[ancient rascal]

I have a NOS 2009 Lynskey ridgeline SS with the slider rear assembly. Pretty sure the creaking noise is coming from the slider. Flat riding is fine but start on the steeps and big time creaking starts. All is brand new with dt swiss 240 SS hub with crazy 8's m 960 xtr modified crank, isar chainring and cog. Just one gear......so much misery. 3 mechanics worked on it so far. at 16 lbs it screams up hill. Unfortunately it is creaking while its screaming. Latest try was anti seize.....we thought we had it till I cranked it up some steeps today. Same noise whether right pedal push or left pedal. Not related to seat or pedals. Thanks for the look

 

[Frs1661]

I had a creak I couldn't track down on my 1x1 once... about a week later the chainstay broke on a ride

One new frame later, I once again have a creak-free bike

So, my only suggestion is to inspect the frame for cracks. Hopefully a crack is not the problem!

 

[graluc]

I worked on one of these with the same creak. We tried some teflon tape between the slider and the frame as a last resort. It was more of a bandaid than a fix. I believe the creaking is just something you have to live with on that particular design. My new Gary Fisher Superfly SS creaks some too, I've learned to ignore it.

 

[crazy8]

Fixing a creak it trial and error. Did you check to be sure the surfaces of the sliders and frame that interface with each other are perfectly flat. You can use a sand block with 400 or better paper and find out. Make sure they are all flat and smooth.

 

[dontheclysdale]

I posted this to a topic in the 29er forums. Basically I'm having a creak too on my Pro29.

Mine, a 2010 Pro29 w/ the newest sliders is creaking. I've checked and doubled checked and then triple checked for cracks and can't find anything. I've run it SS and 1x9. I've replaced/changed out EVERY part on the bike at least once. I don't know what's causing my creak but it's beyond annoying and it seems that it could very well be the frame. It only seems to come out when I'm on the trails putting a load on the bike and once it starts it doesn't stop. Wheels, skewers, BB's, cranks, seat posts, seats, chain bolts, pedals, cleats, shoes, chain, casette, stem/bars, fork, headset, seat clamp, brake mounts, SS or geared, a 1/2 tube of Phil Wood grease AND the thing still creaks! I'm out of options and I can't/couldn't recreate the creak with the parts on my other bike. The Pro29 makes an awesome bike but I'm not sure how much longer i"m going to deal with this creak. Sadly, I have Helix road bike and have absolutely NO problems with it.

My problem is just like what the OP is experiencing. It's hard to reproduce the creak unless I get on the trails. One thing I did today (the bike is setup as SS right now) was reverse the skewer. I put the locking side of the skewer on the driveline side. I haven't had a chance to test it but strangely enough, the first time ever, my rotor/disc didn't bind up and it's the free'est my rear wheel has spun. Not sure if it'll stop the creaking but at this point I'm willing to try anything.

 

[ancient rascal]

Creaking sliders

Wow you got after everything. Sounds like what I have. All my parts are brand new top of the line stuff. To get some noise out of it u can put the front tire against a door and put a small pedal push on it to make a creak. I tried putting my hand around the area as I pushed and thought I could feel the creak. Problem is it travels really well through the frame so its hard to tell for sure. I will b sure to PM u when I get further especially if we can fix it. Thanks for your help. Believe me......I feel your pain !

 

[dontheclysdale]

I look forward to your PM!.

Also, I've tried the silver anti-seize and gold tie prep. I've greased the frame and every part that rubs, touches, or turns.

One thing that was mentioned to me but I have no way of checking it or ruling it out is the inner seat tube. Supposedly on my pro29 (not sure if it's the same on your Ridgeline) there's an aluminum tube inside the ti seat tube. I'm told that it is is possible that it could have come un-braised. If this is the case, it was explained to me that the frame could torque/twist (as it does on the trials) and would create that annoying little creak. It makes sense but I surely hope that's not it as I can't see any way to remedy that.

I think my creak is in the back with the sliders. Messing with the skewer can change the creak for me. Sadly, I've been through 4 different skewers (Shimano, Salsa, American Classic, and Crank Brothers) and I still have the creak. Some days it doesn't come on, some days it does but it will never come on if I'm NOT on the trails or racing. I changed my right side slider out with the SS slider and it still creaks so the ONLY changeable thing left on the bike is the left slider. I almost want to call Lynskey and get another but if it doesn't work, I'd literally be out of possibilities.

A couple of things for you to try:
Chain ring bolts - sometimes they can get loose, broke, or just not be right. They are pretty cheap to change out.
Grease the pedal threads - self explanatory.
Grease your cleat springs on the pedals.
Headset - supposedly the headset can make creaking noises that sounds like it's coming from all over the bike.
Fork - some forks creak there's a lot of complaints about Rock Shox stanchions.
Seatposts - I've tried carbon, 2 different Thompsons, and my current Eriksen - none helped!

