Creaking noise

MsO

Active member
Dec 11, 2018
264
186
swindon
If I hold on my brakes and put some pressure on the pedals I'm getting a creaking noise coming from the motor area I can also hear it when I'm riding not all the time thou bloody annoying anyone else experienced this
 

Paul Mac

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
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Jul 9, 2018
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If I hold on my brakes and put some pressure on the pedals I'm getting a creaking noise coming from the motor area I can also hear it when I'm riding not all the time thou bloody annoying anyone else experienced this
I got this today also, I'm going to investigate tomorrow.
Sounds like it might be the motor bolts, so that will be the first thing I look at ?
 

Paul Mac

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
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Jul 9, 2018
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Just went out with a can of wd40.
Sprayed all the motor bolts, still creaks.
Sprayed the rear shock lower pivot, still creaks.
Sprayed swing arm main pivot, still creaks.
Sprayed top swing arm pivot bolts, creaking stopped!
Now don't know if it actually was the top pivot or the wd40 soaked though to any of the other points.
Still to test on a ride, this was just in the garage pressing on the pedals.
 

Jdog

Active member
Patreon
Jun 4, 2019
262
334
Surrey, UK
What bike is it ? My rail 5 does this and I’m almost certain it’s the battery , not sure though after reading different things
I hear a lot of people say they have a creaky motor or battery and honestly 9/10 it is a creaky saddle/seat rails.

I posted two videos in the other thread of a few things to check depending on where your creak is coming from.
 

MsO

Active member
Dec 11, 2018
264
186
swindon
Mines not the battery or the seat just wd40 all the suspension linkage I'll see what's it like tomorrow
 

Paul Mac

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
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Jul 9, 2018
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Uk
Same here all quiet at the moment, see how long it lasts.
If it comes back, I'll just remove and grease the bolts
 
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StilusBoy79

New Member
Mar 31, 2020
42
21
Uk
I had this on new bike, like the other guy says "creaky seat". Was surprised and relieved it wasn't the motor etc.
 

Bearing Man

Ebike Motor Centre
Patreon
Sep 29, 2018
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UK
Just a note of caution guys. If the motor is creaking, it does not normally come from the bolts, it is caused by the aluminium motor body moving against your aluminium frame. The bolts are still relatively tight, but are allowing the motor to flex against the frame under pedal load.
Spraying WD40 or any lubricating spray, will only mask the real problem and can causes an even bigger problem!
When this area is sprayed or lubricated the joint between the motor and frame now slip quietly but they are still moving and this creates wear and then it's a vicious circle. I have seen Yamaha motors with the bolt retaining lugs almost worn through.
Why does this happen? When a motor is fitted into a bike at the factory, there is paint or "damping film" between the motor and the frame. This is quickly worn away and releases some of the tightness of the retaining bolts, allowing the motor to move a little more at which time it begins to creak, if left or lubricated, it will just get worse. Much better to just check them and tighten if required.
 

ezliven

New Member
Feb 9, 2023
7
3
United States
My 2020 Rail 9.7 had a creaking noise for some time. The creaking was minor at first but got progressively worse to the point others riding near me could hear it. I had taken all the pivot points apart and cleaned and retorqued them and cleaned seat post but still did not fix the creaking noise. Finally the only thing left was the motor mounting. I had noticed while holding the brake and stepping on the crank that the motor had a slight movement to it. I removed the motor and found the bolts for the motor mounting bracket were loose and one had broken off. I was able to remove the broken bolt. For some reason Bosch had installed them with tamper proof bolt heads and did not have any anti-seize on them. I removed the other 3 loose bolts and installed 4 new M5-18 X 16mm bolts with regular allen heads. Installed them with anti-seize and torqued them to 6 nm. Reinstalled them motor and have 2 rides for 40 miles and not more creaking. Bracket shown in the attachment.
 

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