Strange creaking noise...

[magnatom]

I recently had a major service of my Ribble commute bike. The service didn't go entirely smoothly and if you are interested details are here.

Anyway, having it eventually sorted (or so I thought), I've been commuting on it for a couple of weeks. Something just wasn't right. I would occasionally get a creaking from the bottom bracket area.

Oh pooh, I thought, BB's gone as well, and just after a service.

Anyway, I needed it so I've kept cycling on it hoping to get a chance to get it looked at. Just recently I noticed that the noise was getting worse, and interestingly, it only happened when on the small chain ring. Rubbing of the chain perhaps? No. I looked at that and the alignment was fine. Strange.

Anyway just this morning when I got to work I decided to have a closer look. And the attached photo is what I found.

So either, the bike shop didn't fit one of the chain-ring bolts at all, or they didn't fit it properly. Pretty shocking!

Does anyone know what chain-ring bolt I need?

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

I had that a few months back, kept getting a rubbing when the chainset was under load, I'd get home check it over thinking the front mech needed adjusting, yet it would be fine. Then it got worse one morning I stopped to take a look then realised one of the bolts had fell out like yours! I'd stupidly never thought to check the, I got my Allen keys out and checked the rest and they were all working loose.

Got home that night luckily I had a standard double chainset left over from when I put my compact on, so I just robbed a nut off that. I took the others off put some loctite on them and put them all back on. Been fine since.

I learnt my lesson I encorporated it into my monthly check.

 

[magnatom]

I had that a few months back, kept getting a rubbing when the chainset was under load, I'd get home check it over thinking the front mech needed adjusting, yet it would be fine. Then it got worse one morning I stopped to take a look then realised one of the bolts had fell out like yours! I'd stupidly never thought to check the, I got my Allen keys out and checked the rest and they were all working loose.

Got home that night luckily I had a standard double chainset left over from when I put my compact on, so I just robbed a nut off that. I took the others off put some loctite on them and put them all back on. Been fine since.

I learnt my lesson I encorporated it into my monthly check.

What concerned me, though, is it is just 2 weeks since I got it back from the LBS. The chainrings are brand new and were fitted then. Surely they shouldn't work loose in that time?

 

[jimboalee]

What concerned me, though, is it is just 2 weeks since I got it back from the LBS. The chainrings are brand new and were fitted then. Surely they shouldn't work loose in that time?

The LBS tightened the bolts to the recommended Campag torque.

This is a ploy by Campag ( and all the others ) specifying the torque too low so they sell a lot of aftermarket chainring bolts at enormous profit.

When one falls out, like you the cyclist notices and there's no danger. then he/she goes and buys a set of bolts.

 

[magnatom]

The LBS tightened the bolts to the recommended Campag torque.

This is a ploy by Campag ( and all the others ) specifying the torque too low so they sell a lot of aftermarket chainring bolts at enormous profit.

When one falls out, like you the cyclist notices and there's no danger. then he/she goes and buys a set of bolts.

The conspiracy has been uncovered!

 

[magnatom]

Seriously though, will any bolt do, or do I need specific? The chainrings are stronglite.

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

Well I took one from a ultegra standard double and fitted it on a fsa compact so I would say it doesn't matter, but I'm sure I'll be corrected if wrong lol

 

[Origamist]

Any new double chainring bolts will do.

 

[magnatom]

Supa dupa. Just need to pop into the LBS on the way home.

 

[fossyant]

You always need to check bolts are tight after an initial fitting - they can work loose. Any doubles will do.

Slap on the wrist for not checking earlier.

 

[magnatom]

You always need to check bolts are tight after an initial fitting - they can work loose. Any doubles will do.

Slap on the wrist for not checking earlier.

Then why do bike shops not tell you this? I'm no expert in what bolts need checking when, so if they can work loose easily when first fitted I need told!

 

[HLaB]

Ive had bolts work loose but never in so short a time and they've never come completely away. My guess is the lbs forgot to re insert it after servicing. The last bike I bought I was half a mile down the road when I looked at my bar ends, the lbs had forgotten to put one in. They sorted that out no problem but if my train hadn't been late I'd been 50 odd miles away

From a quick google they appear to come in units of fives, perhaps the lbs can sort you out with one and if it was their error they'd probably do it gratis.

 

[magnatom]

Ive had bolts work loose but never in so short a time and they've never come completely away. My guess is the lbs forgot to re insert it after servicing. The last bike I bought I was half a mile down the road when I looked at my bar ends, the lbs had forgotten to put one in. They sorted that out no problem but if my train hadn't been late I'd been 50 odd miles away

From a quick google they appear to come in units of fives, perhaps the lbs can sort you out with one and if it was their error they'd probably do it gratis.

I'll have to go to a different LBS as the one I used for this is not on my way home (and I will be elsewhere tomorrow). I am definitely going back to Billy Bislands for my servicing. The shops up my way have not impressed me.

 

[Crackle]

Even if a chain bolt is not seated properly you'll get a click or a creak, so if it's been worked on and you start getting such noises, check down there first but you know that now

 

[magnatom]

Even if a chain bolt is not seated properly you'll get a click or a creak, so if it's been worked on and you start getting such noises, check down there first but you know that now

Indeed I do. In fact I've got some similar creaks on my Go Faster so I'll be checking the chainring bolts tonight. I hope it is that, as I assumed it was the BB.