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Bottom Bracket Going or Something Else?

by perky416
Mon, Apr 10, 2017 08:17
5

Hi Guys,

We recently had our garden and sheds burgled and they tried to get my bike, luckily they couldnt get through my abus lock with bolt cutters so the only thing they managed to do was rip off my rear mud guard.

On my first ride out after the attempted theft, after about 4 miles or so I noticed a clicking sound coming from down by the crank. Not sure if they have done some unseen damage or if it is just a coincidence.

After a couple of weeks of riding I have noticed this usually starts when I am standing on the pedals, so putting the crank under load, however for a while it continues to click even with no load, for example when I get off the bike and wheel it backwards I can hear the clicking, by the time I pick up the bike for the next ride this usually goes until I put the bike under load again.

Im thinking the bottom bracket might be on its way out however I have tried to listen to where the noise is coming from and it sounds like it is coming from the middle of the down tube rather than the crank.

What do you guys think?

Thanks

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5 comments

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nniff | 7 years ago
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If someone's had a go at the lock, it's possible that they've nudged the front mech a bit.  You stand on the pedals, everything twists a bit, chain catches the front mech.  Sit back down and it all calms down again  - and repeat.  Worth a look at least

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hawkinspeter | 7 years ago
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If I were you, I'd replace the bottom bracket bearings as you suspect they might be on their way out anyway. If not the bottom bracket, I'd start having a good look at the frame to see if there's any hairline cracks.

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CXR94Di2 | 7 years ago
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Take chain off chainring so it doesnt catch, gently spin crank and listen.  If its perfectly silent then it may be elsewhere,  a small click unloaded will be noticeable when pedaling 

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dottigirl | 7 years ago
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Grease the usual suspects first (QRs, seat post), check that it's not the front mech cable, or the front mech rubbing. There won't necessarily be play in the crank if the bearings are shot - one of my BBs went in no time because water was getting into the frame down the seatpost and through a bridge hole, and gravity meant the only way out was through the BB. If you've done any wet rides sans full mudguards, water does get in. 

However, I would check over your bike very, very thoroughly for any damage the scrotes may have done. They may have given it a good yank and bash around, bent the mech hanger, etc. 

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Accessibility f... | 7 years ago
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Nobody here can diagnose such a noise.  If it's the bearings in the BB, you'll be able to detect play in the crank.  But you're just going to have to pull everything apart, clean it, lubricate it and reassemble it to find the issue - which could be anywhere.

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