What is the best method to prevent Chain Suck?

mrwibble

Hi, I am just about to buy myself a brand new Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra which has taken me ages to save up for and I want to prevent the chain from coming off the granny ring and gouging the frame around the bottom bracket. Any ideas would be good. Thanks

Chaka Ping

I don't know how to best prevent it, but i've stuck a bit of helicopter tape in that area on my bike to be safe.

Splasher

Adjust the front mech correctly will reduce the chances, converting to a single ring with chain device is the only way I know to prevent it completely.

ride_whenever

Enclosed chain device, keep the drivetrain clean, replace drivetrain parts together...

peanut

can't ever remember having my chain come off ? It should never come off if the adjustments are carried out properly . It amazes me how few riders seem to know how to set up the basic adjustments on a bike properly . :shock:
If I were you I might consider applying some thin clear plastic around the area like they use on cars to prevent stone chips. Clear plastic adhesive backed screen guards like those used to protect cell fone and PDA screens should work ok. Cheap, easy to remove and replace and should be invisable. Alterntively spray some additional coats of clear laquer

dave_hill

mrwibble wrote:

Hi, I am just about to buy myself a brand new Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra which has taken me ages to save up for and I want to prevent the chain from coming off the granny ring and gouging the frame around the bottom bracket. Any ideas would be good. Thanks

As long as your front mech is adjusted properly this shouldn't happen. Chain suck actually occurs when the chain and ring(s) are very worn - the chain tends to be grabbed by the ring and dragged up between the ring and the stay.

Bikes with elevated swing arms or chainstays don't usually suffer with this as there is no gap for the chain to get stuck in. Some hardtails (pre-Trek Bontragers, and Kleins amongst others) had a little plate on the underside of the stay which ran close to the ring and prevented the chain from getting wedged.

But at the end of the day there's no substitute for good adjustment and proper preventative maintenance!

ride_whenever

something like this?

cjw

ride_whenever wrote:

something like this?

Oh that's horrible :shock: Fixed using a metal pluming circlip thingy to realy scuff up your nice paint finish as well :roll:

Just adjust the front mech properly and it won't happen.... famous last words