Strange Noise From Rear Wheel

[Ian]

Last Sunday I noticed a noise from the back of the Torq but only when cornering hard, since then it got worse until today I decided I must investigate. The noise sounded like a metallic scraping once per revolution and the main suspect was the roller brake. The bike was inverted and sure enough the rear wheel was not completely free to revolve, the wheel was removed, then the brake removed from the wheel when I found to my dismay that the stiffness was in the bearings. I repacked and adjusted the bearings, refitted the brake and wheel, all seemed well so a test ride followed. The bike certainly seemed more free running but annoyingly the noise was still there, as bad as ever. Further investigation followed and finally the cause was traced... to a loose spoke reflector!!!

PS. Any good tips to stop the prop stand rattling?

 

[flecc]

I hate spoke reflectors and take them off every new bike to moment I get it. I think side reflectors have very limited value and are part of today's safety obsessed culture.

My Torq's stand has never rattled so your one's spring may be slightly less strong Ian. Do you know if it's sideways rattle or in the operating direction?

I've got an associated problem on the length adjustable stand on the Q bike, the inner tube "sizzling" with high frequency vibration as the motor goes though the range, and I'm going to try a rubber grommet surrounding the join.
.

 

[Ian]

The stand rattles in the operating direction Flecc, a sort of 'boying" sound as it deflects and bounces against its stop on heavy bumps. A stronger spring or even a spacer under the existing one will probably cure it but I need to remove the stand to do it, and that big allen screw is awkward to get at.

Another annoying noise is the rattle of the cables against the back of the headlamp.. or am I getting too fussy

 

[coops]

I can sympathise with tracing & tackling unwanted bike noises, Ian: I still haven't exactly found the cause of my recent saddle "creak" (mostly only when sitting forward) - though I suspected the sus seatpost, I think now that my saddle was adjusted slightly too far back and was just rubbing the spring-release mechanism for battery access... anyway, all sorted now very satisfactorily with a rigid alloy seatpost (which incidentally allows greater adjustment of saddle position without that spring mechanism in the way).

I've also had a smaller but equally troublesome creak from the bars, which had also puzzled me for some time as I couldn't tell which point was "slipping" and causing it: it appears to be simply in need of some grease inside the part where the bar angle is adjusted with 6mm Allen key.

So I hope I too will eliminate all unwanted creaks soon .

My Torq's stand also doesn't rattle currently Ian, maybe that happens in time...

I do get the headlamp one though (I also feel a little fussy bothering with it, but it does niggle & annoy me too!) I just push it forward for now to prevent the rubbing, but not an ideal solution since one must remember to reposition when lights are needed on, to be safely seen. I think I'll need to sort all my lighting out soon anyway, as I've said elsewhere .

Stuart.

 

[flecc]

Yes, I'm familiar with that really irritating cable noise, but since the T bike has no lights now that's cured. A piece of foam rubber wrapped around the cable at that point might stop the noise

That stand bolt is awkward, it means demounting the lock and controller from the battery mount to give key space. Again my T bike has no stand now, as it has almost the same minimalist road spec as a club rider's bike, apart from the electrics.
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[Ian]

Thanks for for rubber idea Flecc, I used a piece of softish rubber of the kind which comes with bicycle accessories to cater for different tube diameters. After heat forming it into a tube I secured it round the cables with cable ties. It looks tidy and it works a treat. I also fixed the stand by putting a spring washer under the spring, I did it in situ by drilling out the pivot rivet and replacing it with a bolt. I also let my tyres down to a sensible pressure, I've been topping them up with a gaugeless track pump and must have been going OTT, when I used a gauge today they were at 90psi, no wonder things were rattling with road vibration.

 

[flecc]

90 psi, wow!

It must have been rolling nice and easily though, almost like railway wheels.

That's a good way of fixing the stand, I've done it myself previously, a bolt being much better anyway than the average cheap riveted pin that the manufacturers use.
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[Ian]

It must have been rolling nice and easily though, almost like railway wheels.
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They probably would have if the local roads were as smooth as rails