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Post by Stella on Apr 27, 2015 10:46:47 GMT
Every mechanic hates this: customer comes in and reports 'strange clicking' (particularly in CF frames, I hasten to add). Well, this time it's my very own bike--the blue Sport--which gave me a reason to scratch my head for some time. Okay, I haven't investigated thoroughly, but I just didn't know where that noise came from. I rode it anyway, because I like living life on the edge. :-)
Nevertheless, the noise sounded like a dislodged ball bearing, which cannot be the case as they are 1. sealed bearings and 2. only under two years old. And I swap between my bikes, so it's not a bike I ride every day.
But hey, it got worse and that's when I decided I need to look closer. I wiggled the rear wheel and it had movement. My heart missed a beat. I'm hoping, REALLY hoping it's the bearings and not the axle ...
To be continued.
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Post by scottw on Apr 27, 2015 11:26:45 GMT
My clicking experience was from the headset, as you say, unseated bearings was the issue, removal & re-install solved my problem.
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Post by 54roadie on Apr 28, 2015 4:33:21 GMT
Best of luck to you Stella, like you, I hope it's not the axle. On the other hand, is that a proprietary spec on the axles? They look like standard metric threaded rod, and the rear, at least, measures the prerequisite OD. How much more can a replacement axle cost than a replacement cartridge bearing?
My CF bike, FWIW, routinely develops untraceable clicks and creaks. The creaks, I've learned, are the seatpost clamp (proprietary, so I can't switch it out) coming loose, again. This happens at least semi-annually. The clicks ALWAYS seem to come from the crankset / bb / pedals area, but no, it's the CF seatpost, clicking against the inside of the CF frame. This will happen occasionally after I find I've removed the seatpost to better fix the creaking. If I ever meet the engineer behind all this, my head will likely explode.
Frank
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Post by Stella on Apr 28, 2015 9:08:13 GMT
Absolutely agree, Frank. Whenever someone with a CF frame comes in, complaining about strange clicking/ticking, I'll check the seat post are first. I always worry, though, when I loosen it and it then clicks, which is likely because someone else had over-tightened it. Some people still don't understand that there's a torque on them for a reason. Ah well.
As to the axle: difficult to get. They're alloy and have (it seems) specific diametres. I'v got other hubs I may be able to strip, though. Not sure. I haven't taken a closer look, will do that on Thursday or Friday. I'd be surprised if it's the bearings, but I'm still hoping. Better that than the brazing coming un-brazed (to quote John).
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Post by Stella on May 22, 2015 18:52:30 GMT
Replaced the rear wheel bearings, which were sufficiently worn, in hope it would get rid of the problem. Although the sound was very much like something's cracked. I know how it sounds like, dammmit! But upon investigating the frame, I couldn't find it. So, with new bearings in, I did a few metres, just to hear it again, that strange clicking sound and was now convinced it was a crack. Just where? I had looked at the spokes, nothing, the frame, nothing, I'd checked the stem and handlebar, nothing. It came from the front and suddenly I saw it: a rather big crack in the -- attention, please -- chrome forks! Well, rather rusty ones, admittedly. :-( Here's a picture; this could have been easily a painful experience. Ah, well, I wanted to restore that bike anyway. And I'd rather it's the fork than the axle. |
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Post by velocipete on May 22, 2015 19:19:55 GMT
Oh bugger! Now Yamaha are going to have to recall the replacement forks they supplied to replace the "death forks"!
At least you're ok ,no harm done,and a salutary lesson.Check everything.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by 54roadie on May 22, 2015 19:21:10 GMT
Holy (expletive deleted)! That looks to have been a very close call.
I know you're a bike pro, so you likely have immediate access to the replacement, but just in case - I have the steel Tange in immaculate condition from mine. It's the recall replacement for the Death Fork. Forged dropouts, but no eyelets. Shipping and a couple of USD and it's yours if it fits. steerer tube is 147mm
So glad you're not writing about your broken fork from the hospital.
