A strange ticking noise has developed...

[Softsand]

When riding under load (even light), my motor seems to have developed a strange ticking noise when pedalling. It’s a bit of a random pattern though and I can confirm it definitely isn’t the chain/sprocket. I’ll be taking it in soon to get checked but just wondering if anyone had experienced something similar.

 

[DrStupid]

My rear brake rotor bolts came loose causing a similar random clicking. I thought it was a bearing, but once the wheel was off i noticed the disk had slop. Easy enough to check.

 

[MinusPrevious]

I would re-set your front & rear calipers as they can tick as well.

Just loosen both calipers & lock up the brake, then re-tighten while the brake is still locked

 

[Ameiza]

Different bike, same symtoms for me as well. Two of the motor bolts had come loose and caused the ticking (creaking). Check for loose bolts ?

 

[SquireRides]

I've had this caused by three different things:

Bolts holding the *cover* over the motor (not the motor mount itself) needed tightening.
General gunk in the drive-train seemed to cause creaking around the motor/crank area.
Shoes laces slapping against the crank arm! Took me a while to work that one out!

 

[Pdoz]

It's the end of warranty time bomb - don't worry until it starts beeping

 

[Mike__]

I would re-set your front & rear calipers as they can tick as well.

Just loosen both calipers & lock up the brake, then re-tighten while the brake is still locked

This and I’ve found Sliding in strips of paper either side before you pull the lever helps line up the caliper

 

[Mike__]

When riding under load (even light), my motor seems to have developed a strange ticking noise when pedalling. It’s a bit of a random pattern though and I can confirm it definitely isn’t the chain/sprocket. I’ll be taking it in soon to get checked but just wondering if anyone had experienced something similar.

Could maybe be the freewheel? Mines random, Aussie Perth Dealer denied hearing the noise

 

[Softsand]

Could maybe be the freewheel? Mines random, Aussie Perth Dealer denied hearing the noise

I‘ve tried riding again and when the noise appears, lightly applying the brakes individually but that made no difference at all to the sound so I think the brakes are ruled out.

 

[poppy]

Not something simple like a broken cable tie where the rear brake line or wire comes out from around the motor area and runs along the swingarm and the brakeline/wire reacting with suspension bob and slapping on the rear triangle or frame?

 

[Softsand]

Not something simple like a broken cable tie where a cable comes out from around the motor around the swingarm area reacting with suspension bob?

Thanks for the suggestion but by a process of elimination, it definitely only happens only when I am pedaling and under load (light or heavy, makes no difference). No load, no noise.

 

[DrStupid]

Maybe try peddling no handed and see if it still speaks.

I once had a click, I was sure was the cranks. It turned out to be the headset.

I finally identified it when I noticed it went silent peddleing no handed.

 

[KennyB]

I had a click on my analogue bike, eventually found the drive side chain stay had a crack half way through. It had been hidden by the chain ring.

 

[Mike__]

I‘ve tried riding again and when the noise appears, lightly applying the brakes individually but that made no difference at all to the sound so I think the brakes are ruled out.

I Meant the freehub.
Sounds like a trip to the dealer and they need to ride it. If they experience none of the clicking noise then at its on record for if it becomes worse I spose
Mike

 

[sdcoffeeroaster]

I'm chasing one of the those "clicks" too. My regular bike used to get weird creaks at times coming from the zip ties, lol. I had to spray some teflon oil on them occasionally to keep them quiet. I'm going to replace my 1200 mile chain today in the hopes that this is the issue on my Jam2 Carbon bike. My clicks starts up after about 20 minutes of riding. Chain stretch isn't an issue and the click seems to be on the left side but that can be very deceiving. Good luck.

 

[Softsand]

I'm chasing one of the those "clicks" too. My regular bike used to get weird creaks at times coming from the zip ties, lol. I had to spray some teflon oil on them occasionally to keep them quiet. I'm going to replace my 1200 mile chain today in the hopes that this is the issue on my Jam2 Carbon bike. My clicks starts up after about 20 minutes of riding. Chain stretch isn't an issue and the click seems to be on the left side but that can be very deceiving. Good luck.

