ISIS bb or integrated?
The ISIS BB that most FSA cranks use is notorious for being a problem (I have them in my road bike and mt. bike as well). You likely have one of 2 problems:
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The bb cups are creaking in the frame. Solution: remove, slather on the grease and torque them in properly.
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The bearings die very quickly on ISIS BBs. The first one in my cervelo lasted 4 rides - annoying. I have replaced four in my mt. bike in 2 years. Take the chain off the rings, spin the cranks and see if the bearings feel gritty and if there is any play. If so, time for new bb.
Sounds like it is probably 1, as it is happening to both bikes. good luck,
jon
Between the wife and I we have 5 bikes all with FSA cranks - 2 use the new K-Force crank with MegaExo bottom brackets, another 2 with Octalink, and 1 that use an ISIS bottom brackets. Back towards the beginning of the year, I was speaking of similar woes which I had attributed to the ISIS standard bottom bracket. Problem was I had 3 different ISIS bttom brackets that I could interchange and the creaking noise I was hearing was present with all 3 bottom brackets but it was a good excuse to upgrade our road bikes to the megaexo external bottom brackets. Problem was that even after installing and properly torquing the new crankset with the external bottom bracket on my road bike, 10-minutes into the next ride the creaking was back! This may or may not be the original posters problem but in my case it turned out to be the spokes in my rear wheel because the noise went away as soon as I put on my race wheels and the problem was easily solved with some Triflow and a little more TLC each time the bikes get cleaned or we get caught in the rain during a ride. Bearing in mind that there are a number of items that can sound as if they are orginating in the bottom bracket and a simple test would be when the creaking noise appears, stand up and pedal. If the noise persists, then it may well be the bottom bracket but if it goes away, it may be something as simple as a lack of lube on the seat rails where it interfaces the seat post.
I am having the SAME EXACT problem. FSA cranks on my new Felt S22. The creaking noise is at the bottom of the pedal stroke on the left crank, and only creaks when I am up out of the saddle and climbing. It is driving me nuts.
I took it to the LBS last week and the noise disappeared for 1 ride. They did nothing with the BB but something with the seat post bolt (or something - I’m clueless when it comes to this stuff). So it looks like I will have to take it back and see if they can take a look at the BB and left crank. 60 miles of the creaking last night was enough to make me go insane.
A few things that should be tried:
Bottom Bracket - although it requires removal of bottom bracket, using teflon tape (plumbers tape) on threads of bottom bracket as well as proper torque (35-40 inch-lbs - I think) go a long way towards reducing noise. Might also check facing on bottom bracket shell.
Rear wheel - triflow or suitable lubricant on (1) spoke nipples and, (2) where spokes interface hub (if they thread into hub like Easton/Velomax wheels disregard part 2).
Stem/Handlebar - allow stems with alloy steerers and handlebars require lube at the interface as this can also lead to interesting creaking noises.
Seat/Seatpost - kind of hard to imagine but for some seats, the point where the seat rails joins the frame/shell of the seat can also be a source of creaking but is usually eliminated by the repeat of the noise while standing and pedaling. Also, lube the seat rails and assuming this is an alloy frame, lube the interface between the seat post and seat tube as well as insure that seatpost diameter is correct. Regardless of alloy or carbon seat tube, if there is no barrier to prevent moisture and microscopic debris from migrating south down the seat tube, that can also be a source of creaking but will stop when you stand and pedal.
Hercules,
I have/had exactly the problem you describe.
jsivvy has summed it up pretty well, grease your bottom bracket cups, that’s almost certainly where the creak is coming from.
Check your BB regularly. My BB lasted about 3 months before the bearings felt like they were full of sand. Mine (a titanium pro) came with a 2 year guarantee so I took it back to the LBS and replaced it under warranty.
Good Luck
Norty
Are you by chance using the FSA alloy crank bolts that come with the Platinum Pro and Platinum Pro Ti bottom brackets?
If so, how were the crank arms installed? In the case of the alloy crank bolts, the proper procedure is to (1) attach the crank arm then (2) use the CroMo bolts (steel) to tighten the crank arm to the ISIS spindle; (3) tighten the bolts all the way down keeping in mind that trying to do this with a standard 8mm allen wrench that has only a 6 inch lever arm will make it very difficult to tighten the crank arm properly. (4) At this point to install the alloy crank bolts remove the CroMo bolts and install the alloy bolts torqued 35-40 inch/lbs. as any more torque and you may find as I did that the bolt head simply breaks off in your hand which then requires more time/tools than you want to think about.
When you installed the bb did you face the bb shell and chase the threads?
this can lead to problems with the BB not sitting properly or even installed properly because even though they are properly torqued, the cups are “seized” on the threads and therefore the torque spec is not properly reached…
I’ve used FSA bottom brackets and cranks for a few years and thousands of miles. Never had any problems. My guess is that: 1) The sound isn’t coming from your bottom bracket. The source of the sound may seem cut-and-dry, but it’s extremely difficult to pinpoint the source of a noise while you’re on your bike; 2) You’ve done something wrong installing the bottom bracket or cranks. Did you grease the spline? Did you use a torque wrench when installing the bottom bracket?
Oh yeah - another thing that might cause that noise is the interface between the rear dropouts and the axle/quick release. Try applying so lube/grease to the axle at the point where it interfaces with the rear dropouts.
Yes, I started getting a clicking noise in the left crank near the bottom of the stroke this past week. I think, though, my problem was diffent from yours. As I’m certainly no techhead, I called my bike mech. He told me to lube the pedal and cleat, something I should have been doing anyway. I did so and the clicking has disappeared. Again I think our problems are different but it’s weird how the symptons described are similar