REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

SCALPEL Creaking, argh

2785 Views 25 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Twon, Jul 25, 2006

Twon

Discussion Starter · Jul 6, 2006

Again...

'03 3000 Scalpel, creaking non stop, very annoying and embarrasing. Everyone knows I coming eh...That sound, it's driving me nuts!

The whole drivetrain got replaced, brand new XTR chainring, XTR chain and XTR cassette. New pivot and bushing in the rear suspension. It creaks on every stroke. The harder I pedal, the louder it is. It sounds like it's coming from the crankset. What can it be?!?

help

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

Dan Gerous

· #2 · Jul 6, 2006

It could be the BB, a dirty seatpost/seat tube interface, also check the bushings of the shock and/or froglink (I don't know what bushings you did check), and so on...

Twon

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 6, 2006

I'll verify the seatpost, I doubt it though. As for the rear suspension, ABC put a rebuild kit last fall. I could be the BB but it was verify last summer and everything was okay

Dan Gerous

· #4 · Jul 6, 2006

ABC in Montreal? Hummm, they know Cannondales well... If it creaks only when you pedal (test by coasting and shifting your weight in quick, sudden motions of your body), it's probably anything except the shock, bushings and so on. Clean the post and inside of the seat tube but I wouldn't rule out the BB. It's a current XTR with the external bearings? It could also be the pedals or even the cleats...

Twon

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 6, 2006

of course ABC in Montreal. I tried with my running shoes, it still creaks. It's only creaking when pedalling.

Dan Gerous

· #6 · Jul 6, 2006

Then it's got to be in the crank area... BB, pedals... Also, sometimes it's a ridiculous as dirt in the pedal threads and taking the pedals off, cleaning the threads of the pedals and crankarms, regreasing and it solves the issue. But while the BB was fine last summer, it's a whole year ago...

offpiste

· #7 · Jul 7, 2006

Two other places to look:
- Rear derailleur hanger: creaks if not properly tightened and there is dirt between hanger and dropout.
- In my case, the creaking came out of the freewheel assembly of the rear hub (that time a c'dale labeled dt hub). The noise seemed to come from the BB, but the reason was in the hub.

good luck!

keetowah

· #8 · Jul 7, 2006

Mine was doing that recently, I narrowed it down to the froglink, which only had about 300 miles on it. I took the shock off and lubed all the contact points really well and it went away. I now lube all the shock contact points and the needle bearings about every 6 weeks or so depending on ride time and conditions etc, and it doesn't make a peep.

Reset

· #9 · Jul 12, 2006

My scalpel 2000 year 02 also creaks like hell when pedalling. Only since last ride though.

It really seems to come from the BB. Can I easily see if the BB is fine. How should I do and know if it is the problem.
Thanks

eman2

· #10 · Jul 12, 2006

Check the chainring bolts

Check to make sure the chainring bolts are torqued down to spec.

Reset

· #11 · Jul 12, 2006

Right,
They seem fine but I'll have a better look tonight

Reset

· #12 · Jul 12, 2006

One bolt wasn't as tight as the other but now it is...!

The bike is still creaking when pedaling. It seems worst when i'm pushing on my left pedal. The feeling is alright though, I don't feel anything loose...
I tried taking the left arm out. Everything seems fine and well greased but i'm a newbie so I might miss something.

keetowah

· #13 · Jul 14, 2006

I'd like to reiterate that this has happened 2x's to my scalpel and both times it was the rear pivots. It only creaked when I pedaled, I pulled the cranks, swapped pedals, seat, post, derailler, new derailler hanger, wheels, handlebars and still creaked. I then removed every bolt on the froglink and took the shock off cleaned it and put some teflon grease on every contact point and it fixed the creaking both times. I've seen my bike go from perfectly quiet to creaking in a week's time when I ride in slop, and once when it sat on the roof rack during a thunderstorm for 3 hours. Just try taking the shock apart, clean up the bushings, pivots and bearings and see what happens. Here is a link to instructions on disembling the rear pivot:

http://www.cannondale.com/Asset/iu_files/tech_center/2003-scalpel-frogrearshock-link.pdf

Reset

· #14 · Jul 14, 2006

Ok, this is the next step.
I'll try to that..

Thanks for the link...will help:thumbsup:

keetowah

· #15 · Jul 18, 2006

Any updates reset?

fokof

· #16 · Jul 18, 2006

Twon , have you greased everything in the BB area before installing ?

Take everything off , grease BB cups in and out , the chainring bolts in and out, pedals.

Dan Gerous

· #17 · Jul 18, 2006

fokof said:
Take everything off , grease BB cups in and out , the chainring bolts in and out, pedals.

And don't forget to clean before regreasing...

apacherider

· #18 · Jul 18, 2006

Check the quick release skewer too. Clean it off. This is a common source.

Reset

· #19 · Jul 20, 2006

keetowah said:
Any updates reset?

Nah, not yet, was away for vacations for last weekend and will be the upcoming also...
Had no time to work on the bike yet because I need to buy a few tools...(really just starting bike mechs)

But when I pull on the rear side arm ( the arm from the fox float to the wheel), it seems loose. I mean the frogrear seems loose so, like you said, I'm really thinking it might be the rear pivots.

You talked about cleaning and greasing...how often do you have to change thoses? If it's loose, does it need to be changed?

Last question, is there a problem to keep riding the bike for short rides in this condition (until I manage to find time to fix it :madman: ) or I might damage something.

Thanks a bunch

ps. keetowah, that was nice to get back to me:thumbsup:

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keetowah

· #20 · Jul 20, 2006

Reset said:
Nah, not yet, was away for vacations for last weekend and will be the upcoming also...
Had no time to work on the bike yet because I need to buy a few tools...(really just starting bike mechs)

But when I pull on the rear side arm ( the arm from the fox float to the wheel), it seems loose. I mean the frogrear seems loose so, like you said, I'm really thinking it might be the rear pivots.

You talked about cleaning and greasing...how often do you have to change thoses? If it's loose, does it need to be changed?

Last question, is there a problem to keep riding the bike for short rides in this condition (until I manage to find time to fix it :madman: ) or I might damage something.

Thanks a bunch

ps. keetowah, that was nice to get back to me:thumbsup:

Well, if it's loose it could actually break under load, at the very least it would put undue wear and tear on it for sure so I wouldn't ride it. It probably needs some locktite, it could be toast, or it maybe just a little worn, hard to tell without looking at it. It only takes an allen wrench to take it apart, no special tools needed. Go to the hardware store buy some locktite #242 and use that when you put it back together. I replaced my whole rear pivot after 6months, but I abused it racing. The link to the c'dale site I posted shows the "exploded" view of the pivot, it looks intimidating but really it's no big deal.

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

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