Some advise about clicking, jumping gears please

MCOS

Ok excuse if his comes across as very novice. Been on my bike about a half dozen times. I noticed a clicking coming from either the pedal or gears. It got worse today, much worse. I'm sure its the cogs. I checked the Wiki and there is a bit on maintenance but I'm not wholly sure. Basically on the 3 largest cogs the bike is fine and on the 2 smallest cogs too but anything in between it jumps and clicks like mad. I couldn't use these gears today and had to do my spin on a tough gear. Is this common? Also should the teeth on the cogs be lined up straight? Sorry, I don't have the jargon I'm just wondering if there is a simple solution or would I be better off bringing it down to the shop? Loving my first road bike but this is annoying. The bike is a Giant SCR1

Oh, how often should I oil the chain?

Many thanks,
MCOS

bealbocht

my guess

you need a new chain / or replace a link.

check this out and see if its the same ??

http://bicycletutor.com/chain-wear/

opelmanta

My guess is that it needs a small bit of tuning. Think this is the tutorial you are looking for: http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-rear-derailleur/

Deisetrek

It's easy to do a quick check for "chain wear " if you want to , save you a needless trip to the bikeshop . Get a 12inch rule or tape measure , place the zero mark on the centreline of a random rivetlink . If there is no chainwear , the 12inch mark should line up perfectly with a rivetlink centreline 12 inches outwards . If there is wear it will probably line up on the 12 1/4" to 12 1/2" mark ....if so throw away the chain and get a new one , it will only wear your cassette and chainrings . I change mine after 1500 miles or so .


Sorry for the above ......only read your post again and realised you'd only been out a half dozen times or so , obviously isn't a stretched chain then.......

CheGuedara

Seeing as you've been out only the half a dozen times or so I suspect you're experiencing the effects of cable stretch.

This is perfectly normal and happens on all (most) bikes shortly after their first few rides.

An easy way to fix this is just flip the bike over so that it's resting on the saddle and bars. Put the chain into the 4th smallest gear (sounds like one of the ones like you're experiencing jumping in). Then turn the small black adjuster at the back of the derailleur (just where the cable enters it) and twist it maybe 1/4 of a turn at a time, tightening the cable, while turning the cranks until its right. Check that there's no jumping at either end of the casette then. This should see you right.

You shouldn't need to worry about the hi/low adjustment of the derailleur if the bike was running smoothly out of the shop.

MCOS

Thanks guys, I'll check the cable and see if that has an effect. The jumping happened on the 3rd to 5th wheel. It happened when I put pressure on. The wheels at either end seemed fine. How often do you guys oil your chain and other parts and what kind of oil do you use?

CheGuedara

MCOS wrote: »

Thanks guys, I'll check the cable and see if that has an effect. The jumping happened on the 3rd to 5th wheel. It happened when I put pressure on. The wheels at either end seemed fine. How often do you guys oil your chain and other parts and what kind of oil do you use?

Personally I degrease and clean with Muc Off chain cleaner, dry the chain, then re-lubricate with Finish Line pro road or wet lube as per instructions. The key is to clean the casette, jockey wheels and chain rings at the same time and not to over load the chain with new oil - skip this and the chain will be covered in black gunk again in no time flat.

DirkVoodoo

Yeah, don't over do the lube and be sure to wipe the chain afterwards.

I apply finish line every month or so, when I give the bike a clean and always after a wet cycle.

MCOS

So I cleaned the bike down and turned it upside down. Put the chain into the 4th smallest (one of the main effected). I tighted the derailler cables for a few revolutions (a bit at a time) but it still jumped. I then studied closely and think its the cassette. Rings 2-6 seem to be deformed in some way, like there is a missing tooth or a stretched area between 2 teeth, this is the point where the chain jumps with pressure applied and each link 2-6 has more or less the same problem. I'm not sure if this makes sense? I think I need a new cassette, but have no idea how this came about

opelmanta

Did you check out bealbochts link on chainwear?
Also did you run through the chain and see are there any stiff or deformed links.
If it is a stiff or deformed chain link it could be the root cause of the problem and it could be damaging your cassette.

Have a look at these two:

http://bicycletutor.com/stiff-chain-link/

http://bicycletutor.com/chain-lubrication/

blorg

I think your bike might have a SRAM cassette- these have missing teeth to help the shifting, it is part of the design:



If you have only been on the bike half a dozen times it is unlikely to be chain wear (no harm checking) but a stiff link could certainly be a possibility. You can detect these by running the chain backwards and watching the rear derailleur for jerking movement- holding the chain as it runs (through a rag) will confirm, you will be able to feel the link.

opelmanta

blorg wrote: »

I think your bike might have a SRAM cassette- these have missing teeth to help the shifting, it is part of the design:

Excellent point

MCOS

opelmanta wrote: »

Excellent point

+1 My cassette must be Sram as that is what it looks like. Ok I'll have to check for the stiff link.

If it was the chain though why don't I have the problem on all cogs, just 2-6?

opelmanta

That i dont know but a stiff/deformed seems the most likely explaination to me from where im sitting. Stiff/deformed links normally run fine without jumping on the larger cogs but hop around on the smaller ones. Cant fig out why its only 2-6 tho!!

MCOS

Hi Guys, just wanted to say thank you! My immediate thought was 'ah crap whats wrong with my new bike' and was thinking to bring it to the shop as I could find what was wrong with it. However from your tips I am a little more clued in to and interested in bike maintenance and am happy out that I sorted the problem without any new part or a trip to the shop.

Btw I got another good tip similar to the ones Opelmantra, Blorg and CheGuedara gave me. An avid cyclist I was chatting with over dinner recently, who is also an engineer advised me to suspend the bike. Put the chain on the top ring and spin the pedals. Turn the adjuster on the back of the derailler 1/4 turns (recording the number) until it shifts naturally to the next gear. Continue this down to the small ring and back up again recording how many turns. Then divide the total turns in half and leave the adjuster there (mid range). This coupled with the advice from DirkVoodoo on the lube and I was out for 2 lovely, jumping free spins this weekend.

So once again
Thank you and have a Happy Christmas Cycling Forum, may Santa bring you all the bike bits you have been dropping hints about

MCOS

SerialComplaint

MCOS wrote: »

An avid cyclist I was chatting with over dinner recently, who is also an engineer advised me to suspend the bike

With or without full pay?

MCOS

Just put it across my knee