottom bracket is
working loose or it could be the seat post needs some grease between it
and the inside of the frame. Otherwise it could just be your hip ;-)

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

in message <[email hidden]>,

(') said:

I bought a new Specialized Hardrock a few weeks ago from a bike shop
which is a long way from my home. I just got it back from a free
service, and noticed I can hear a faint click on each pedal push when
I'm pushing hard on both right foot and left foot pushes. It's only a
faint click and isn''t heard when cruising along, only when pushing
hard. Can anyone say what it could be? I really don't want to take the
bike all the way back to the shop if it's something trivial and I can
fix it myself.

A click on both left and right foot is more likely to be the bottom
bracket bearing or a loose crank than either pedal. But check the
seatpost first, because that's easier and cheaper to fix. Take it out,
grease it, put it back tight. If you've still got clicking, turn the
bike upside down, take a pedal in each hand, and turn the pedals slowly
putting your full weight on them. You may feel roughness in one of the
pedals or in the the bottom bracket. If not, take a crank in one hand
and the seat tube in the other and with all your strength push the crank
towards the seat post and pull it away again; repeat other side.
Movement on one side means a loose crank; movement on both a shot BB.

Mind you, I've had noise that I was /certain/ was from the bottom bracket
which, after a lot of investigation, turned out to be the drive-side
rear wheel bearing.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; If Python is executable pseudocode,
;; then Perl is executable line noise
-- seen on Slashdot.

Simon Brooke wrote on 01/09/2006 22:48 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Movement on one side means a loose crank; movement on both a shot BB.

Or a loose BB cup

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Pinky said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Specialized Hardrock a few weeks ago from a bike shop
which is a long way from my home. I just got it back from a free
service, and noticed I can hear a faint click on each pedal push when
I'm pushing hard on both right foot and left foot pushes. It's only a
faint click and isn''t heard when cruising along, only when pushing
hard. Can anyone say what it could be? I really don't want to take
the bike all the way back to the shop if it's something trivial and
I can fix it myself.

Can I suggest something ridiculous that annoyed me for a whole day.

I also had a ridiculous clicking etc etc.
Turned out to be the metal tag on the lower end of a full-length zip on my
jacket, which clicked against the metal on the front of my Brooks saddle on
each down-stroke.
--

Martin Bulmer

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Specialized Hardrock a few weeks ago from a bike shop
which is a long way from my home. I just got it back from a free
service, and noticed I can hear a faint click on each pedal push when
I'm pushing hard on both right foot and left foot pushes. It's only a
faint click and isn''t heard when cruising along, only when pushing
hard. Can anyone say what it could be? I really don't want to take the
bike all the way back to the shop if it's something trivial and I can
fix it myself.

I had this recently on my Cannondale. Took it to the LBS. Man said I needed
a new bum bra.
Turned out his diction wasn't too good, and the new bottom bracket he had
recommended did the trick.
--

Martin Bulmer

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Specialized Hardrock a few weeks ago from a bike shop
which is a long way from my home. I just got it back from a free
service, and noticed I can hear a faint click on each pedal push when
I'm pushing hard on both right foot and left foot pushes. It's only a
faint click and isn''t heard when cruising along, only when pushing
hard. Can anyone say what it could be? I really don't want to take the
bike all the way back to the shop if it's something trivial and I can
fix it myself.

Can I suggest something ridiculous that annoyed me for a whole day. It was
clearly associated with the rotation of the pedal and went on all day. It
didn't appear when I dismounted and moved the pedal by hand. Also when I was
pedalling very slowly it stopped
I was late afternoon during my summer tour that I realised that the tab end
of my left shoe lace wasn't tucked under the Velcro strap and when
pedalling at anything above a crawl was clicking against the frame!

It had annoyed/worried me for hours and I just couldn't find it out. I can't
remember how I realised it. I know I spend ages watching my feet go round to
try and detect the exact position of the crank when the click appeared.

I know that this won't help but I do know that I can detect "new" noises
from day to day, hour to hour when I am riding -- it is an essential part of
me avoiding punctures and I prevented 3 on my 5 week tour this year on my
tour. Of course it is infuriating when you can't find it. I had a new squeak
( it was a "hum" actually) a couple of weeks ago. After 2 days pratting
around I gave up. So I just gave my VP2 a thorough clean and degreasing
and, after a good wash down, re lubricated everything -- and lo and behold
it disappeared. And it was a noise I hadn't ever heard b4. Goodness knows
what it was!

--
Trevor A Panther
In South Yorkshire,
England, United Kingdom.
www.tapan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

in message <[email hidden]>, Tony Raven

(') said:

Simon Brooke wrote on 01/09/2006 22:48 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Movement on one side means a loose crank; movement on both a shot BB.

