Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Chain not engaging on front chainring

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Chain not engaging on front chainring

Old 01-18-20, 09:01 AM
  #1  
Senpai Arman
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Chain not engaging on front chainring

My roadbike has a mix of components. It has shimano claris r2000 fd and crankset and everything from sti's, rd and where all for 10 speed. The problem was when Im on any 3 small cogs on the back and I shifted my fd to the small chainring, the chain would not engage fully and I always ended up spinning the cranks but not transferring any power to the cogs. I hope that you guys can aid me in my woe.
Senpai Arman is offline  
Old 01-18-20, 09:32 AM
  #2  
JanMM
rebmeM roineS
 
JanMM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,217

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times in 225 Posts
(Never mind - thought you had a triple crankset.)
Does the chain drop between the two chainrings or off the inside of the inner ring?
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer

Last edited by JanMM; 01-18-20 at 09:37 AM.
JanMM is offline  
Old 01-18-20, 11:30 AM
  #3  
CAT7RDR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,084

Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 811 Post(s)
Liked 1,947 Times in 937 Posts
You might want to try this on the Bicycles Mechanics sub forum.

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/
CAT7RDR is online now  
Old 01-18-20, 09:30 PM
  #4  
woodcraft
Senior Member
 
woodcraft's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 6,016
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1814 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 923 Times in 569 Posts
I had symptom like that when trying to use 11 speed chain on 10 speed set up-

chain would spin between the chainrings.
woodcraft is offline  
Old 01-19-20, 07:38 AM
  #5  
Senpai Arman
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by woodcraft
I had symptom like that when trying to use 11 speed chain on 10 speed set up-

chain would spin between the chainrings.
In my case, I used 10 speed chain on 8 speed crank and it keeps dislodging everytime I down shift while cross-chained
Senpai Arman is offline  
Old 01-19-20, 08:55 AM
  #6  
JanMM
rebmeM roineS
 
JanMM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,217

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times in 225 Posts
Where does the chain dislodge to?
How many cogs in the rear? 10? "My roadbike has a mix of components. It has shimano claris r2000 fd and crankset and everything from sti's, rd and where all for 10 speed."
A 10-speed crank/chainrings can be adjusted for use with a wider chain by using shims but to adjust for what you may be dealing with would require careful use of a file on the crank to move the rings closer together. (??) Or a different (10-speed) crank.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer

Last edited by JanMM; 01-19-20 at 09:29 AM.
JanMM is offline  
Old 01-19-20, 03:32 PM
  #7  
alcjphil
Senior Member
 
alcjphil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 5,869
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1792 Post(s)
Liked 1,671 Times in 955 Posts
It is a combination of several factors. You have a crank with 8 speed spacing between the rings along with a derailleur designed for an 8 speed shifter which will move the chain a sufficient amount to engage properly at that spacing. However, you are using a much narrower chain along with a shifter designed to move the chain a sufficient amount for narrower chainring spacing. Consequently the chain doesn't move far enough to engage the inner chainring especially when you are on the smallest cogs in back
alcjphil is online now  
Old 01-20-20, 07:04 AM
  #8  
Senpai Arman
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by alcjphil
It is a combination of several factors. You have a crank with 8 speed spacing between the rings along with a derailleur designed for an 8 speed shifter which will move the chain a sufficient amount to engage properly at that spacing. However, you are using a much narrower chain along with a shifter designed to move the chain a sufficient amount for narrower chainring spacing. Consequently the chain doesn't move far enough to engage the inner chainring especially when you are on the smallest cogs in back
I was planning to buy a tiagra fd. I hope it'll solve my problem
Senpai Arman is offline  
Old 01-20-20, 08:32 AM
  #9  
alcjphil
Senior Member
 
alcjphil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 5,869
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1792 Post(s)
Liked 1,671 Times in 955 Posts
Originally Posted by Senpai Arman
I was planning to buy a tiagra fd. I hope it'll solve my problem
Which 10 speed STI shifters do you have? Current Tiagra 4700 front derailleurs will not work correctly with any other 10 speed shifter
alcjphil is online now  
Old 01-20-20, 09:29 AM
  #10  
Senpai Arman
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by alcjphil
Which 10 speed STI shifters do you have? Current Tiagra 4700 front derailleurs will not work correctly with any other 10 speed shifter
I've got the 4700 ones paired with claris r2000 front derailleur
Senpai Arman is offline  
Old 01-20-20, 11:29 AM
  #11  
Homebrew01
Super Moderator
 
Homebrew01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,845

Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1173 Post(s)
Liked 924 Times in 610 Posts
Sounds like the front derailleur is not moving in quite far enough to push the chain to the small chainring. Unscrewing the "L" screw 1/2 a turn may solve it. Also, the angle of the front derailleur relative to the chainring might be slightly off.

However, unscrewing the "L" screw a bit, may cause it to overshoot the small ring when on the larger rear cogs, due to the chain line.

I have a similar problem on one of my bikes that uses a 10 speed chain with a "5 speed" crankset & front derailleur. Since I have mis-matched parts, I accept that shifting is not perfect, and I have to make allowances, such as shifting the front more carefully, depending on which gear I am in.

For instance, when on the smaller rear cogs, and shifting to the small ring, shifting quickly can give the chain more of a push to get to the small ring.
When on the larger rear cogs, and shifting to the small ring, I shift the front more slowly, to avoid overshifting the small ring.

I often bring a few tools on rides when first setting up gears, so I can stop and make minor adjustments.
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.

FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html

Last edited by Homebrew01; 01-20-20 at 11:33 AM.
Homebrew01 is offline  
Old 01-20-20, 12:39 PM
  #12  
livedarklions
Tragically Ignorant
 
livedarklions's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613

Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM

Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,094 Times in 5,053 Posts
Originally Posted by alcjphil
It is a combination of several factors. You have a crank with 8 speed spacing between the rings along with a derailleur designed for an 8 speed shifter which will move the chain a sufficient amount to engage properly at that spacing. However, you are using a much narrower chain along with a shifter designed to move the chain a sufficient amount for narrower chainring spacing. Consequently the chain doesn't move far enough to engage the inner chainring especially when you are on the smallest cogs in back
I would so pay you money to say that three times fast.

Good explanation, but boy is that a mouthful.
livedarklions is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.