LBS or Do it yourself?

[CassieVE]

Hi,

I have a Silverback Saturn, I took it for a service 6 weeks back and since last week there is a 'clicking' noise coming from the crank (Does this mostly up-hill, could be a bearing?). I haven't taken a crank apart in 10 years, do I try and fix it myself or take it to a shop to get fixed?

 

What would it approximately cost at a LBS? (I know it will depend on the problem, just need an idea)

What tools would I need to fix it myself? (Got to learn some time...)

[1hill@aTime]

remove your pedals re-grease, mine did the same, i thought it was the crank too

[Guest Travis.]

Could be your BB coming loose too. Mine does it all the time. I finally stripped my Mo3r, took it into the LBS and asked them to put locktite on it for me. Been riding it a while now and seems to be holding up. I paid nothing for it when the tightened it for me, but paid a lil when I asked for locktite. Not sure how much though, as I had a few things they had to do for me.

[Mojoman]

I had endless headaches with this one, check the following:

As mentioned, check and regrease pedal threads

Remove seat post, clean and lightly grease

Check crankset bolts, the outer ones and inner ones, be advised these can break quite easily when tightening!

Check your bottom bearing, I toook mine out and used some copper slip on the threads, made sure the taper (mine is square) is clean and grease free

That clicking noise can come from many places and its best to go through all the possibilities.

[Arkadion]

Depends on what type of crank you have, but usually you need a bottom bracket spanner for the Shimano XT type cranks, it looks like a spanner with teeth on the inside. You can either buy one of these for about R150 or get the parktool tool kit from CRC for about R400 which has almost everything you will need to service a bike.

 

Then go onto YouTube and look for videos on how to do it, it's pretty simple, you may also want to buy the Shimano all round grease to re-grease.

 

But before you do anything drastic I would do as 1 Hill says and just clean the pedals first, as well as get yourself a good brush and some parafin and give both the casette and crank cogs a good clean, I also had some clicking/grinding noises on my bike, redid the entire bottom bracket and rear suspension pivot to find out these weren't the cause of the noise !

 

Good luck!

[CassieVE]

Thanks, I will re-grease as suggested. If all else fails I will take it in to be looked at.

 

I have Shimano Spd pedals on, could the clipping mechanism be dry? Must I grease the springs on the pedals?

Edited October 27, 2010 by CassieVE

[1hill@aTime]

my look pedals was the bearings i opened and put some grease, worked like a charm

[Mojoman]

I got a large needle and filed the end flat, took a syringe and some Q20 oil and lightly dripped some on the springs every few weeks or after I have given the bike a good wash. Maybe also check your cleats on your shoes, mark their position, take them off and clean everything then reassemble.

[Tiny K]

I had the same noise on my Shimano 505 SPD pedals - was the bearing - take end cap off (with some difficulty as it sits vas and is plastic) - 10mm (might have been smaller - can't remember) socket with T-bar and just tighten a little. I loosened it a little to see what the play was like and then tightened till it had no more horizontal / vertical play. Obv if the pedal doesnt spin then you have tightened too much, so spin it while tightening just to check that you aren't going too far.

 

I also thought it was my pedal arm on the BB shaft (got octalink). took it all apart, cleaned and put back together. Wasn't that - then discovered it was the pedal as above.

 

Hope it helps B)

Edited October 27, 2010 by SirK

[Cassie]

Good advice guys!!

No need to take to a LBS....do it yourself!!

[CassieVE]

Turned out to be the pedals, thanks guys Took them off, re-greased and no more noise...