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That FSA click...crap :(

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

That FSA click...crap :(

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Old 08-20-07, 10:45 AM
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That FSA click...crap :(



I have compact crank SLK from FSA and I have always stood by the crank. I have seen others here have problems and I was happy that I was not one of them. The alleged problem usually starts off with a click and then turns into other issues.

I have had the crank for a just under 2 years and I don't race or ride like P-cad. I first noticed the click sound when I was on a really long hill climb. About mid way up it would do a small faint click. I just thought it was the seat post or something...

Now, every time I get out of the saddle, click. The Click happens when the drive side crank arm is just passing the downward pedal. After reading the stuff about the cranks I did what others did to fix it.

I took off the crank, cleaned the BB area, put Teflon tape on the BB cups, used locktread compound on the non-drive side bolt. I checked the pedals by taking them off and putting on another set...still click


click click click....

wtf?



= suck

Last edited by ggg300; 08-21-07 at 03:52 PM.
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Old 08-20-07, 10:47 AM
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make sure that the bolt holding the cranks together is tight. I heard the click, then all of a sudden i was peddling with one foot, which then slid out of the BB. interesting feeling, 20 mph, breaks, but crank arms attached to the bottom of both feet.
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Old 08-20-07, 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by labrat_62
make sure that the bolt holding the cranks together is tight. I heard the click, then all of a sudden i was peddling with one foot, which then slid out of the BB. interesting feeling, 20 mph, breaks, but crank arms attached to the bottom of both feet.

Trust me that thing is on there...
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Old 08-21-07, 08:39 AM
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That click is driving me nuts! The problem is the bolt holding the crank arm in place, it is made of aluminum and if you over-torque it, it will strip the threads when you are really hammering on it(thank god the threads on the bolt only and not the actual crank).

FSA now seems to recommend using lock-tite on it when you install. I think the proper torque is only approx 3 ft-lb (as per FSA)...which is all you need, its the pinch bolts that actually keep the arm tight on the crank after that and also squeeze the crank bolt in place. Make sure you use a degreaser to clean both surfaces before applying lock-tite...and allow some time for the lock-tite to set in.
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Old 08-21-07, 08:50 AM
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I used to have the same issue with my Compact SL-Ks. Then the bolt became loose every couple of rides. I called FSA, sent the cranks to them (more than a year old), and received a brand ones. No problem since.
It's not only a bolt issue as I first tried a new bolt without success before the exchange. The actual problem resides in the axle thread design and material.
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Old 08-21-07, 09:06 AM
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...and people wonder why I only buy ISIS.

Even Campy has problem with the UT bearings and water corrosion.
 
Old 08-21-07, 09:16 AM
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My Dura Ace equipped Cdale Six13 is clicking like crazy and so far two LBS's can't figure it out. Replacing the BB next.
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Old 08-21-07, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by gpelpel
I used to have the same issue with my Compact SL-Ks. Then the bolt became loose every couple of rides. I called FSA, sent the cranks to them (more than a year old), and received a brand ones. No problem since.
It's not only a bolt issue as I first tried a new bolt without success before the exchange. The actual problem resides in the axle thread design and material.
well I e-mailed em and called and left a message...

click click click.....


...its like a really bad edgar allan poe poem about CF..."dissemble no more! I admit the deed!" FSA sucks indeed...
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Old 08-21-07, 12:20 PM
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I told FSA on the phone that lots of people are having a clicking problem...the guy got pissed off and told me that I am the only one and that their cranks are really good and problem free...that is just hilarious.
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Old 08-21-07, 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by DocRay
...and people wonder why I only buy ISIS.
ISIS, oh ISIS, you mystical child!
What drives me to you is what drives me insane...
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Old 08-21-07, 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by patentcad
My Dura Ace equipped Cdale Six13 is clicking like crazy and so far two LBS's can't figure it out. Replacing the BB next.
One that got me one time was pulling the cassette and cleaning and oiling the surface of the freehub body and the splines on the cassette. I had overhauled everything else on the bike trying to find it, and that did it.

+1 to ISIS. My old square-taper bikes do really well too, but no hollow spindles there...
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Old 08-21-07, 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by markpaul
That click is driving me nuts! The problem is the bolt holding the crank arm in place, it is made of aluminum and if you over-torque it, it will strip the threads when you are really hammering on it(thank god the threads on the bolt only and not the actual crank).

FSA now seems to recommend using lock-tite on it when you install. I think the proper torque is only approx 3 ft-lb (as per FSA)...which is all you need, its the pinch bolts that actually keep the arm tight on the crank after that and also squeeze the crank bolt in place.
You're talking about a different FSA crank. The SLK cranks use a single bolt on the left side, which fits into an ISIS-like splined fitting. Like ISIS it has a slight taper. There is no pinch bolt. The pinch bolt design is better, but it's not what's on SLKs.

For the SLKs FSA recommends 36 ft/lbs. And Loctite. But IIRC it's a special Loctite, not the typical blue stuff. See their web site for the exact details, or email them.
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Old 08-21-07, 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by markpaul
I told FSA on the phone that lots of people are having a clicking problem...the guy got pissed off and told me that I am the only one and that their cranks are really good and problem free...that is just hilarious.
HA!!!

