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Was gonna resurrect [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/one-creaky-hemlock ]this thread[/url] but it's closed... I have what seems like a similar problem, and I've run out of ideas. Creaks putting the power down stood up or sat down - if I stand on the bike stationary and weight the front pedal it makes a horrific crack / creak noise. Any ideas?
If it's any use, mine turned out to (predictably) be the main bearings being totally shagged.
Yeah, that's what it's all pointing to at the moment, and they look like a right pain to get out! Doesn't sound like bearings though and it all moved fine when I took the shock out. There was a little creak midway through the stroke but greasing the other bearings sorted that
Can't help you but I think Creaking Hemlock would be an awesome name for a death metal band.
flyingmonkeycorps - MemberYeah, that's what it's all pointing to at the moment, and they look like a right pain to get out! Doesn't sound like bearings though and it all moved fine when I took the shock out.
Mine was much the same- quite a lot of leverage from the swingarm to overcome the knackered-ness of the bearings. Felt quite bad tbh, it's the sort of thing I'd usually not neglect but it just went right under my radar. Wasn't too difficult a swap, though (the bearings in the back of the rocker are right swines though)
Yeah they looked like a right bugger when I had it apart, and I couldn't even get to the ones in the chainstay pivot. Is there a trick to getting to the main ones? It looked a bit scary.
I can't remember tbh 😳 It ended up being much less complex than it looks though, I think maybe just a case of loosening the swingarm bolts then removing the axle? Something very like that, anyway. Older models have a nut on the end of the axle btw, new ones thread into the swingarm.
[i] Is there a trick to getting to the main ones?[/i]
I did a bit of a guide on this thread for the rocker. Can't see why it wouldn't work with seatstay (No bearings on chainstay) and main pivot bearings.
Awesome. Cheers guys. Gonna have a play with the chainset tonight and see if it's anything in there (dodgy bolts? Clutching at straws now!) then bearings it is...
It does sound like bearings. The main pivot ones are pretty staight forward though. Pull the chainset off and pivot axle out and swing the rear end out of the way. There's a spacer inside between the bearings which you need to push out of the way with a screwdriver, then hit the bearings out from either side with big screwdriver hit with hammer or a proper drift if you have one. Pressing them back in is pretty easy using a vice. It's worth having a friend to help get it in the jaws and lined up as you'll have all your bits still attached to the rest of the frame. Get the new bearings lined up, make sure you've put the spacer in between and gently close the vice jaws.
Drop us a line or give us a call if you need some more help.
Cheers Cy - I'll have a poke in there tonight and see what happens... Fingers crossed!
Fixed! You were right Cy - popped the seal off the main pivot bearings (don't have spare ones to hand) cleaned and packed with grease, regreased the axle and voila! Silence. Guess the bearings weren't QUITE as good as the chap who sold me it said, but no big deal.