Well... my bike is getting a new motor so hopefully it won’t be there any more. Mine sounded like it was coming from the left side too though.

 

[sdcoffeeroaster]

Well... my bike is getting a new motor so hopefully it won’t be there any more. Mine sounded like it was coming from the left side too though.

Interesting. Let us know how it goes. I've been through nearly everything on mine. I even have a new frame since the decals all cracked on mine. I had to do the work myself because the labor was not covered for some reason. Focus is no longer selling in the States. The worst part of that was installing the battery and all the cabling and I still don't know if I got that right or if that could be part of the ticking. I've always suspected the motor but how do you prove that without an expensive replacement? Ignore it until it becomes a real racket I guess.

 

[GrahamPaul]

Interesting... I've been tormented by an intermittent ticking noise on my Jam² with the new Gen 4 Bosch motor. It also seems to be on the left side as I drive the pedal down and doesn't matter whether I'm pedalling lightly or with force. I sent a video recording of the noise to Bosch who recommended that I take it to one of their Bosch Specialist Workshops. The problem is that the noise comes and goes, so it's almost certain that it will not be there when I've driven 5 hours to the closest Bosch specialist workshop.

I've done all the tightening and torqueing I can find. Checked brakes and discs (which would make no sense because it's on a pedal downstroke). The noise hasn't appeared for a few days - the same few days that I've been applying a little silicone grease to the rear shock... That may well be the villain.

Having been reading all about the problems with EMTB motors, I can't help wondering whether I'm just being paranoid. But ticking noises drive me crazy. My non-ebike went back to the factory twice in the first 3 months and ended up with a complete change out of all bearings, so I'm aware that it can be something else entirely - and not necessarily from where I think the sound is emanating.

 

[Wernher]

I went through all the clicks and creaks on my Trance-e systematically and here what I found.

Cleaning and rotating all the suspension bearings made no difference but it is still a good thing to do.

The lower head bearing on the streets tube is slightly undersize at 51,8mm. I fitted a 52mm bearing and it silenced the string creak.

The click that you hear when pedaling is the beginning of a creak that will eventually drive you mad if you don't fix it. Good news however is that you can fix it at no cost on a couple of minutes. The LBS told me Giant sent out a message that a thin aluminium washer needs to be fitted between the game and the motor. That was not the case. After a thorough inspection I noticed that there are two floating mounts on the left side of the motor when you remove it out of the frame. Your problem is that one or both of them have seized in the sleeve where they fit inside the motor. Gently pry it out of it is stuck. Some WD40 or Q20 will assist in getting it out. Then clean it thoroughly with some solvent or even very thin sandpaper. Out some Q20/WD40 or thin grease on and push it back into the sleeve. When you put the motor back into the game and tighten the mounting bolts the creak will be gone. It was the single most elusive creak I've ever had to deal with but also the most satisfying to deal with.

It is a really nice feature of the engine mounting as it allows the frame to expand and contract around the motor while keeping it firmly in place. It just needs to be properly lubricated and it will remain silent and solid.

If you haven't solved your clicking noise when pedaling yet, chances are this is the culprit. Let me know if it worked for you ?

 

[federic0]

i also have the tick when i push on left pedal, it was very slightest sound initially, now i can clearly hear it anytime.

 

[Swissrider]

Clicking from my bike was motor covers - at least I think it was as it went away after tightening them. Annoying creak was the battery - a blob of silicone grease on the rubber lug at the bottom stopped this.

 

[Chuggz]

I went through all the clicks and creaks on my Trance-e systematically and here what I found.

Cleaning and rotating all the suspension bearings made no difference but it is still a good thing to do.

The lower head bearing on the streets tube is slightly undersize at 51,8mm. I fitted a 52mm bearing and it silenced the string creak.

