BBSHD Creaking Sound

[AlanBowers86]

Hey guys, newish owner of a BBSHD kit. Havent posted up till now because I've honestly been extremely happy so far after 600 miles of riding in about a month and a half.

However recently that changed as I noticed some creaking sounds coming from the motor/crank/bottom bracket area. I checked the torque on my bottom bracket and it seems fine, but a slight tightening did help for a day or two before the sound came back. Is there anything else that may cause such a sound? Like a BBSHD internal part that may need lubing or something?

Just to note, the sound goes away under heaving pedaling or no pedaling, it's only there under light to moderate pedal movements.

Anyways thoughts or opinions are definitely welcome.

 

[AlanBowers86]

Well I think I found the answer. The motor crept up towards the downtube and was rubbing slightly against it. After loosening it just to give it a 1/8" gap, then retightening, it cleared right up.

 

[dAz63]

The motor should be hard up against the down tube, place a piece of rubber between the motor and tube, also check your cranks the creaking can come from slightly loose cranks

 

[AlanBowers86]

Ah thanks for the tip. I was just thinking of maybe doing something like that. I'll try to find some adhesive backed rubber or something to stick in there.

 

[tomjasz]

All Bafang mid drives benefit from additional lubrication. Stabilizer bars are a popular solution.

 

[AlanBowers86]

What kind of additional lubrication? As in disassembly, or from the exterior?

And yeah I've wondered about the stabilizer bars. I am not super hardcore with the bike, it's just a hardtail that I use for commuting, so mostly paved roads with a bit of gravel or curb hopping that I encounter on a daily basis. If it still wanders, I'll definitely have to consider though.

 

[tomjasz]

Mobile SCH100 is a better grease than some are suggesting

 

[AlanBowers86]

Thank you for that link! I'll definitely do that in the off-season, as I only plan to ride in nicer weather and my motor sounds much quieter than that video shows anyways right now. But that's a great how to for when I need to do that later this year.

 

[dAz63]

Personally I think he is putting way too much grease in, and his motor is still noisy so the other gears will need checking, my bbshd is still very quiet after 3300km

 

[tomjasz]

Personally I think he is putting way too much grease in, and his motor is still noisy so the other gears will need checking, my bbshd is still very quiet after 3300km

No. Simply not true. I've had scores of customers and personally lubricated a dozen motors using nearly as much grease. You've been lucky. In my experience, I'd be definitely lubricating after 3300km. I have provided support for Bafang mid drives and sold parts for the better part of 4 years. The pictured crank side gear is a fairly common failure, almost ALWAYS a result of inadequate lube.

 

[dAz63]

Fair enough, just that I think to much grease is almost as bad as too little, I'd use about half that, and as you say the right grease matters.

Not sure where I can buy the Mobile grease here, I have a friend who ran an aviation supply company, I'll see if he can get me some.

 

[tomjasz]

Fair enough, just that I think to much grease is almost as bad as too little, I'd use about half that, and as you say the right grease matters.

Not sure where I can buy the Mobile grease here, I have a friend who ran an aviation supply company, I'll see if he can get me some.

Amazon. SHC100