Solve this wheel noise problem
Last Post 01/17/2014 07:27 PM by ed custer. 14 Replies.
Author Messages
zootracer

Posts:833

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01/09/2014 12:34 PM
I have a Mavic SSC Sl front wheel. While cleaning my bike the other day after a ride I noticed a metallic sound coming from the wheel when I spun it. It did not sound like it was coming from the hub, but the rim itself. It sounded like something inside of the rim. I pulled off the front tire and tube, spun it again and noise gone. I put the tire/tube back on and no more noise. This is the second time this has happened and the noise baffles me. Anyone have a clue what it could be? I also swamped out skewers before I pulled off the tire and the sound was still there. Only thing that makes the noise go away is pulling off the tire and remounting it. Could there be something inside of the tube????
Oldfart

Posts:511

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01/09/2014 01:15 PM
Tube valve rattle in the valve hole? Something loose inside the rim?
stinkyhelmet

Posts:94

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01/09/2014 01:19 PM
Many mavic rims are pinned with a sleeve, welded, and then sidewalls machined. Sometimes the sleeve works loose and rattles around when the wheel is rotatiing.

If this is the situation with your wheel, no need to worry about the rim failing on you. It is just an annoyance. I have remedied the situation by drilling a small hole in the rim bed on top or right next to the sleeve and squirting a drop of silicone caulk into the hole. Worked like a charm.
dvs cycles

Posts:11

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01/09/2014 08:08 PM
Plus ! for the stem making the noise from first hand experience.
I always put some Velox tape inside at the valve hole and punch it out just enough for the stem to pass thru.
CarbonGecko

Posts:42

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01/10/2014 08:07 AM
I'd also agree with the valve stem. Another cure is a piece of electrical tape on the outside of the rim over the valve hole and push the stem through. You can also buy little rubber washers made for the purpose.
If it is a ticking noise and only when in the frame make sure your wheel magnet isn't rubbing against the sensor/transmitter
Big DanT

Posts:19

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01/10/2014 10:22 AM
Stinkyhelmet has the correct answer.

The pins were prone to movement, and subsequent noise that zootracer is describing.

It's ether that or your buddy put a spoke nipple in your rim to drive you crazy.

Dan
zootracer

Posts:833

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01/10/2014 11:41 AM
It's not the valve stem. Pulling the wheel off of the bike and rotating it slightly left or right I can hear something moving around from inside of the rim. Stinkyhelmet assessment is most likely correct. But why would the noise disappear if I merely just pull off the tire/tube and remount them?. That is what has me confused. Also with the tire/tube off, the rim it makes no noise. My hearing is shot, so for me to hear it, it has to be loud.
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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01/10/2014 01:23 PM
A thought: the loose sleeve. Perhaps when the rim is under compression from the inflated tire it assumes the same shape as the slightly undersized sleeve. Pull the tire off and the rim expands. Now the rim shape and sleeve shape are slightly different, just enough to stop the rattle.

An easy experiment: deflate the tire but leave it on. Noise still there? If it is, toss my theory out the window. If it stops, try bedding the sleeve with a little silicon or epoxy (if you can get to it at all). Actually, you could drill at the seam with a small spade bit, being careful to not go past the rim itself. The little disc of trim should pull out as you remove the bit. Then a drop or two of liquid epoxy, keeping the hole at the top as it sets might just do the trick. If it doesn't the only things lost are your time, the warranty and a little weight at the rim.

Ben
Oldfart

Posts:511

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01/10/2014 03:02 PM
I think Ben is right about tire pressure on a rim. I know when I build light Stan's rims like the crest, the spoke tension goes down a lot with an inflated tire on it. So once I have the wheel at the desired tension, I mount the tire and air it up and check the tension and dial it up to spec. I think last wheels I built the tension dropped about 20%.
stinkyhelmet

Posts:94

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01/10/2014 03:46 PM
+1 ben and oldfart....especially important with lightweight rims. Bomber rims, less so.
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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01/10/2014 05:14 PM
Nice...that's a familiar sound and now I know what it is :-)
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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01/10/2014 05:17 PM
A small typo in my post. "The little disc of trim ..." should be "The little disc of rim ...".

I was wondering if butchering the drilling could lead to danger, then I realized that if this is a clincher rim, that hole will be in the center of the rim, ie the middle of a beam in bending. Very low stresses there and very unlikely to have negative consequences even with a major blunder. (Manufacturers regularly drill large holes in that area, for the spoke nipples and valves. No one seems very concerned.)

Ben
zootracer

Posts:833

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01/10/2014 05:45 PM
Yeah, noise gone then tire is deflated. Problem solved. Thanks for everyone's help.
super7

Posts:1

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01/17/2014 05:01 PM
This is my first post on the "new" forum. I went through all of the above to fix a similar sound on my girlfriend's bike was similar to the old "open pro click", but louder. What eventually fixed it was the Mavic hub tool (M40123). If the sound returns, and I suspect it may, you may want to try one of these to adjust the hub - the sound should go away.

Here is a picture of the tool:
http://www.lfgss.com/thread73073.html

zootracer

Posts:833

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01/17/2014 07:27 PM
Yeah I have one of those Mavic hubs tools, Forgot to mention that I have Mavic Ksyrium SSC SL's. The noise is gone, but strangely enough, I have a problem mounting a tire on that rim now. I gave up and switched wheels with my old bike and put on Mavic OP's with Chorus hubs.


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