The click that you hear when pedaling is the beginning of a creak that will eventually drive you mad if you don't fix it. Good news however is that you can fix it at no cost on a couple of minutes. The LBS told me Giant sent out a message that a thin aluminium washer needs to be fitted between the game and the motor. That was not the case. After a thorough inspection I noticed that there are two floating mounts on the left side of the motor when you remove it out of the frame. Your problem is that one or both of them have seized in the sleeve where they fit inside the motor. Gently pry it out of it is stuck. Some WD40 or Q20 will assist in getting it out. Then clean it thoroughly with some solvent or even very thin sandpaper. Out some Q20/WD40 or thin grease on and push it back into the sleeve. When you put the motor back into the game and tighten the mounting bolts the creak will be gone. It was the single most elusive creak I've ever had to deal with but also the most satisfying to deal with.

It is a really nice feature of the engine mounting as it allows the frame to expand and contract around the motor while keeping it firmly in place. It just needs to be properly lubricated and it will remain silent and solid.

If you haven't solved your clicking noise when pedaling yet, chances are this is the culprit. Let me know if it worked for you ?

I wish I seen this a week ago,
I just spent the weekend tracing this same issue down on my 2020 reign 1 pro.
Greased my headset
Dropper
Crank arms
Sprocket bolts
Pedals
Was pulling my hair out !
Once I realised the creek was evident with the left hand motor mount bolts in only it became clear what the issue was!
After a clean and grease Of those floating mounts it is now gone.
Satisfaction level 100

 

[Softsand]

Sorry to check in so late but yes, when my motor was replaced a couple of hundred kms ago, the noise disappeared and hasn’t returned so likely either an internal issue or the mounting bolts. I’ll now be ready if it reappears !

 

[federic0]

Sorry to check in so late but yes, when my motor was replaced a couple of hundred kms ago,

ouch, so you are saying that f****g ticking noise ended up in a replaced engine?

 

[Softsand]

ouch, so you are saying that f****g ticking noise ended up in a replaced engine?

Pretty sure the issues were unrelated. It was replaced because fitting a new speed sensor didn’t actually fix the “speed sensor” error that was reported.

 

[KennyB]

Had similar, tried lots, then took off RRP Enduro front mudguard, cleaned all round it and refitted. So far so good.

 

[sdcoffeeroaster]

Clicking from my bike was motor covers - at least I think it was as it went away after tightening them. Annoying creak was the battery - a blob of silicone grease on the rubber lug at the bottom stopped this.

Same here. On of my noises was the left motor cover rubbing on the frame sometimes. I loosened the three screws and pushed the cover as hard as could into the frame and re-tightened them and that creak went away.

 

[Mattseaford]

When riding under load (even light), my motor seems to have developed a strange ticking noise when pedalling. It’s a bit of a random pattern though and I can confirm it definitely isn’t the chain/sprocket. I’ll be taking it in soon to get checked but just wondering if anyone had experienced something similar.

Ive got a new Reign e+0 and it has developed that exact same noise, mine is going in tomorrow so hopefully I will get it fixed??I will keep you posted. I know this sounds weird but have you looked at the headset? mine started creaking so I dropped out the forks and put it back together and it may of solved the clicking noise as well, bit windy today so not entirely sure!!

 

[sdcoffeeroaster]

I mentioned this in another tread but found that my shoelace (the aglet) was rapping against the left side cover in a random fashion. The left side cover on the Shimano seems to behave a bit like a drum and the sound direction and frequency can be confusing.

 

[Softsand]

Ive got a new Reign e+0 and it has developed that exact same noise, mine is going in tomorrow so hopefully I will get it fixed??I will keep you posted. I know this sounds weird but have you looked at the headset? mine started creaking so I dropped out the forks and put it back together and it may of solved the clicking noise as well, bit windy today so not entirely sure!!

Was definitely either the motor or the mounts. All quiet now since the motor was replaced.