Creaking front freewheel/cranks?

[Zacm1213]

Hello Trials Forum, I recently did a complete bike overhaul and decided to replace my crank arms. Obviously this meant removing the front freewheel from my old ones. After some trouble getting the freewheel off the cranks using a vice and the freewheel tool it finally came off. Unfortunately, the freewheel was so tight to the crank that when the freewheel came off it gripped onto the crank and came undone spilling the bearings everywhere. I gathered all the bearings I could find, 94 in total, cleaned, re-greased and re-assembled the freewheel with the 94 bearings inside. After reassembling the bike I noticed the freewheel didn't have the usual 'click' that it used to have. Probably just some grease slipping inside the freewheel, so I thought nothing of it.

I rode the bike, tightening the cranks and pedals every 5 minutes, with no problems to speak of for about 1 hour. However, the next day, I got back on the bike after tightening the cranks and pedals to hear very loud creaking coming from the crank arms/freewheel assembly. What is the likely cause of the creaking? It only happens when I put pressure on the pedals. Am I missing bearings? All I know about the freewheel is it's 18t.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[niconj]

I've just recently counted the ball bearings in an Echo TR freewheel and came out at 48 on each side. I don't think (also from what I was being told in my own thread) that the two missing bearings will cause the freewheel to creak. Then again, I don't know what freewheel you use and if 94 is actually right for yours.

[Jamie_Trials]

I'd see to it if it isn't clicking properly again, could cause some damage to yourself it if isn't engaging properly.

As for the creaking noise, did you grease the bottom bracket spline/taper before putting the crank back on, also worth dabbing some on the crank bolt if you still don't have any luck with that.