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I'm struggling with the Fuel at the moment with it being a creaky bugger at times. Locally i 99% of the time get away with it but hitting places like FoD i get a big creak/cracking noise a lot more than i'd like.
It feels/seems to me it's when the front end hits a root and that makes me suspect the fork area more than others. I greased every pivot point and cleaned them Tues evening on the back end. This morning i removed the dropper and cleaned and sorted that just in case, removed saddle and cleaned that up too.Â
I've tried different wheels, cleaned the axles and greased, removed mech hanger and cleaned up the joins where the chainstays meet at the back. Different pedals don't seem to change it.Â
We've had it where the stem bolts/interfaces make noise, but doesn't seem to be that.. So the only thing i can think of is the CSU on the forks. I may pull the boys forks today and fit them into mine for tomorrow over at Dyfi to see, but i was hoping to get some sort of an idea on how the CSU noise sounds/feels.
I'm tempted to get another set of forks just to put my mind at rest lol
Have you tried removing the forks and headset, cleaning everything up, regreasing and refitting? I've had this issue a few times over the years and this usually sorts it. While you're there, check the steerer tube isn't just a fraction too long and preventing proper headset adjustment. And, remove the bars and clean the stem-bar interface as well.
Bike upside down, front wheel out, push and pull the fork legs. That's how I replicated with my old Pikes.
Pretty sure there's videos on YouTube with people doing it.Â
Have you tried removing the forks and headset, cleaning everything up, regreasing and refitting? I've had this issue a few times over the years and this usually sorts it. While you're there, check the steerer tube isn't just a fraction too long and preventing proper headset adjustment. And, remove the bars and clean the stem-bar interface as well.
More than once for all of that yes 😀Â
I've had it over the years where that sorts it too, but this bike it seems i do all of this, then test in the road/local and it's golden, then get to somewhere like FoD and it's a creak monster..
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+1 clean and regrease of headset
i dunno if its slacker frames but i find they need more tlc than they used to
Stick the forks in a vice and give them a push fore and aft.
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I never use split crown races, convinced they cause bother as well.
I was also debating headset cups. They're removable and can be replaced by different reach from Trek (or is it angle, i'm not sure now) but possibly they're an option too.Â
OK, so i've stripped, cleaned, greased and checked headset, fitted a new BB (cleaned threads and greased), fitted new pedals, stripped out the seatpost, cleaned post, removed clamp, cleaned clamp, removed and cleaned saddle and rails... Lets see how that goes now 😀Â
I have a Fuel Ex and have suffered a few creaks so far. First was the headset stem area, cleaned and greased also changed the spacers, that sorted that one. Next one has occurred twice now, first time sounded like headset again, but it was a small amount of gritty stuff around the seatpost. Second sounded like main pivot,nope it was seatpost grit again! it was such a loud cracking sound from such a small amount of crap!Â
I have a Fuel Ex and have suffered a few creaks so far. First was the headset stem area, cleaned and greased also changed the spacers, that sorted that one. Next one has occurred twice now, first time sounded like headset again, but it was a small amount of gritty stuff around the seatpost. Second sounded like main pivot,nope it was seatpost grit again! it was such a loud cracking sound from such a small amount of crap!Â
Yeah the seatpost was pretty messy when I stripped and cleaned earlier, headset looked good but is now stripped, cleaned and greased.
It seems silent now.
Will see tomorrow at Dyfi depending on whether I ride tracks or whether I go hit ClimachxÂ
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There seems to be lots of areas for the crap to get into the seat tube, I've put some clear tape over the gaps to prevent dust/grit getting in, I also flipped the seat post clamp to face the front. Fingers crossed it's all good, so far it's not come back when it has after a few rides before.
Well it was silent for the 2 hour ride around Climachx today so it's all good. It seems it's just prone to being noisy with any dirt.Â
The good news is, I don't have a creaky CSUÂ
Don't worry mate, I've got headphones 😂😂😂😂
I'm having similar issues with a carbon Cube Stereo. I'm wondering if the carbon frame exacerbates it. We were also wondering if slacker bikes are more prone and integrated headsets.
After having a creaky bike all weekend I changed the headset bearings when I got home. In the process I also took a cone shaped brush to the inside of the head tube, after a bouncy bouncy test in the garden the bike is now silent so fingers crossed it stays quiet for more than a couple of rides.