Semcycle giraffe clicking

I used to ride my friend’s sem giraffe, and it clicks when you idle. I
thought, “huh, he got a lemon.” WELL, I’ve had my own new sem giraffe for a
couple weeks now, and lo and behold: the click! It actually started a day
after I got it.

It sounds like the clicking is coming from in the gears somewhere, but I
can't pinpoint it, because I'm not much of a mechanic while idling 6 feet
up! Does anyone else own a Semcycle giraffe?? Did you get "the click"? And
do you know what it is???!!! Help!

Thanks,

Alex

RE: Semcycle giraffe clicking

This might be the same click people get on Schwinn Giraffes. The top chain
sprocket moves slightly back and forth as you idle, makes a noise, and possibly
a disconcerting gap in wheel response.

If it clicks every time you idle, it’s in the sprockets/axles. If it only clicks
while riding, or once per revolution of the chain, it could be in the chain or
misaligned sprockets.

I never had the problem on my Schwinn until I took apart the “bottom bracket (a
bicycling term that’s hardly accurate)” to put on a different sized sprocket. I
could never get the thing tight enough after that, and it always clicked. The
sprocket fits onto the crankset, with an extra “pin” into the sprocket to keep
it from rotating. That pin is a little bit smaller than the hole it fits into,
and the clicking comes from that little gap.

I repeat, this is the Schwinn problem and might not be what’s happening on a
clicking Semcycle.

If you have this problem, you might try completely taking apart your bottom
bracket (crank mechanism), thoroughly cleaning all parts, and reassembling it
with red loctite. I don’t know if that is good enough, because the full
strength of the biggest muscles in your body will be working to break it loose
again later.

The most permanent solution is to have the sprocket spot welded to the crankset.
This does not cause a problem on the Schwinn because you can still take the
whole thing apart if you have to, you just can’t change sprockets.

Be careful when welding! Mine ended up (very very) slightly off-center, which
causes the chain tension to go from too-loose to to-tight.

John Foss

______________________________ Reply Separator


Subject: Semcycle giraffe clicking Author: “aldoug38@aol.com
[SMTP:aldoug38@aol.com] at MSXGATE Date: 6/25/98 5:53 PM

I used to ride my friend's sem giraffe, and it clicks when you idle. I
thought, "huh, he got a lemon." WELL, I've had my own new sem giraffe for a
couple weeks now, and lo and behold: the click! It actually started a day
after I got it.

It sounds like the clicking is coming from in the gears somewhere, but I
can't pinpoint it, because I'm not much of a mechanic while idling 6 feet
up! Does anyone else own a Semcycle giraffe?? Did you get "the click"? And
do you know what it is???!!! Help!

Thanks,

Alex