I just got to talk to a live person...can you say defensive! Mother of GOD!!!!

Some guy named Manuel answered the phone...I told him about my problem...he cut me off and asked if I had taken the crank in to the LBS. I said no...he then tried to make me fell like a jack ass for calling and went down a list of things I need to do first. I told him that I did all that...and all I wanted was a steel bolt or a next step...he did not sound as if he was going to help so I asked for an e-mail so I get get a record of my efforts to fix this click and if anything goes wrong with that crank while I'm riding they are going to wish they had addressed the issue.

MANUEL@FULLSPEEDAHEAD.COM = wheelsucker of the day!
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Old 08-21-07, 12:59 PM
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Remember to check your front derailleur cable end. I sound like a fool for admitting it, but I hassled with a crank for a day or so recently, then happened to notice it by looking down over the top tube as I turned the crank. The cable squishy was tapping against the carbon arm...click...click...click...

Oh well, better than a bottom bracket problem, right?
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Old 08-21-07, 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by oopfoo
Remember to check your front derailleur cable end. I sound like a fool for admitting it, but I hassled with a crank for a day or so recently, then happened to notice it by looking down over the top tube as I turned the crank. The cable squishy was tapping against the carbon arm...click...click...click...

Oh well, better than a bottom bracket problem, right?
yup...and also checked...and the click happens at the bottom of the pedal stroke on drive side.
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Old 08-21-07, 01:32 PM
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https://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/dr...8_2491crx.aspx
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Old 08-21-07, 01:58 PM
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Yeah, that just sucks.
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Old 08-21-07, 02:16 PM
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FSA has a problem in that they have a very short half-life to their products and they are always introducing new designs. This is so bad that even CSC was caught at the TDF using last year's cranks, because they still had them left over from last year and the company introduces new cranks every 6 months. So they rebadged them to look like new cranks. That's the story.
But, eyebrows were raised when Cancellara's bike sported an cheaper aluminum FSA energy crankset instead of the new carbon cranks. They attempted to disguise it with K-Force light chainrings.

Reporters also caught on that the SRAM bikes all had Shimano chains.
 
Old 08-21-07, 02:26 PM
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Originally Posted by DocRay
FSA has a problem in that they have a very short half-life to their products and they are always introducing new designs. This is so bad that even CSC was caught at the TDF using last year's cranks, because they still had them left over from last year and the company introduces new cranks every 6 months. So they rebadged them to look like new cranks. That's the story.
But, eyebrows were raised when Cancellara's bike sported an cheaper aluminum FSA energy crankset instead of the new carbon cranks. They attempted to disguise it with K-Force light chainrings.

Reporters also caught on that the SRAM bikes all had Shimano chains.
Gossamer, even.
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Old 08-21-07, 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by DocRay
FSA has a problem in that they have a very short half-life to their products and they are always introducing new designs. This is so bad that even CSC was caught at the TDF using last year's cranks, because they still had them left over from last year and the company introduces new cranks every 6 months. So they rebadged them to look like new cranks. That's the story.
But, eyebrows were raised when Cancellara's bike sported an cheaper aluminum FSA energy crankset instead of the new carbon cranks. They attempted to disguise it with K-Force light chainrings.

Reporters also caught on that the SRAM bikes all had Shimano chains.
thanks for the anger fuel...I'm kicking myself for not going DA...
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Old 08-21-07, 02:45 PM
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Originally Posted by patentcad
My Dura Ace equipped Cdale Six13 is clicking like crazy and so far two LBS's can't figure it out. Replacing the BB next.
PLZ let me know how this works out...I'm going back to Ultg cranks soon...
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Old 08-21-07, 02:46 PM
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whoops Gossamer...I should know, I just bought the same cranks.
 
Old 08-21-07, 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by voltman
Gossamer, even.
And those suck, too.
I rarely say never, but with FSA (et al) cranks...

Originally Posted by DocRay
whoops Gossamer...I should know, I just bought the same cranks.
That's unfortunate. I just tried to GIVE my old Gossamer crankset away to no avail.
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Old 08-21-07, 02:58 PM
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PCAd,

this is just shooting in the dark, but could it be your headset? I have the same troubles with my bike until I realize it's the damn headset that's causing all the noise. DA cranks an BB, esp the 7800, should not be doing that.
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Old 08-21-07, 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by ggg300
I took off the crank, cleaned the BB area, put Teflon tape on the BB cups, used locktread compound on the non-drive side bolt. I checked the pedals by taking them off and putting on another set...still click


click click click....

wtf?
Had the same problem with my FSA Gossamer. Tried everything you tried, LBS tried a number of things. Nothing got rid of the noise. LBS believes that the problem was that the clicking was actually between the splines and the crank arm. I think their explanation is the most likely based on how the noise acted. This crank has been finicky from the beginning, and I never liked it much.

I tried to work with FSA customer service but found them to be useless. I know I had the cheap crank, but it still was a bad deal. The customer service was definitely subpar. I won't be getting any more of their products in the future.

I decisively solved the problem by getting a Shimano R700.
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