Chain slack

birdie23
birdie23 Posts: 457
edited August 2014 in Workshop
I'm having one of those nights that makes me actually want to quit cycling so far...

Okay, so I've got a new set of wheels and I put on a new 12-27 cassette. Previously I was using a 12-28, so a little smaller.

First problem is instantly I manage to have the chain drop off the big cog and scuff the hub of the new Zondas :cry: Everything looks okay with that though.

I then eventually get the gears running on the big ring, shift down to the little ring and the 34/27 just will not work. Jockey rings rubbing against the sprocket so I give up and put the 12-28 on.

Now small-big works but on small-small the derailleur isn't picking up all of the chain slack and when there's no load on the pedals the chain just drags on the chainstay.

Why is this happening?!
2012 Cube Agree GTC
«1

Comments

  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,510
    Just off the hip:
    Do the new wheels require a spacer to go with the cassette?
    Have you done an index of the gears from scratch with the new cassette?
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    Yes to both.

    I think I've sussed the issue now but still don't know how to fix it.

    The derailleur doesn't seem to move back as far as it needs to in order to take all the slack in small-small. What could be causing it to stick?
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • Zerotails99
    Zerotails99 Posts: 127
    You need more tension on the cable maybe. If that fails then try taking out a link from the chain.
  • chrisgal
    chrisgal Posts: 130
    If your jockey wheel and sprockets are rubbing you might need to adjust the b-screw.
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    birdie23 wrote:
    I'm having one of those nights that makes me actually want to quit cycling so far...

    Okay, so I've got a new set of wheels and I put on a new 12-27 cassette. Previously I was using a 12-28, so a little smaller.

    First problem is instantly I manage to have the chain drop off the big cog and scuff the hub of the new Zondas :cry: Everything looks okay with that though.

    I then eventually get the gears running on the big ring, shift down to the little ring and the 34/27 just will not work. Jockey rings rubbing against the sprocket so I give up and put the 12-28 on.

    Now small-big works but on small-small the derailleur isn't picking up all of the chain slack and when there's no load on the pedals the chain just drags on the chainstay.

    Why is this happening?!

    Steep learning curve aint it?
    Tip 1
    Go Back to basics and look at a few YouTube videos on set up... read the Park Tool tuorials.
    How old is your chain..? they do stretch after time and can give piss poor shifting.
    Check for correct chain length re links... you dont have to be Nobel Prize winner that accurate but within a ball park is required.
    As an example I swap wheels constantly with differing cassettes from a flat race close ratio11-21 to a training dinner plate of 11-28 and no issues even with a short cage mech.
    Repeat, go back to basics... thats Tip 2
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    chrisgal wrote:
    If your jockey wheel and sprockets are rubbing you might need to adjust the b-screw.
    That was only a problem on the 12-27 which is strange as it's a smaller cassette than the 12-28 :?
    You need more tension on the cable maybe. If that fails then try taking out a link from the chain.
    I could be wrong but I thought cable tension only affected side to side movement. My problem is the derailleur body not swinging back to take all the chain slack up.
    JGSI wrote:
    Steep learning curve aint it?
    Tip 1
    Go Back to basics and look at a few YouTube videos on set up... read the Park Tool tuorials.
    How old is your chain..? they do stretch after time and can give wee-wee poor shifting.
    Check for correct chain length re links... you dont have to be Nobel Prize winner that accurate but within a ball park is required.
    As an example I swap wheels constantly with differing cassettes from a flat race close ratio11-21 to a training dinner plate of 11-28 and no issues even with a short cage mech.
    Repeat, go back to basics... thats Tip 2

    It is steep at times, yeah! The indexing is fine, I've done it loads of times now. The cables need changing (was meant to do this last night but I can't find where I put my new bar tape) but other than that everything is nearly new. Chain has about 130 miles on it, 12-28 cassette has 130 on it and the 12-27 has nothing. Chain is the same length that I've ran no problems since August 2012 - I always just take out the same number of links.

    My thinking now is that I might need to take the derailleur off the bike to figure out why it's not swinging back and forth properly? It moves enough to be okay in almost every gear but when force is taken off the pedals when on small cogs you can visible see how slack the chain is over the chainstay because the derailleur hasn't traveled back enough.
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    Take the rear mech off and test with your hands.
    It should not that easy to push against the spring and should certainly return with some force.
    Give it a good soak in diesel/paraffin if need be.
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    given that the RD spring that controls fore/aft movement forces the RD forward, I think it might be worth checking this spring and as everything used to work b4 new wheels/cassette, check the freehub is spinning freely, if its not, this would stop the mech from taking up chain and hence the chain slack on chain stay.

    Put your old wheels back on to rule this out.
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    birdie23 wrote:
    Now small-big works but on small-small the derailleur isn't picking up all of the chain slack and when there's no load on the pedals the chain just drags on the chainstay.

    Why is this happening?!

    I'm having the exact same problem so if you do find a solution please post it on here.

