Knocking/Clicking noise

[Peter Hill]

The drive chain on my Levo is making a noise and I am at a loss now to what is causing it. I have checked all the usual stuff but I need some advice before I go replacing parts! I have just recorded a short uphill ride and under load. I guess we can rule out the motor as it's just had a new one fitted as this was thought to be the source of the problem.
I really haven't a got a clue now!!

 

[Colin-T-Woods]

Sounds like the chain rubbing. I had a verysimilar sound which only occurred under load. I adjusted the chain guide at the front sprocket and the sound disappeared. I too thought it was the motor and had already called my local lbs to tell them I had a motor problem. Worth swinging the guide out of the way and trying that. The carbon Levo seems to amplify noises. Had a noise too which I thought was the headset. Turned out to be two cables touching when hitting bumps, you could see the wear on the cable outer.

 

[Mcharza]

It's the chain guide. Just adjust it

 

[Peter Hill]

Thanks for your suggestions, I took the guard off and no change! I really am at a loss to what it is? It still sounds likes its coming from inside the motor cover but it can't be can it?

 

[Colin-T-Woods]

Peter, could the chain be worn and when under load and stretched the sprocket teeth are carching? Try pulling the chain away from the front of the chainring and see if there’s much slack.

 

[Peter Hill]

Peter, could the chain be worn and when under load and stretched the sprocket teeth are carching? Try pulling the chain away from the front of the chainring and see if there’s much slack.

Tried two new chains and no difference sadly.....not sure what else it can be?

 

[lumpy]

Mine made that exact same noise when I put on a new chain and cassette but only when I'd pedal hard. I tried a different new chain, removed the guide, rechecked everything. Decided the hell with it and went for a ride. It went away and now it's silent and runs like a champ.

 

[Peter Hill]

Mine made that exact same noise when I put on a new chain and cassette but only when I'd pedal hard. I tried a different new chain, removed the guide, rechecked everything. Decided the hell with it and went for a ride. It went away and now it's silent and runs like a champ.

so.....it is very weird I've even thought about getting a new cassette! but they aren't cheap. So you never did discover what it was then? It could be that my old chain and cassette worn together and now the new chain doesn't mesh correctly, just a thought.

 

[lumpy]

so.....it is very weird I've even thought about getting a new cassette! but they aren't cheap. So you never did discover what it was then? It could be that my old chain and cassette worn together and now the new chain doesn't mesh correctly, just a thought.

My guess is the tolerances are really tight and the chain needed to get bedded in. Mine stopped making the sound after about 10 miles of hard riding and now it's fine

 

[Colin-T-Woods]

Peter, I don’t want to harp on about the chain guide but I think the angle of the bracket is important because it can touch the chain if it’s too vertical. The chain moves closer when you sit on the bike. Mine made the same noise after my chain guide had been knocked out of the way and I simply swung it back. I can see where it rubbed. There is a note in the manual page 7, item 5.5 which describes setting the angle. On our two Levo’s The bracket is approx at the 5 o’clock position. Worth another look?

 

[Jeb]

My chain was rubbing on the inside of the chain guide, not as loud as yours thou. LBS removed the guide and found it was missing the initial washer causing It to angle out and rub the chain. Hope you find the issue.?

 

[DanDilla]

so.....it is very weird I've even thought about getting a new cassette! but they aren't cheap. So you never did discover what it was then? It could be that my old chain and cassette worn together and now the new chain doesn't mesh correctly, just a thought.

how long was the old chain when replaced?
if it got too long and the chainring and cassette „bedded in“ on the worn chain you may have to replace everything or drive the old one until its completely wrecked.
i had that once, but it was also Skipping under load and after a few km the chain bursted. That likely happened due to the cassette. Hope you’re not too late...
your sounds more like the chainring worn out or indeed the chain guide.
lock the derailleur and turn the cranks, if the chain is ‚sticking‘ on the ring and even being pulled upwards the chainring is worn...

 

[Peter Hill]

how long was the old chain when replaced?
if it got too long and the chainring and cassette „bedded in“ on the worn chain you may have to replace everything or drive the old one until its completely wrecked.
i had that once, but it was also Skipping under load and after a few km the chain bursted. That likely happened due to the cassette. Hope you’re not too late...
your sounds more like the chainring worn out or indeed the chain guide.
lock the derailleur and turn the cranks, if the chain is ‚sticking‘ on the ring and even being pulled upwards the chainring is worn...