Hope this somehow helps! Send me a PM if you ever get it figured out and I'll do the same.

 

[Raybum]

I have a 2010 Ridgeline SL that I have about a dozen rides on. Started creaking yesterday on some steeper stuff where I was really mashing on the pedals. I stopped and tighted the sliders as much as possible with my small multi-tool. stopped for a while then started again. When I got home, I torqued them with my torque wrench to the top end of the recommended range...If I hold the rear brake and rock the bike, I can make the same creak...thus, gotta be in the sliders or how the quick release clamps on. My next option is to take the sliders off and clean the interface surface and look for witness marks. one thing I haven't tried is to back off the small adjustment bolt (maybe it's rubbing against the slider ?) I've fairly religiously cleaned the bike after each ride with a very gentle water spray...maybe something has gotten down in the interface. I suppose the aluminum sliders could have oxidized which would also change things.
It you figure something out, please post !
thx,
Ray

 

[doco]

I got the same problem on my 2009 Lynskey ridgeline SS

the creaking is driving me nuts....

I thought for sure it was the seatpost/seattube shim inside the post creaking...

 

[dontheclysdale]

Man, I'm glad I'm not alone on this. I haven't made a big deal out of the creak because it seemed no other Lynskey owners were having a problem. I figured I had an issue with a part and I decided to just deal with the creak until after race season ended (Texas) at the end of May. It's July and I still haven't found my cause. Sounds like I'm not alone! I hate to hear that others are having creaks but at the same time, I'm glad because I'm out of things to diagnose and this annoyance is driving me crazy!

 

[dontheclysdale]

If I hold the rear brake and rock the bike, I can make the same creak...thus, gotta be in the sliders or how the quick release clamps on. My next option is to take the sliders off and clean the interface surface and look for witness marks. one thing I haven't tried is to back off the small adjustment bolt (maybe it's rubbing against the slider ?)

Ray

Ray, I cleaned my sliders, no difference. I put a glaze of grease on and they still creaked. I greased the adjustment bolts - still creaks. I even tried putting anti seize between the slider and frame and still got creaks.

 

[dontheclysdale]

I thought for sure it was the seatpost/seattube shim inside the post creaking...

I pulled my seatpost out on the trails and could recreate the creak. I wouldn't advise this to anyone as you don't really realize how much you use your seat until it's gone.

It may be the aluminum shim in the seattube. Maybe someone from Lynskey will see this thread and help us out.

 

[ancient rascal]

creaking

Saw this post and worth a look.... http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=635279 The creak breaks heart.......I can't live with 1/10 of that noise.

 

[shogun9]

I had s similar issue but it was more of a click than a creak, felt it all through the steel frame. Only happened when I rode uphill. Could make it happen like you, front against the wall. My initial though was pedals, drove me mad. After a while I decided it was the cog, got the lbs to tighten it and that click went away for ever. Hope it's something as trivial as that.

 

[ancient rascal]

Cog noise

Great that you fixed it. I had that on the list of checks for my mechanic because I have only been on this new bike for 3 rides. I don't even have a rear brake on it yet. Nothing much back there but a new dt swiss ss 240 hub and one isar 19t cog. First ride......no brakes at all. Straight up......walked out. 1 3/4 miles. Ranger said not to come back again without brakes !

 

[tstess]

90% of the time, my creaks are from dry interfaces between frame/seatpost, seatpost/saddle, headset, fork/stem or stem/bar. Of course the bars on my road bike creeked for 10 years now and no amount of grease quiets it. I just live with it.

 

[doco]

It may be the aluminum shim in the seattube. Maybe someone from Lynskey will see this thread and help us out.[/QUOTE]

I found this post last year from Cheers regarding this creak, that is why I thought my creaking was coming from the shim inside the seattube

post number 18 by Cheers on this thread

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=572836
Lynskey M230 Pics - Mountain Bike Forums

I have been meaning to call Lynskey about this problem, but keep putting it off...I don't want to send my frame back to them for repair...I love riding it too much, even with the creak :thumbsup:

 

[dontheclysdale]

I've traded emails with Mike V. over at Lynskey this morning and he suggest I use some graphite powder between the sliders and frame. I haven't personally tried this yet but it's worth a shot. Mike not only works for Lynskey but he races on their frames too so I'll give this a shot though it'll be this weekend at the very soonest before I make it back to the trails.

For those that wish to try the dust, according to Mike, graphite powder should be available at your local hobby shop.

 

[graluc]

Autoparts stores also carry it as lock cylinder lube.

 

[ancient rascal]

Possible creak fix

Looks like there may be an answer for the creak. Crazy 8 and his coating has stopped one bike from creaking. My sliders will be test # 2 for the fix. I should have them back by the weekend. 4 minutes to install then I will know if it works on my bike. He will be waiting for my results before doing a slew of sliders. This is gonna make some folks pretty happy I think !