Loose chain tension when not pedaling
04-12-10, 11:40 AM
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Loose chain tension when not pedaling
Hello All,
I have a Raleigh Record that I use as my everyday campus bike, but recently I am having issues with chain tension. When I stop pedaling during a ride, or lower my rpms, the chain almost instantly goes slack. If I try and then backpedal, the problem worsens. Thus, I am forced keep pedaling even when trying to slow down in order to keep chain tension. Any ideas on what the issue is? gunk on the chain?
I have a Raleigh Record that I use as my everyday campus bike, but recently I am having issues with chain tension. When I stop pedaling during a ride, or lower my rpms, the chain almost instantly goes slack. If I try and then backpedal, the problem worsens. Thus, I am forced keep pedaling even when trying to slow down in order to keep chain tension. Any ideas on what the issue is? gunk on the chain?
04-12-10, 11:54 AM
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Just checking that you mean the upper loop goes slack when you coast, as opposed to the whole chain being slack when the bike is standing still. The problems are very different and have different causes.
If, as I suspect you're talking about the upper loop going slack when you coast, the problem is related to the freewheel (ratchet) mechanism. What's happening is that the freehub (or freewheel - from now on whatever I say applies to either) is no longer free enough and the moving wheel is pushing it along a bit. You can check this by shifting to the highest gear and spinning the rear wheel off the ground with your fingers on the gear cluster. If you feel any tendency to spin forward you've verified the problem
The cause could be as simple as something like a piece of string getting caught and wound up between the gear block and hub causing binding, or it could be dirt, rust, or dried out, sticky lube inside the mechanism. Check behind the cassette first, and if you don't find anything, you'll need to dis-assemble and service, or replace the freehub. If that's beyond you bring it to the LBS.
BTW- don't keep riding it in this condition. If the binding gets worse it could spool the chain entirely from the lower loop to the upper with enough tension to destroy the derailleur.
If, as I suspect you're talking about the upper loop going slack when you coast, the problem is related to the freewheel (ratchet) mechanism. What's happening is that the freehub (or freewheel - from now on whatever I say applies to either) is no longer free enough and the moving wheel is pushing it along a bit. You can check this by shifting to the highest gear and spinning the rear wheel off the ground with your fingers on the gear cluster. If you feel any tendency to spin forward you've verified the problem
The cause could be as simple as something like a piece of string getting caught and wound up between the gear block and hub causing binding, or it could be dirt, rust, or dried out, sticky lube inside the mechanism. Check behind the cassette first, and if you don't find anything, you'll need to dis-assemble and service, or replace the freehub. If that's beyond you bring it to the LBS.
BTW- don't keep riding it in this condition. If the binding gets worse it could spool the chain entirely from the lower loop to the upper with enough tension to destroy the derailleur.
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Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
04-12-10, 12:06 PM
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Thanks, yeah I believe it is the upper loop that goes slack with coasting, and whenever I push the bike either forwards or backwards (when not riding), the pedals also move accordingly.
04-12-10, 12:12 PM
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OK, so either something's caught behind it and you can solve it easily, or it needs service. Either way it's not major, but take my warning about continuing to ride seriously or it could become so.
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WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
