Notes on Chain Grinding Issues

At some point or another in your riding career you will most likely experience the ominous chain skip. Luckily this type of problem is fixable and usually takes a close inspection of the drivetrain to be able to diagnose.

If you are out on one of your first couple of rides on a newer bike or riding a bike that has new derailleur cable and housing you could have what is known as “cable stretch”. The phenomenon of “cable stretch” is peculiar in that the cables do not actually stretch but it is instead the seating of the housing and ferrules into the cable stops that causes the cable to slack a bit. The slack in the cable causes the derailleur to come out of adjustment and results in a chain skipping issue. This problem is most often fixed by making minor adjustments to the cable tension using the barrel adjusters located on the shifters, rear derailleur, or mounted on the frames of the bicycle. For some great tips on finding the proper cable tension see Jenny Skorcz’s blog at this link Self Help Fix List.

If your bike is not new or freshly cabled and housed and your chain is skipping it could be because your cables and housing are worn out. When your housing is worn out it creates excess friction for the cable to pass through making the cable stick resulting in chain skipping. Add a dirty and/or rusty cable to this mix and you could make music from the rattling and skipping your chain is doing. This is fixed by replacing your derailleur cables and housing.

Another reason you might be experiencing a chain-skipping symptom is that your chain could have a stiff or damaged link. This type of skipping would occur in all gear combinations and would be rhythmic. A good way to investigate this issue is to use a repair stand, prop your bike up, or get a friend to hold your bike while you hand pedal the bike slowly backwards. It is easiest to see a damaged link by watching the chain travel through the rear derailleur cage when the chain is on the smallest cog of the rear cassette and the smallest front chain ring (the chain is most slack in this position). The stiff or damaged link will cause the derailleur to jump when it passes over the pulley wheels in the rear derailleur cage. If you have found the stiff link, lubricate it with chain lube, let it sit for a moment and then attempt to work the stiffness out of the link by applying lateral pressure to the link with your hands. If you have found a damaged link it is necessary to remove that link by using a chain tool and a master link. When using a master link to repair your chain use a chain tool to pop the chain pin before and after the damaged link leaving you with two inner links to reconnect using the master link. Always refer to the manufacturer's guidelines to make sure your particular chain is okay to use with your master link and that you are using each to their standards.

There are a couple of the more common reasons you could be experiencing chain skipping issues. Some other culprits are sticky free-hub bodies, damaged chain rings, a dirty drivetrain, bent or damaged rear derailleur, and a loose cassette. All of these reasons for your chain skipping are goods motivators to inspect your bike regularly and to keep your drivetrain clean and free of debris. Also having your bike checked out by a professional once or more a year, depending on how much you ride, is always a good idea to help insure a safer and smoother riding experience.

Smooth riding,
Sara