Your spot on thank you.........it was the chainring, I've just fitted a new one and the noise has gone away. I do need to check for chain wear more frequently in future as it was only after I put a new one on that the noise appeared. I'm now a happy bunny

Thanks everyone for all your input and hopefully this thread will help others with the same issue?

 

[lumpy]

I guess I need to get a new chainring! I've over 2000 miles on the bike and most of it very steep stuff..

 

[lumpy]

To add to the thread, I called Praxis and Specialized bought all the steel 32 tooth chain rings and have them in their supply stream. So if you need one, you have to get it from a Specialized dealer. However, Praxis is tooling up for another run so there will be more from other sources in a month or two.
In the meantime I bought an aluminum 30 tooth Praxis ring to see if I like a few fewer teeth for climbing. It won't last long but it'll be fun!

 

[Peter Hill]

I also found these comments from a review which is pretty interesting :
“In efforts to boost durability, SRAM have developed new aggressive X-SYNC 2 teeth. When the older XX1 chainrings wear they are prone to ‘holding on’ to the chain at the bottom causing a rattling noise. The new X-SYNC-2 distributes load on more teeth to reduce wear (up to 4x in lab conditions) and the trailing edge has been removed to quieten release at the bottom of the stroke. SRAM are confident that their new Eagle ring has dramatically reduced hooking when it wears, keeping the drivetrain quieter for longer.”
Although not a SRAM one on my bike these are exactly the same symptoms as with my 'Specialised' chainring, which I believe are made by Praxis? I've now fitted a Hope one so just have to see how it wears.

 

[DanDilla]

My Hope 34t did around 2500km (very light rider), after a new chain and cassette It sounded exactly as in the video.
New cassette is a xx1, currently at the third chain at roughly 800km, trying to cycle 3 chains -> change every 300km to get a constant wear over the three chains and along with that more km out of the cassette and the chainring.
current chainring Is a 38t wolftooth

 

[Troutwrestler]

Check the chainring spider is tight on the axle.

 

[Peter Hill]

The original Specialised (Praxis) steel one on mine lasted 1280km but I only knew it was worn when I fitted the new chain! I have now fitted a Hope 32T alloy one now, so see how it goes. Note to self check chain wear more often! Not sure if steel ones last any longer than alloy but will find out, this is apparently the reason Spec say that fitted the Praxis?

 

[AdamDuckworth]

Great post and it's saved me a trip to the LBS! My 2019 Levo Expert started making the same noise yesterday. Was convinced it was the motor and it was going to give up half way round Cannock!

But after checking, it was - I hope - the chain guide.

I put the bike on a stand, lightly held the rear brake for some resistance and I could replicate the noise when turning the cranks.

I'd never adjusted the chain guide from new but I loosened it, jiggled it about a bit and reset it and now the noise has gone. Test ride tomorrow so hopefully all will be well.

 

[Peter Hill]

Don't forget to check the chain and chainring wear? it is quite rapid on an e-mtb !

 

[AdamDuckworth]

Don't forget to check the chain and chainring wear? it is quite rapid on an e-mtb !

I did have a good look but both are like new.

 

[Peter Hill]

Don't forget to check the chain and chainring wear? it is quite rapid on an e-mtb !

thats good news then...

 

[frankenbike]

Interesting thread....my share: I am running the sram EX1 drivetrain and got ~1800 miles (all singletrack) before I had to replace the cassette. The chain started skipping on the mid-cogs, but it happened to coincide exactly with a frame swap, so at first I thought it was related to the build (mech adjustment, alignment etc). The chain showed zero lengthening (it's a really stout chain) and the wear on the chainring was really subtle. The wear on the cassette was also hard to notice to my eye, but my local LBS guy (30 years experience) noticed the wear on the cassette immediately. So I guess at ~1800 mile intervals I should expect the skipping as signal to replace. The cassette is not cheap, so now I clean (with a cleaning tool) and lube the chain every ride whereas before I was just lubing before each ride and wiping the chain clean, using the tool only every 10 or so rides. It will be interesting to see if this noticeably extends the life - it should, as the dirt on the chain is equivalent to a fairly course abrasive.

 

[lumpy]

I've since gone to a Wolf Tooth Steel 30 tooth chainring. It's a harder steel than the Praxis and it allows the bike to climb steep stuff better