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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: Guses on May 01, 2015, 09:16:38 AM

Title: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: Guses on May 01, 2015, 09:16:38 AM

My bike makes this god awful squeek sound when I am pedaling, reminiscing of a dirty old serpentine belt on a car on a cold morning. Please help me figure this out.

Pedaling forward makes the noise. Pedaling backwards (no load) does not. Coasting also does not produce the noise (not the wheel bearings or hubs).

While my chain was super rusty after the winter, I cleaned it and lubed it several times and it looks really nice now. Chain is freshly lubed from earlier this week (no rain since).

I sprayed some lube on either side of the Bottom Bracket this morning just in case and it did not help.

Would it be possible that the chain is rubbing against something in the jockey, cassette, rear derailleur area? Would this not prevent me from shifting?

The bike shifts really well since I tuned it after winter.

Please help, this is really driving me NUTS!

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: dycker1978 on May 01, 2015, 09:23:31 AM

Mine did the same thing, I replaced the chain, because it was time anyways, and it went away.  I would start there.

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: Zikoris on May 01, 2015, 10:03:47 AM

My pedals used to squeak like crazy. For some reason it only happened when pedaling forward, but not backward. I just flipped my bike onto its side and dumped a bunch of oil into each pedal, and the problem was solved.

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: Guses on May 01, 2015, 10:30:25 AM

Quote from: Zikoris on May 01, 2015, 10:03:47 AM

My pedals used to squeak like crazy. For some reason it only happened when pedaling forward, but not backward. I just flipped my bike onto its side and dumped a bunch of oil into each pedal, and the problem was solved.

Yeah, its not the pedal.I replaced them last weekend (for an unrelated reason) and the bike was squeaking before that.

It might be chain though. After all, it has about 2000-3000 KM and has seen the salt of winter. I think I have an extra one at home. 

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: forummm on May 01, 2015, 08:20:22 PM

I thought it was a riddle. I was going to guess "a mouse on the space shuttle".

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: Syonyk on May 01, 2015, 09:20:50 PM

Almost certainly the chain.  Oil it more.  If that still doesn't fix it, replace the chain.

You'll very likely be able to feel some "stiff joints" if you manipulate it by hand.

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: 2ndTimer on May 02, 2015, 08:12:01 AM

Gerbils on crack.  Sorry, couldn't resist.

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: Syonyk on May 02, 2015, 11:27:09 AM

Oh, also, to answer the joke:

"A MAMIL with an unoiled chain going down a very, very steep hill." :)

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: Guses on May 02, 2015, 05:06:25 PM

Quote from: Syonyk on May 02, 2015, 11:27:09 AM

Oh, also, to answer the joke:

"A MAMIL with an unoiled chain going down a very, very steep hill." :)

Ahah! best one so far!

will update this thread as my situation progresses.

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: gimp on May 02, 2015, 06:51:48 PM

A chipmunk stuck in an engine belt.

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: Guses on May 05, 2015, 09:14:02 AM

Quote from: gimp on May 02, 2015, 06:51:48 PM

A chipmunk stuck in an engine belt.

No, that's what goes *Sqeeeeeeek**Silence* and goes very fast


Update

I changed the chain and, after fixing my stiff link, the bike goes like a charm. YAY!


So, my chain breaker really sucks and causes stiff links whenever I open a link. Any suggestions for a good tool?

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: anks on May 05, 2015, 09:49:27 AM

Quote from: Guses on May 05, 2015, 09:14:02 AM

So, my chain breaker really sucks and causes stiff links whenever I open a link. Any suggestions for a good tool?

Get yourself a master link and never have to break a chain the chain again. Basically you replace one link with this quick-connect link, and you can easily break the chain without tools. It's a real time saver. Just make sure you get one that matches your chain. It might be easier to get one with a new chain so you know they match. Here  (http://amzn.com/B00IL5YNAE) is an example of one for a 10-speed chain.

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: Thegoblinchief on May 05, 2015, 09:58:39 AM

Quote from: anks on May 05, 2015, 09:49:27 AM

Quote from: Guses on May 05, 2015, 09:14:02 AM

So, my chain breaker really sucks and causes stiff links whenever I open a link. Any suggestions for a good tool?

Get yourself a master link and never have to break a chain the chain again. Basically you replace one link with this quick-connect link, and you can easily break the chain without tools. It's a real time saver. Just make sure you get one that matches your chain. It might be easier to get one with a new chain so you know they match. Here  (http://amzn.com/B00IL5YNAE) is an example of one for a 10-speed chain.

Even better - when buying new chains, get one with a master-link packaged in. The master links wear out anyways.

I get the appropriate speed KMC chains and I've been quite happy with them.

Then get the Park Tool master link pliers and you're set.

I hear so many bikes going by with squeaky chains - drives me nuts. Then again, before I joined the hardcore cyclists around here, I had no idea chains ever needed to be replaced, or lubed with something other than WD40 (sigh).

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: TheGrimSqueaker on May 05, 2015, 11:05:32 PM

I was just about to make a Mariah Carey joke but it looks like the problem is solved.

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: Iconoclast on May 06, 2015, 01:46:03 PM

We need a "like" button on these forums. Some of the replies are hilarious. BTW I also thought it was a riddle.

Title: Re: What goes *Squeek*Squeek* and goes really fast?
Post by: Guses on May 08, 2015, 08:17:40 AM

Update

What goes *flop**flop*, goes really slow and looks pretty weird?

Spoiler: show

 A grown man "push scooting" his bike for  6 miles! 

Not only did my crappy chain break tool cause stiff links, it also made my chain open a little bit on the way in to work. Having no way to fix it, I decided to risk it and go very slowly and carefully back home at the end of the day. Needless to say that Murphy's law struck and caused my chain to break at exactly half way point of my commute.


Weeeeeeeeeee! Push scooting fun!

Anyway, I fixed it now and it runs great, I just need better tools...