Creaks on my new Quest: How to diagnose?

[billyk]

My new Quest (559) makes a deeply-aggravating creak or series-of-clinks almost continuously when I ride. I don't know about you, but I like a smooth-running bike and this is driving me nuts!

The facts:
- It is a metallic creak or clinks. It brings to mind: a disk brake rotor irregularly rubbing on the pad or housing; a chain slapping against a chainring; a joint creaking for want of lubricant; ...
- It is not regular: not associated with a particular part of the pedal stroke, or the wheel turning. It seems to be associated with steering.
- The noise only occurs when I'm sitting on the bike: never on a bike stand or walking it.
- It is more pronounced/continuous when pedaling, but still occurs rolling freely with the pedals held still, especially in a turn, even a very small turn, or small road bumps. It is the same in every gear.
- A friend walking alongside while I rode slowly confirms that the noise is definitely in the front end. It is quite loud enough for a person near the bike to hear.
- It is almost continuous, with breaks of a few seconds at a time, even on a smooth concrete floor.
- I can sometimes elicit a clink or two by bouncing my butt in the seat or turning the handlebars quickly with the brakes held tight and the bike still.

Here's what I tried (I did these tests independently):
- Removed the front brake from the bike. (The rotor is not bent.)
- Removed the chainring guard (in case of slapping)
- Removed my fenders
- Disassembled the chainstay and greased the joints - top and bottom - with Phil Wood bearing grease
- Greased the swingarm shock bearings
- Tightened the head tube (which was very loose on arrival)

None of these things made any difference at all. I think it must be in the steering column, but I had my local bike shop look at it and tighten it, which made no change.

I need a new idea! This is taking all the pleasure out of having a new bike!!!

 

[John Tolhurst]

Try the slider and the clamp

I suspect this is coming from the connection between the slider and the clamp. Just tightening the bolts on the pin joint there may resolve it, and or lubricating.

 

[thaddeus]

Try spoke adjustment?

Hi billyk,

As a veteran of solving annoying creaks and noises, may I suggest you also check spoke tension if John's suggestion isn't the solution?

Spoke and wheel noises always seem to originate from other parts of the bike, and can drive you spare before you find them.

What's worse, they can't be induced on the workstand, and can appear to be drivetrain-related.

Best of luck and enjoy your silent ride. wd

 

[MrSteve]

...And if the spokes are not the culprit?

Then the noise you're experiencing could still be attributed to the wheel.

Check/true/tension the wheel spokes first, as they're easiest to get to.



My experience is limited here to simple free-wheel/cassette hubs, so:

If the noise is still there, then take the wheel off and disassemble the wheel bearings,
cleaning and checking them as you go.
If the wheel bearings are squeaking, then it's probable that at least one
of the outer bearing races (the rings that're press-fitted into the hub) is loose.

Your Quest has a transmission, a gearbox of sorts, integrated into its' hub.
If the wheel bearings are quiet (races snug and ball bearings clean, adjusted and lubricated)
then something associated with the transmission in the hub may be the culprit.
If so, good luck: I have no experience with those!
If not, then you're well on your way to tracking down your errant squeak, as you've
eliminated quite a few possible sources.

Good luck!

 

[billyk]

It was the spokes!

Thanks for those hints. Yes, it was the spokes, which were quite loose. 1/4 to 1/2 turn needed each one. Now it is much quieter. Ahh ....

Meanwhile I have disassembled, greased and tightened every joint and connector on the bike, learned a lot about it, and had hours of entertainment doing it.

By the way, I also switched out the beautiful elliptical chainring for a 36-tooth normal one. Sad to do that but it lowers the gears enough that I can climb the steep hills around here at high cadence (see my comment in the Quest thread a couple of weeks ago "Some thought about my new Quest, after 3 weeks of daily commuting").

Thanks! BK