    I too tried adjusting the b-screw but couldn't find a sweet spot, was either too close to the cassette/cage or too loose and dragging on the chainstay. It's like the spring in the RD doesn't pick up the slack in that gear (inner ring, small cog) - although it's fine in the other gears.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    It sounds to me as if the derailleur isn't mounted properly on the hanger, so the B screw isn't stopping the whole thing moving forwards.

    If you do remove the rear mech, when you reinstall it make sure to rotate it backwards so the B screw clears it's stop. When tightened it should be free to rotate clockwise (ie move further from the chainrings) but the B screw should rest on the stop on the mech hanger and prevent it from rotating the other way.

    All a lot easier to do than describe.
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    mamba80 wrote:
    given that the RD spring that controls fore/aft movement forces the RD forward, I think it might be worth checking this spring and as everything used to work b4 new wheels/cassette, check the freehub is spinning freely, if its not, this would stop the mech from taking up chain and hence the chain slack on chain stay.

    Put your old wheels back on to rule this out.

    Unfortunately both of the other rear wheels I've used in the last month are broken. Main reason for buying new, got sick of Easton wheels breaking but that's another story...
    JGSI wrote:
    Take the rear mech off and test with your hands.
    It should not that easy to push against the spring and should certainly return with some force.
    Give it a good soak in diesel/paraffin if need be.
    keef66 wrote:
    It sounds to me as if the derailleur isn't mounted properly on the hanger, so the B screw isn't stopping the whole thing moving forwards.

    If you do remove the rear mech, when you reinstall it make sure to rotate it backwards so the B screw clears it's stop. When tightened it should be free to rotate clockwise (ie move further from the chainrings) but the B screw should rest on the stop on the mech hanger and prevent it from rotating the other way.

    All a lot easier to do than describe.

    I'll try these two tonight after a ride. I commuted on it this morning and everything runs fine as long as I don't crosschain on the inner ring.

    Is there a way to get the derailleur off without breaking the chain? Will undoing the cage work fine? Guess putting it back will be fiddly but without the wheel on I'd assume they'll be enough slack...
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Yes, you can remove the derailleur without splitting the chain by removing the jockey wheels. Make a note of which is which; they are different. It will be easier if you take the tension out of the chain by dropping it off the inner chainring on to the BB shell.

    Simpler though is to split the chain and rejoin it with a KMC missing link or similar.
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    Yeah, I'm planning to start using missing links when I next change chain. Don't need to take it off often but it's always nice for something to be easier.

    I'll report back tonight.
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • sigorman85
    sigorman85 Posts: 2,536
    New chain with new rings and cassette? Or are you using a old chain with it??
    When i die I just hope the wife doesn't sell my stuff for what I told her I paid for it other wise someone will be getting a mega deal!!!


    De rosa superking 888 di2
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    sigorman85 wrote:
    New chain with new rings and cassette? Or are you using a old chain with it??

    New chain (170 miles), new cassette(170 miles), old rings (6000+ miles). Rings shouldn't have any bearing on this though. I'm 99% the problem is the derailleur.

    Okay so I've got the bike on the stand this morning. Couldn't get the derailleur off as I couldn't get enough leverage with my allen key. So took out chain and thoroughly degreased everything and reapplied. Checked B-screw was sitting right and then put it all back. Started re-indexing gears. Again, slight tweak and everything was smooth as butter through the cassette on the big ring. Drop down to the small ring and instantly small-big rubs. Adjust b-screw to stop rubbing all okay again. Shift up to small-small, chain is too slack above the chainstay and the derailleur won't move back enough to take the slack. Pictures below show chain slack and then chain taut when I've physically made the derailleur take the slack.

    Only problem is when I've down this when you shift to big-small again the jockey wheel are right out the back of the cassette making the chain line almost perpendicular to the ground in that gear. Derailleur just won't swing forward.

    At this point almost tempted to save myself the hassle and get a new rear derailleur.

    14808793045_8e5a8362a1.jpg
    14785783596_3564f008f5.jpg
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • The Mechanic
    The Mechanic Posts: 1,277
    Looking at the photos, the chain is too long. You need to shorten the chain according to any of the methods available. There is one on the shimano installation sheet, Shelton brown has one and you will find a few different methods on this and other forums.
    I have only two things to say to that; Bo***cks
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    Looking at the photos, the chain is too long. You need to shorten the chain according to any of the methods available. There is one on the shimano installation sheet, Shelton brown has one and you will find a few different methods on this and other forums.

    I've ran this exact chain length for nearly two years, this has never happened before. If I take two links from this length (what I did when I used one of the methods in Zinn) big-big is close to tearing the derailleur apart.