Frank
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Post by Stella on May 22, 2015 19:30:11 GMT
Cheers, guys.
That's exactly how I see it: lucky and a good experience. We recently had a bike in a shop that I took out of the stand to bring upstairs and when I put it on the floor and put pressure on it, I heard a suspicious clicking and just knew it must be a crack. Quick investigation confirmed a large crack in the downtube (underside). Felt really bad calling the customer and delivering the bad news.
Hence my checking my frame again and again, I just KNOW what a cracked frame sounds like, but am stunned it was the forks. Been cycling around on this for weeks, so I guess I can count myself VERY lucky.
Thank you for your offer, Frank. I'll check the steerer length and get back to you in case I can't find anything. The frame is a 22" Aerospace Sport.
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Post by velocipete on May 22, 2015 19:57:06 GMT
Well Stella,I've got a "Death Fork" which I may not be needing.If you're feeling brave?
Cheers.
Pete.
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Post by Stella on May 22, 2015 20:02:21 GMT
Well Stella,I've got a "Death Fork" which I may not be needing.If you're feeling brave? Cheers. Pete. Ooohhh. A Mark I? I've been looking to get one, because I love living dangerously. :-) At least then the stickers (if they ever arrive) will have their proper and earned place. lol That said, a death fork would be wrong on a Sport. They belong on a Pro, GP or Lambert. |
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Post by velocipete on May 22, 2015 20:16:32 GMT
Actually,I think it's a mark 3.However,if you've read any of Brucey's threads on the CTC site on the subject,even the mark 3 could be deadly.
It's all down to metallurgy,stress rising points,and stuff that may not have been known at the design stage.20/20 hind sight
is a wonderful thing!
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by Stella on May 22, 2015 20:27:29 GMT
Actually,I think it's a mark 3.However,if you've read any of Brucey's threads on the CTC site on the subject,even the mark 3 could be deadly. It's all down to metallurgy,stress rising points,and stuff that may not have been known at the design stage.20/20 hind sight is a wonderful thing! Cheers, Pete. Still a great fork. I love riding my GP with that Mark III fork. There's a lot of pressure on forks and they all can go at some point. To be fair 40 years of duty is quite a long time. With rain, wind, snow, salt, dirt, rust ... |
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Post by velocipete on May 22, 2015 20:49:15 GMT
Don't forget that chrome plating isn't the best protection steel can have.It looks very nice,but paint is probably better.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by cusqueno on May 23, 2015 14:27:28 GMT
I must check my steel forks. At least with the death forks there's no coating or finish to hide any incipient faults. Although I suppose they tended to fail at the join to the steel steerer - out of sight. Of course, if you want critical alloy components to worry about, think of the handle bars!
My two Viscount frame failures were in the seat tube just above the bb shell; and across the bb shell itself. The first caused a weird squeaking as I rode; the second I only noticed because the bb wouldn't stay tightened.
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Post by triitout on May 23, 2015 16:48:30 GMT
My own personal death part is the seat post. Had 2 failures, one which sent me to the hospital. Both alloy. Thank you LBS for using a soft alloy against a Vitus 979 grub screw and thank you 2nd LBS for disregarding the minimal insertion requirements when cutting a seat post for my Kestrel 500 sci which has no down tube. I'm riding the death forks on the 2 GP's that I know the history on. Neither are for high mileage, aggresive riding. Zero miles on the Mojave and only 3 rides on the Porteur Gp from the original owner. The others look like they all took some beatings so not chancing the Mark 3 fork on those. I like to worry as little as possible and just enjoy the ride. Cars, pothole, etc, are enough to deal with. BE SAFE!!!
