Annoying clicking, but what is it?

[The History Man]

I get that from the wife when another bike arrives.

 

[dyna-ti]

Sorry My bad Didn't realise it was for commuting/road

 

[ishaw]

summary - clicks when wheels are fitted and you push down on one side of the BB?

is that where you're at?

Not quite. Clicked whether wheels are fitted or removed, seat post removed, stem and bars removed? Crank and bb removed. Not a whole lot left to remove bar the headset and the loose bottle boss riv nut.

 

[02gf74]

So that leaves the frame. Youre not confusing click with rattle? Cant see how bottle cage rivnut can click but it can rattle when shaken.

The click occurs when you twist the frame?

 

[ishaw]

Pretty sure it's not a rattle. My theory is that as the down tube twists when the BB is pressed from either side, because the rive nut is not attached/bonded properly, the twisting means the riv nut drags on the tube rather than moving with it, causing the click. Its still quite tight in tbete, doesnt spin by hand or rattle. There's no damage elsewhere and this is the only fault I could find.

 

[Muddy paw]

Take the riv nut out then try it and if the click persists unfortunately then my bet is a very fine break along the edge of a weld on the main triangle but lets hope removing a riv nut works and if it does then use some ptfe tape to stop the play lol .

 

[ishaw]

Going to try and get it out on Sunday if I get the time. There are no visible marks or cracks on the frame.

 

[02gf74]

Re:

^^^^ i did wonder about and it is possible but surely the amount of movement/twisting of the tube has to be tiny?

Well see the rivet nut is out

 

[Muddy paw]

Going to try and get it out on Sunday if I get the time. There are no visible marks or cracks on the frame.

Lets hope you have some good luck in finding the issue soon before it sends you round the bend mate ,,

 

[ishaw]

Re:

Too late for that. Managed to get the bolt out of the riv nut, which is now spinning quite freely. Still clicking. Took off the forks, headset and still clicking. It's more of a ping than a click, similar to when a cable pings the frame. Still no closer to identifying the source though I would really like too. It seems to move too, sometimes it sounds like it's from the headset, other times the bb or centre of the down tube.

I've had another careful inspection of the welds and can't see anything aside from a few scratches. None seem to follow the line of any weld.

This may decide which bike is next on the cull list.