Bizarre "ticking" on the 4th sprocket, 12 sp cassette?

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AlanW

Legendary Member
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Not to sure?
So the back story first, I run either Hunt carbon wheels or for the winter Hunt 4 Season wheels fitted with a 12sp 11/30 cassette. The groupset is Ultegra Di2 and it all works 100% as it should, perfect and silent gear changes every single time no matter what wheels are used.

Fast forward to this week. I have just purchased a pair of Hunt Allroad wheels and a 12sp 11/34 cassette, which will be fitted to the above bike on the odd occasion that I fancy doing some gravel or tow path rides.

Now comes the annoying bit, for reasons that are completely baffling me right now, when the chain is on the fourth sprocket (24T) it makes a "ticking" noise that suggests that the rear derailleur needs a little tweak to realign it. But it doesn't do it on any other sprocket other than the fourth one, and it only does it when in the big ring, in this case a 50T?

Every other gear combo is perfect, but select 50/24 and away it ticks???

However, if I put an 11/30 cassette on the same wheel, nothing at all, totally silent.

Which suggests to me that the fault is with the cassette, the last four sprockets (34, 30, 27 and 24) on the cassette are all riveted together, so that rules out me putting the wrong size spacer in between them. So unless Shimano have built it incorrectly which I doubt, I really don't know what else to try?

Of course I may be able to adjust miss-alignment out on the fourth sprocket using the E Tube app, but then it makes swapping wheels over more of a faff if I have to keep readjusting the rear mech each and every time. Plus the fact, if I can put the 11/30 cassette on and it shifts as it should, then adjustment isn't the definitive answer.

I know how folk on here, like a challenge, so here you have one, any suggestions??

I have contacted the shop where I purchased it from to see if there are any issues with the machining of the sprockets, and apparently not? I guess the easy (if expensive) way to find out, is to buy another 11/34 cassette. But they are certainly not cheap and I don't expect to have to replace the current one anytime soon to be honest.
 
Looks as though I'm not the only one with this problem then, mine also makes a ticking noise on both the 3rd and 4th sprockets. My groupset is the mechanical 12 speed GRX with a 11-34 cassette. I've tried reindexing the gears to no avail, so have more or less given up. Will be following this thread with interest!
 
I have noticed a similar phenomenon with 11 speed Shimano 11-34 cassettes on the third largest sprocket. Every one of the four, or perhaps five, cassettes. I've had has done that. It's a tick on each revolution and is identical across all the cassettes. It's pretty quiet, but nonetheless slightly irritating, though mainly since it's a 'design feature' and can't be fixed by tweaking the indexing.
 
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AlanW

AlanW

Legendary Member
Location
Not to sure?
Looks as though I'm not the only one with this problem then, mine also makes a ticking noise on both the 3rd and 4th sprockets. My groupset is the mechanical 12 speed GRX with a 11-34 cassette. I've tried reindexing the gears to no avail, so have more or less given up. Will be following this thread with interest!

We are not alone!

I was talking to a friend of mine during an event today, he had also recently fitted a 12 speed 11/34 cassette albeit with a mechanical groupset. He was experiencing the exact same issue and on the exact same sprocket! He seemed to suggest that it was a known problem with 12 speed cassettes?
 
We are not alone!

I was talking to a friend of mine during an event today, he had also recently fitted a 12 speed 11/34 cassette albeit with a mechanical groupset. He was experiencing the exact same issue and on the exact same sprocket! He seemed to suggest that it was a known problem with 12 speed cassettes?

Yes I've had a quick cast around the web and it does seem to be a common problem. Someone somewhere (Reddit maybe) suggested putting the chain on the affected sprocket (3rd largest in my case) and turn the RD adjuster screw anti-clockwise (increase cable tension) until the chain just jumps up onto the 2nd sprocket, then turn the adjuster screw clockwise 1 turn so the chain jumps back down onto the 3rd sprocket, this should index it properly. I've just had a go and can't see any difference on the bike stand, the problem only happens when I'm riding the bike and it's a bit a late to go out for a proper test ride, it'll have to wait until tomorrow.

I've also checked hanger alignment and for any bent teeth on the sprocket, all good there so don't think it's anything to do with them.
 

Colin S

Veteran
Is this a 8000 series cassette by any chance.
I believe this is an issue with 12 speed 8000 cassettes that was resolved with the 8001 version.

C
 

T4tomo

Legendary Member
surely a small "tick" on a Hunt hub is a drop in the ocean compared to the farking abomination of a noise they make when you freewheel?
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
 
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