Ticking - BB?

[dimrub]

I know my chances of troubleshooting an issue remotely based on vague audial terms are slim, but the natural recourse - "just go to your LBS" is not likely to work (to put it bluntly: I don't trust them), and neither is "use your warranty" (wrong country). So here it goes.

The bike in question is a new Sonder Camino TI, a 1-by gravel titanium bike. It has developed an annoying tick(ing) sound. It only happens when pedals are turning, and only under at least a bit of load (just rotating them while on a stand does not produce any sound). This appears to happen on any gear. When I take the chain off and rotate the cranks, there's no sound (but perhaps because there's no load?) The ticking is not rythmical - but it does appear to MOSTLY happen once per rotation, but sometimes more. Sometimes it goes away altogether. I've checked whether there's play in the crankarms (there's none) or in pedals (neither). I've actually replaced the pedals, due to unrelated reasons, and the sound was present in the previous set too (so not the pedals).

The issue does not manifest itself in any way and does no other harm than to annoy me to no end. However, if BB is the culprit, I'm concerned that it might be damaged and that the damage may progress further down the line (and might catch me mid-tour). So I'd really like to get this sorted.

Any ideas? What could it be, and how can I diagnose it (and perhaps fix it)?

 

[SolemnWeasel]

That might be the chainring screws.

 

[All uphill]

My first thought is saddle/seatpost.

Does it happen if you stand on the pedals and cycle?

 

[wilberforce789]

Rear derailleur pulleys?. They are easy option to remove, clean and rule out.

 

[Sharky]

It's possible that your shoe is hitting the end of the rd gear cable.

 

[geocycle]

I tend to work systematically through likely sources. You’ve done the pedals so my next step would be to remove the crank arms. While they are off I’d regrease and tighten the BB, then regrease the cranks. If that doesn’t help chainring bolts.

 

[raleighnut]

It's possible that your shoe is hitting the end of the rd gear cable.

My thoughts too, laces/velcro fasteners can do it too. DAMHIKT

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I know my chances of troubleshooting an issue remotely based on vague audial terms are slim, but the natural recourse - "just go to your LBS" is not likely to work (to put it bluntly: I don't trust them), and neither is "use your warranty" (wrong country). So here it goes.

The bike in question is a new Sonder Camino TI, a 1-by gravel titanium bike. It has developed an annoying tick(ing) sound. It only happens when pedals are turning, and only under at least a bit of load (just rotating them while on a stand does not produce any sound). This appears to happen on any gear. When I take the chain off and rotate the cranks, there's no sound (but perhaps because there's no load?) The ticking is not rythmical - but it does appear to MOSTLY happen once per rotation, but sometimes more. Sometimes it goes away altogether. I've checked whether there's play in the crankarms (there's none) or in pedals (neither). I've actually replaced the pedals, due to unrelated reasons, and the sound was present in the previous set too (so not the pedals).

The issue does not manifest itself in any way and does no other harm than to annoy me to no end. However, if BB is the culprit, I'm concerned that it might be damaged and that the damage may progress further down the line (and might catch me mid-tour). So I'd really like to get this sorted.

Any ideas? What could it be, and how can I diagnose it (and perhaps fix it)?-

1st rule of diagnostics - isolate
2nd rule of diagnostics - isolate
3rd rule of diagnostics - isolate

To rule out/in the BB, remove the chain. Place your ear on the top tube and spin the crank. The BB will tell you all there is to know. If it rumbles, rrrrrreplace it. If it goes whooooosh, leave it alone and start suspecting something else.

Top tip: when you spin that crank, keep your teeth clear of the pedal.

 

[Big John]

I can't imagine anything wearing out already on a new bike so I'd look for the simplest and most likely. Indexing. Also check the cable routing for the rear mech looks undamaged. If it all worked perfectly on delivery then what's changed? Has the bike fallen over at some point maybe? Piece of debris caught in the drive train on a ride? Does it change gear crisply going up AND down the cassette?

 

[PaulSB]

Perhaps a stiff chain link? Clean the chain thoroughly and lube each link carefully. Alternatively if you happen to have a spare chain pop that on and see what happens.

 

[Punkawallah]

My ‘go to’ with most irregular noises is to replace suspected parts with a spare. If you replace the BB with a spare, and still get ‘ticks’, you’ve ruled it out and have a spare BB.

You could check and see if you have a broken spoke, and would second giving the bike a good clean, and securing any loose clothing/zips/laces/straps/cable ends.

 

[ianrauk]

Has anyone said yet?.. check the seat post and saddle.

 

[PaulSB]

Has anyone said yet?.. check the seat post and saddle.

Usually I would suggest this but the OP specifically states a ticking noise. IME seat post and saddle noise is usually a creak.

 

[Chappy]

I tend to work systematically through likely sources. You’ve done the pedals so my next step would be to remove the crank arms. While they are off I’d regrease and tighten the BB, then regrease the cranks. If that doesn’t help chainring bolts.

+1 for this as well. I have found that a tiny piece of grit where the crank arms connect to the BB can cause a ticking sound.

 

[ianrauk]

Usually I would suggest this but the OP specifically states a ticking noise. IME seat post and saddle noise is usually a creak.

One mans tick is another mans creak