    Below picture is chain running on big-big

    14622297278_50b4a1dbd4.jpg
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • gloomyandy
    gloomyandy Posts: 520
    Still looks like the chain is too short. On big big that does not look like it is near max. Take a look at the pictures on the park tool site:
    http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... gth-sizing
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    gloomyandy wrote:
    Still looks like the chain is too short. On big big that does not look like it is near max. Take a look at the pictures on the park tool site:
    http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... gth-sizing

    Can we all forget chain length for a minute.

    As I've said the chain is the same length as it has ALWAYS been. This problem started this week. Nearly 2 years and 7000 miles since I started using a chain this length. Something else is now wrong.

    I'm nearly 100% sure that the mounting pivot is stiff. I can't get the derailleur off. Any tips?

    Here's a video showing what I mean. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbNv_BEDR7A
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • roux_guy
    roux_guy Posts: 88
    That doesn't look right at all. Does it feel clicky or is it grinding at all when you move it? Possibly a broken spring? If you're feeling brave you could remove the retainer clip on the back of the mounting bolt and have a look inside it.
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    Roux_guy wrote:
    That doesn't look right at all. Does it feel clicky or is it grinding at all when you move it? Possibly a broken spring? If you're feeling brave you could remove the retainer clip on the back of the mounting bolt and have a look inside it.

    So... I decided I feel brave.

    Firstly, something definitely wasn't right but nothing clicky or grindy. However, once the derailleur was off the hanger turning the bolt still wasn't easy. It was very stiff.

    Took off the clip and opened everything up. The spring looks to be showing a bit of corrosion on the inside edge. I degreased and regreased everything and I'm currently attempting to get it back together... So far, my fingers hurt a lot. :x
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    FIXED!

    Okay, so using the gap between in the cushions in the sofa as a vice for my multitool and the tips of my cable cutters as pliers I was able to twist the spring enough to get the retaining clip back in.

    Remounted to the hanger, put the wheel on and it's smooth. Derailleur takes up all the slack.
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • roux_guy
    roux_guy Posts: 88
    Cool, glad you've got it sorted :-).
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    Roux_guy wrote:
    Cool, glad you've got it sorted :-).

    Me too, though if it happens again I'm just buying a new one... My fingers are killing! :shock:
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • sigorman85
    sigorman85 Posts: 2,536
    birdie23 wrote:
    Looking at the photos, the chain is too long. You need to shorten the chain according to any of the methods available. There is one on the shimano installation sheet, Shelton brown has one and you will find a few different methods on this and other forums.

    I've ran this exact chain length for nearly two years, this has never happened before. If I take two links from this length (what I did when I used one of the methods in Zinn) big-big is close to tearing the derailleur apart.

    Below picture is chain running on big-big

    14622297278_50b4a1dbd4.jpg


    Why would you run big to big unless you like to change your transmission alot
    When i die I just hope the wife doesn't sell my stuff for what I told her I paid for it other wise someone will be getting a mega deal!!!


    De rosa superking 888 di2
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    sigorman85 wrote:
    birdie23 wrote:
    Looking at the photos, the chain is too long. You need to shorten the chain according to any of the methods available. There is one on the shimano installation sheet, Shelton brown has one and you will find a few different methods on this and other forums.

    I've ran this exact chain length for nearly two years, this has never happened before. If I take two links from this length (what I did when I used one of the methods in Zinn) big-big is close to tearing the derailleur apart.

    Below picture is chain running on big-big

    14622297278_50b4a1dbd4.jpg


    Why would you run big to big unless you like to change your transmission alot

    I don't. Big-big is just a good way of judging whether you have your chain the right length...
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    Classic seized top pivot. Give it a good spray with WD40 and a lot of moving it back and forth. You should then remove it and try to get some proper lube into the pivot. If you know how strip it down,clean and re-grease. If you don't then don't. It is not for the faint hearted.
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    sigorman85 wrote:
    birdie23 wrote:
    Looking at the photos, the chain is too long. You need to shorten the chain according to any of the methods available. There is one on the shimano installation sheet, Shelton brown has one and you will find a few different methods on this and other forums.

    I've ran this exact chain length for nearly two years, this has never happened before. If I take two links from this length (what I did when I used one of the methods in Zinn) big-big is close to tearing the derailleur apart.

    Below picture is chain running on big-big

    14622297278_50b4a1dbd4.jpg


    Why would you run big to big unless you like to change your transmission alot
    You should always be able to use big / big safely. One day you will go there and it gets expensive if you can't.
  • birdie23
    birdie23 Posts: 457
    John.T wrote:
    Classic seized top pivot. Give it a good spray with WD40 and a lot of moving it back and forth. You should then remove it and try to get some proper lube into the pivot. If you know how strip it down,clean and re-grease. If you don't then don't. It is not for the faint hearted.

    I stripped it down. Taking it apart wasn't too bad but getting it all back together was a battle I don't want to take on again any time soon!
    2012 Cube Agree GTC
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    Despite your finding a resolution I'd still advise taking a couple of links out of that chain. The derailleur cage should be close to horizontal with the chain in big/big.
    - - - - - - - - - -
    On Strava.{/url}