Wife's chain keeps coming off...
06-23-20, 06:55 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 254
Bikes: my bikes: Old: 1965 Schwinn 10 speed, 72 Monshee 12 speed, 77 Norco 12 speed, 95 Trek 850, two Specialized Crosstrails, 2016 Specialized carbon Sirrus. New 2020 Trek FX1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 54 Post(s)
Liked 36 Times
in
14 Posts
Wife's chain keeps coming off...
Hi, my wife has a new Trek Marlin 5, 3 weeks old, she was riding the other day and the chain came off but popped back on, this afternoon as she was going up a hill and while changing gears it came off the front chain ring, she was riding with another lady who helped her get the chain back on so she made it home. She will be taking it in to the Trek Store near where we live and have it checked over. Any idea of what caused this??? Thanks...
06-23-20, 07:12 PM
#2
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,987
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6193 Post(s)
Liked 4,810 Times
in
3,318 Posts
Could be the chain tension isn't right or the cables got a little slack in them and the chain is almost ready to shift to another cog. However it'll take something like a bump, pedaling backwards or a few other things to make it actually come off.
If the shop you are taking it to is the one you bought it from, they'll probably check it out for no charge.
It always helps though to know as many details about when it comes off as possible. What gears front and back? Shifting at the time, if so front or back and going to what gear? Did you hit a bump at the same time? etc. And if you have it happen enough times before getting to a shop, then if you can figure out some commonality for when it happens.
If the cranks where being turned backwards or not at all while shifting, that might make some loose the chain. So I'd put that down as user error.
If the shop you are taking it to is the one you bought it from, they'll probably check it out for no charge.
It always helps though to know as many details about when it comes off as possible. What gears front and back? Shifting at the time, if so front or back and going to what gear? Did you hit a bump at the same time? etc. And if you have it happen enough times before getting to a shop, then if you can figure out some commonality for when it happens.
If the cranks where being turned backwards or not at all while shifting, that might make some loose the chain. So I'd put that down as user error.
Last edited by Iride01; 06-23-20 at 07:46 PM.
06-23-20, 07:15 PM
#3
Very Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Always on the Run
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Giant Quasar & Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 343 Times
in
244 Posts
Your limiter screws are out of adjustment. A very simple fix that takes less than a minute. There are limiters on the front derailleur and on the rear. When set properly they prevent your derailleurs from pushing the chain too far in either direction.
Likes For Bigbus:
06-23-20, 07:17 PM
#4
Quidam Bike Super Hero
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Stone Mountain, GA (Metro Atlanta, East)
Posts: 1,135
Bikes: 1995 Trek 800 Sport, aka, "CamelTrek"
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 331 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
282 Posts
With general info, and a lite search fu, you have 3x7 gears. Simple answer: front derailleur set screw. Unless she is trying to simultaneously shift front and rear together. I did that recently (coordination fart on my part) and actually kicked the chain off in back... guess it could happen the other way....
06-24-20, 09:10 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,749
Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times
in
420 Posts
When my wife's chain came off, I let her do other things.....
Likes For branko_76:
06-24-20, 09:19 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,749
Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times
in
420 Posts
Likes For branko_76:
06-24-20, 05:16 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,380
Bikes: 1982 Bianchi Sport SX, Rayleigh Tamland 1, Rans V-Rex recumbent, Fuji MTB, 80's Cannondale MTB with BBSHD ebike motor
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 668 Post(s)
Liked 529 Times
in
355 Posts
Likes For Pop N Wood:
Likes For CaptainPlanet:
06-25-20, 09:50 AM
#11
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,786
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3588 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
Almost certainly a limit adjustment issue. For a new bike, this should be fixed gratis. Take it back to wherever the bike was purchased for them to deal with it.
06-25-20, 11:01 AM
#12
Full Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 419
Bikes: 1987 Pinarello Montello, 1996 Litespeed Classic, 1996 Colnago Master Light, 1997 Litespeed Ultimate, 2006 Opera Leonardo FP, 2006 Pinarello Paris FP, 1984 Pinarello Record, 89-ish Cornelo Profilo
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 148 Post(s)
Liked 119 Times
in
73 Posts
