Troubleshooting – Double Treadle Clicking While Treadling

This applies to all DT wheels

Question:

I have a double-treadle, and it makes a clicking noise when the right treadle goes down. It's taken me a while to figure out the source of the noise, but I finally saw that was the double-treadle assembly. As the right treadle goes down, the piece of wood that connects the two treadles slides on the metal rod. It goes in the direction of the back of the wheel and makes a click when it does so. In the photo you can see that the little plastic bearing has been repeatedly pushed until it protrudes slightly on one side (the one facing the front of the wheel) than the other. I used a thin screwdriver to center the plastic bearing, but it doesn't make any difference. When the right treadle depresses, the click happens again.

Answer:

This type of clicking is something we have seen before. While you have correctly identified where the sound occurs, the actual cause is often elsewhere.

Please check the flexible connectors on both sides of the rocker arm (the double-treadle linkage). Although these connectors are flexible, the polyurethane material still has a certain stiffness.

Over time and with repeated motion, the polyurethane can lose its strength and start to deform. When this happens, the connector bends where it shouldn’t. During treadling, this can cause a sudden “snap,” allowing the rocker arm to move abruptly and produce the clicking sound.

Inspect the polyurethane connectors for signs of wear or deformation. Replacing one or both connectors will usually resolve the issue.
(Part number: SR0112)