Gears making noise while pedaling..

techguy

Hi,

I have a FCR 3 about a year now and from day 1 the gears have been making this grinding sound when I pedal. It's like the chain is rubbing off something. It sounds for most gears exept 1 or 2 settings where it is fine.

I Showed it to the guy at the shop where I bought it and he said that was ok and that usually happens when you change gear.

This drives me mad and sounds really bad esp when cycling in town.:o

Is there any way to tune it so it doesn't make the sound at all..

Any pointers??

kenmc

which gear combinations is it in when it rubs?are you cross-chaining (big cog/big chainwheel or small cog/small chainwheel)? Have you trimmed your front mech when in the middle ring?

blorg

http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-rear-derailleur/
http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-front-derailer/

Also check out Park Tool:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=64
http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=75

From what you describe it is probably the front derailleur. Check it off the bike, see if the chain is rubbing.

Bear in mind that you will get rubbing in the big-big and small-small combinations, and likely a few cogs close to them, these combinations are not meant to be used and you will not get rid of the noise in them. ("Cross chaining")

Also make sure your chain is well lubed.

Double check that the chain is going the right way around the rear derailleur as well- although if a bike shop checked it I will assume it is. It is possible to install the chain so it rubs off one of the metal bits of the derailleur cage if you stick it on wrong.

FastFullBack

blorg wrote: »

http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-rear-derailleur/
http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-front-derailer/

Also check out Park Tool:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=64
http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=75

From what you describe it is probably the front derailleur. Check it off the bike, see if the chain is rubbing.

Bear in mind that you will get rubbing in the big-big and small-small combinations, and likely a few cogs close to them, these combinations are not meant to be used and you will not get rid of the noise in them. ("Cross chaining")

Also make sure your chain is well lubed.

Double check that the chain is going the right way around the rear derailleur as well- although if a bike shop checked it I will assume it is. It is possible to install the chain so it rubs off one of the metal bits of the derailleur cage if you stick it on wrong.

Hey,

Going to hijack this thread a little. New to cycling myself and getting the same rubbing noise when in certain gear combinations. I can see where the noise is coming from. The chain is rubbing off the front derailleur. Only last week I started to understand the concept of cross chaining and how only certain gear combinations should be used.

I have an 8 speed cassette with 2 front chainwheels. My question is how many usable gears should I have. Am I right in thinking that when in the lower front chainwheel I should be able to use all the rears gears?
I know when in the bigger front chainwheel I should only be able to use about gear 4-8 in the rear. (8 being the hardest gear)

My issue is that I am getting rubbing when in smaller front chainwheel and gear 8 at the rear? I should be able to use this combination without rubbing right? Having watched some videos on bicycle tutor I think I may have to tighten the tension on my front gear cable. I haven't got around to doing this yet.

Sorry for hijacking. Any help would be good.

Thanks

petethedrummer

Cross Chaining

blorg

As a general rule in the small chainring you would not expect to use the hardest (smallest) cog at the back, no. As to how many you use, that depends on the bike, it gets better once you are beyond the small/small or big/big combos but I would probably generally avoid the next gear to these also (unless I was only there temporarily and wanted to avoid shifting in front.)

kenmc

yeah you'll get away with more combos in the big ring than the small ring; in the small ring and the small cog the chain can catch on the other ring - that can't happen on the big ring and big cog.

Wez

The main reason I avoid cross chaining is the added wear on the drivetrain (chain, cogs etc.) aswell as the wasted energy.

A friend just got his bike back from his LBS and his chain sounds similar to what you're discribing. He hasn't had a chance to bring it over yet, but I think adjusting the tension on the gear cable so the derailleur sits neatly onto the chain will solve the problem. Then making sure he doesn't C/C!

techguy

Thanks guys..

I'll check out those links later. From the sound of things its def cross chaining.