Or a loose BB cup

True.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Wise man with foot in mouth use opportunity to clean toes.
;; the Worlock

Pinky said:

Of course it is infuriating when you can't find it. I had a new squeak
( it was a "hum" actually) a couple of weeks ago. After 2 days pratting
around I gave up. So I just gave my VP2 a thorough clean and degreasing
and, after a good wash down, re lubricated everything -- and lo and behold
it disappeared. And it was a noise I hadn't ever heard b4. Goodness knows
what it was!

--
Trevor A Panther
In South Yorkshire,
England, United Kingdom.
www.tapan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

One infuriating 'click under pressure' turned out to be relative
movement between the rivetted chain wheels (cheap Shimano) on my MTB -
a good squirt of silicone spray at the rivetting point fixed that 🙂
Another creak under load was the reflector on the rear wheel - I only
found that one when it fell off.....

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Specialized Hardrock a few weeks ago from a bike shop
which is a long way from my home. I just got it back from a free
service, and noticed I can hear a faint click on each pedal push when
I'm pushing hard on both right foot and left foot pushes. It's only a
faint click and isn''t heard when cruising along, only when pushing
hard. Can anyone say what it could be? I really don't want to take the
bike all the way back to the shop if it's something trivial and I can
fix it myself.

I'd check both pedal threads are well greased and tight on the crank arms
first. I had an annoying click and this was the cause. If that doesn't cure
it then try the crank arms or bottom bracket.

This site may be of use to you.

http://www.parktool.com/repair/

John

John wrote on 02/09/2006 09:11 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'd check both pedal threads are well greased and tight on the crank arms
first. I had an annoying click and this was the cause. If that doesn't cure
it then try the crank arms or bottom bracket.

If the sound is symmetrical (ie on both pedal strokes) its very unlikely
to be the pedals or cranks (which would both have to develop the
identical fault at the same time) and most likely to be a common element
like the BB or seat post.

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Tony Raven said:

Simon Brooke wrote on 01/09/2006 22:48 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Movement on one side means a loose crank; movement on both a shot BB.

Or a loose BB cup

Or loose BB cartridge:
I had that happen on a multi-day tour and spent the trip wondering when my
BB was going to collapse. On getting home and removing the cranks, found it
was very easy to unscrew, thought "wonder if it was just loose", tightened
it, and its been fine ever since.

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

I had an annoying click like that once and it turned out to be the contact
between the chain and one of the pick-up points on one of the chain-rings.
The chainset had just been replaced, took me ages to find out what was
causing it. When I realised what it was I filed a tiny amount off the
pick-up rivet and problem solved. If you have a new bike it could possibly
be that. When I mentioned it to my LBS they said the clicking would probably
have gone away eventually with wear.

Could be any of the other things others have mentioned though - and I agree
with what the others have said about looking for a simple explanation first!

Jerry

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Specialized Hardrock a few weeks ago from a bike shop
which is a long way from my home. I just got it back from a free
service, and noticed I can hear a faint click on each pedal push when
I'm pushing hard on both right foot and left foot pushes. It's only a
faint click and isn''t heard when cruising along, only when pushing
hard. Can anyone say what it could be? I really don't want to take the
bike all the way back to the shop if it's something trivial and I can
fix it myself.

Ian Smith said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

.... I can hear a faint click on each pedal push when
I'm pushing hard

or if its the bike, it could the the crank arms (that the pedals attach
to) are not tight on the bottom bracket. Usually you pop off the plastic
dust cover and there's a big Allen bolt inside.

Why would that click on the right pedal? Torque from crank arm to
chain doesn't go via that interface, so I wouldn't expect it to click.
When I've experienced a loose connection on the right crank, it has
manifested itself as a click on the left pedal only.

weak points:
That interface experiences torque, as do all others involved in
preventing the crank arm from simply being pushed into the road. I agree
you need more effort to make the right crank / BB interface click as the
chainset soaks up much of it, but it doesnt eliminate it - especially if
that interface moves.

one crank, two clicks:
A loose crank arm may creak/click when you put pressure on it, and also
depending on your pedaling technique it may click from carrying the
weight of your leg when you press on the other pedal.

checking our facts:
The description of the problem's not absolute & maybe not complete, so I
listed what I thought would be the simple things to check.

Besides, if you've got the tools out, why not check things that are easy
to check? It might be something you (and we) haven't thought of or seen
before, or your memory of the symptoms may be corrupted by what you
first thought you'd noticed.

Quoted message said:

How about similarly-loose bearings in both pedals?

also, maybe.

Phil

On 01/09/2006 21:23, [email hidden] said,

Quoted message said:

I bought a new Specialized Hardrock a few weeks ago from a bike shop
which is a long way from my home. I just got it back from a free
service, and noticed I can hear a faint click on each pedal push when
I'm pushing hard on both right foot and left foot pushes.

Sorry for the delayed response - just got back from playing with my new
Specialized Hardrock around Coed-y-Brenin!

Anyway, I also had this identical click, and it turned out to be the
seat-tube - it hadn't been greased.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/