Knocking noise from rear.

[crankyhorse]

I'm getting a knocking noise when the bike is either under power or just coasting, with to without battery fitted and it does not make the noise if the wheel is lifted off the ground.

I have ruled out the brakes and I have also loosened up the hub nuts and pinched them tight to rule out them being overtightened.

The spokes all seem tight enough but then again they are under a lot more strain with me sat on the thing.

I'm only noticing these things after the trouble I had with badly set up brakes as I am being more critical. The bikes running well but the noise is bothersome.

Any ideas? ... Am I worrying about nothing?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Probably the tyre touching the mudguard.

 

[crankyhorse]

Ill remove it and see if the noise goes away.

The front one has already fell off thanks to the two nuts coming loose kind falling off.

 

[crankyhorse]

I've ruled out the mudguard and I also removed the two locks from the bike in case it was them. Still got the noise and when the bike it upside down and I rock the back wheel an inch back and forth I can hear a slight noise like something is loose.

I did find a loose spoke nut and finger tightened it as I don't have a spoke key.

 

[Del 80]

Crankyhorse, I got the same problem with my old Powacycle, it is annoying the hell out of me, tried the spokes....tried the mudguard......tried everything....mine don't do it when it's upside down, let us know if you sort it........Del.

 

[crankyhorse]

Crankyhorse, I got the same problem with my old Powacycle, it is annoying the hell out of me, tried the spokes....tried the mudguard......tried everything....mine don't do it when it's upside down, let us know if you sort it........Del.

How long has yours been doing it? Hopefully this means I'm not going to have catastrophic failure of something costly.

It is annoying but you don't notice it when your dodging buses and Nissan Micras.

 

[Del 80]

Mine been doing it for a couple of weeks now, only notice it in the morning cycling to work and no traffic about, it just clicks....click...click...click....click....gets really irritating, but, has not got any worse.....Del.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I've ruled out the mudguard and I also removed the two locks from the bike in case it was them. Still got the noise and when the bike it upside down and I rock the back wheel an inch back and forth I can hear a slight noise like something is loose.

I did find a loose spoke nut and finger tightened it as I don't have a spoke key.

What you can feel is normal.Its the clutch engaging and disengaging.

Finger-tight spokes is bad, and probably the cause of your noise. Get them properly tensioned as soon as you can.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Mine been doing it for a couple of weeks now, only notice it in the morning cycling to work and no traffic about, it just clicks....click...click...click....click....gets really irritating, but, has not got any worse.....Del.

Clicking from the back is very likely to be the spokes. Are you sure that they're tight enough?

 

[crankyhorse]

Thanks again d8veh. I will get the spokes tightened tomorrow.

This is a very handy forum

 

[Croxden]

I'm getting a knocking noise when the bike is either under power or just coasting,

This reminds me of the Tony Hancock sketch "The Test Pilot"

 

[Del 80]

Mmmhh....Strange one this, when cycling, and leaning to the right, to try and see if something is catching........the clicking noise stops.......Del.

 

[D C]

Mmmhh....Strange one this, when cycling, and leaning to the right, to try and see if something is catching........the clicking noise stops.......Del.

If you are leaning over to the right it means the bike will be leaning to the left (unless you are actually turning right) so the spokes will be put under more tension as will the hub bearings and the frame.
It certainly sounds like a spoke problem though the frame twisting slightly could give more clearance to a touching mudguard or similar. Is the wheel out of true?
Dave.

 

[Del 80]

Dave, The rear wheel is running true, although on closer inspection, the spokes do seem a little loose, I shall tighten them and report back......now where did I put that spoke spanner ?................Del.

 

[D C]

Dave, The rear wheel is running true, although on closer inspection, the spokes do seem a little loose, I shall tighten them and report back......now where did I put that spoke spanner ?................Del.

As the wheel is true you could try an exactly equal quarter turn on each nipple which should keep the wheel true, it's tempting to tighten them a lot in one go but best to go easy.
Dave.

 

[Del 80]

Thanks Dave, I''ll do that, can't find spoke spanner so might have to wait until weekend......most annoying........Del.

 

[crankyhorse]

I ended up getting the shop to sort the spokes put. They said they tightened them all they dared as overnight spokes can cause the cast flange on the motor to crack.

They cured the noise but it was back by the time I got home. Doh!

 

[Del 80]

Crankyhorse, Whilst checking my spokes I noticed that rear tyre was under inflated, so blew it up to maximum 65 lbs pressure.......on way to work next morning .....no clicking noise.....sorted....except on way home it started again, and is still doing it.....ARRGGHHH..........Del.

 

[crankyhorse]

Crankyhorse, Whilst checking my spokes I noticed that rear tyre was under inflated, so blew it up to maximum 65 lbs pressure.......on way to work next morning .....no clicking noise.....sorted....except on way home it started again, and is still doing it.....ARRGGHHH..........Del.

That's exactly what I did too. I'm going to see how it goes. The bikes under warranty so if a spoke breaks I've been assured they will sort it but the bike will be out of action and I will have to spend money on petrol.

 

[Del 80]

Looking at Halfords website, I see they do different sized spoke spanners, anyone know what size I want for Powacycle Salisbury ?......I always thought they were all same size.......Del.