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Post by Stella on May 24, 2015 18:58:49 GMT
I think with old bikes/parts, you have to expect some failure at some point. Particularly with alloy. The two 'failures' that have occurred we the forks and the stem, same bike. :-) Oh, and the front brake's pinch bolt had come loose on the Viscountess, no idea how that happened, but my brake failed on me on my way home. Luckily, I was on the flat and slow. Mind, that would have happened on one of those great descents on the DFR2. I'd been wrapped around a tree!
Admittedly, I'm not particularly fazed by it, as someone who knows her bikes (I mean what my Viscounts feel/sound like) I notice quite quickly when something's up. And as soon as I hear something suspicious I'll investigate. Ha, strange enough that I didn't look at the top of the forks. ha ha. Some mechanic I am. I do, intermittently, give my bikes a quick once over just to be sure they're fit for the roads. Mind, that fork was pretty rusty. I've got another rusty fork case on the grey and black Pro, but the lower bit where the chrome had come off. Guess I'll order two new chrome ones -- no need to take a risk.
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Post by velocipete on May 24, 2015 19:18:27 GMT
Thinking of personal death bits,mine was a front lamp mount that fitted around the fork,not onto a boss.
Going home for lunch from school,about 53 years ago,and the lamp pivotted into the wheel. Over the top
with me. It wouldn't have been so bad if my bike hadn't been a "fixie".Oh yes,as Jem once said,I
was the original "hipster".
Once I was over the rat-trap rash from behind my right ear,and had retrued the front wheel,it was back
to normal,20 miles a day to and fro to school. They don't know they're born today!
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by Stella on May 28, 2015 14:44:36 GMT
Pete, you legend!
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Post by velocipete on May 28, 2015 14:54:49 GMT
Awh Shucks,it was nothing!
Cheers,
Pete.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,389 
Member is Online
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Post by Jem on May 29, 2015 15:52:56 GMT
A strange clicking or creaking...? I would personally be checking my knees and hips before the Viscount. Why on earth I used to run is a mystery to me now. I don't think it was good for my knees.
I see people running down our very steep hill and I really want to gently yell at them not to do it, and think of their poor knees, but I know they wouldn't listen.
Youngsters, listen to the voice of experience!
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Post by velocipete on May 29, 2015 18:46:19 GMT
I always put bad knees down to, too much church going as a lad!
Seriously,running,jogging ,etc,is seriously bad for knee,ankles,
hips,and all those poor little bones in your feet.
Take the weight, and impact loading off. Ride a bike!!!
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by 54roadie on May 29, 2015 20:43:50 GMT
I hate to tell you this, Pete and Jem, but my 10k run time just keeps falling. From 1:08 about 5 years ago, I'm down to 58:20 last fall and targeting low 57 for this year. Right now I'm unofficially around 59:30, not bad for an uncooperative spring. Today I'm riding 40, and then running 4, and both will include speed work. I know, I know, barking mad. That's me! HAHAHAHAHAHA (note the maniacal laughter and the wolfish grin.)  Frank |
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Post by triitout on May 30, 2015 3:06:57 GMT
Never a big fan of the running. Just not fun compared to cycling but how else could I race a bike but to start doing triathlons in my late 30's. Road racing for my ability was totally out of my league but I figured I could at least compete with runners and swimmers trying to be bikers. Maybe I can still run because I started late and have always done "just enough" to get by. Frank, you're 2/3rd of the way there to your first tri. The swimming is easy when you put on the big "floaty" wetsuit. Just a warmup for the bike! My run speed is going down the toilet compared to what I used to do, but Frank you're on the upswing! Keep training. Pawling sprint triathlon next Saturday. Can't wait! No rain please!!! Frank, the real torture is know as "the brick" workout. Hop off the bike and start the run immediately. That's when you'll hear every click in every joint howling  |
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sad
Viscount
Not yet deceased
Posts: 6
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Post by sad on Feb 13, 2016 14:06:12 GMT
This may only apply to Suntour perfect, but...
If your freewheel bearings start to loosen, it will make a klicking sound some time before the bearings fall out.
Later... sad
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