Clunk with new chain on old cassette
03-24-15, 02:53 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 564
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Clunk with new chain on old cassette
My old chain was both stiff and clunked a lot on my old cassette.
The new chain I installed isn't stiff. I can actually pedal backwards without the chain gaining tons of slack and touching the seat stays.
But the clunking is still there. Anytime I push the pedals forcefully there's a nice clunk or two to greet me. No heavy load, no clunk. Heavy load - you can bet there's gonna be clunking.
I'm suspecting that this is just cassette wear and that I should swap out the old cassette, right? The old chain did have a fair bit of stretch in it. The LBS thought it might have been an indexing issue but after adjusting the indexing to nearly perfect, there was still no difference. Clunk, clunk, clunk my bike goes each time I apply heavy load.
So the issue is probably the cassette right? The last time I had a clunking issue with any bike the freewheel was absolutely spent. In that case there was also the issue of the chain slipping around. In this case my chain isn't slipping anywhere but there's still clunking. So what do you think?
The new chain I installed isn't stiff. I can actually pedal backwards without the chain gaining tons of slack and touching the seat stays.
But the clunking is still there. Anytime I push the pedals forcefully there's a nice clunk or two to greet me. No heavy load, no clunk. Heavy load - you can bet there's gonna be clunking.
I'm suspecting that this is just cassette wear and that I should swap out the old cassette, right? The old chain did have a fair bit of stretch in it. The LBS thought it might have been an indexing issue but after adjusting the indexing to nearly perfect, there was still no difference. Clunk, clunk, clunk my bike goes each time I apply heavy load.
So the issue is probably the cassette right? The last time I had a clunking issue with any bike the freewheel was absolutely spent. In that case there was also the issue of the chain slipping around. In this case my chain isn't slipping anywhere but there's still clunking. So what do you think?
Last edited by Deontologist; 03-24-15 at 03:32 PM.
03-24-15, 05:20 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 37,147
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5009 Post(s)
Liked 1,125 Times
in
655 Posts
If the old chain wore the cassette to the point where it skipped, you can be almost sure the new chain will also.
Classic new chain/old sprocket skip is as follows. When you pedal fairly hard, especially on smaller sprockets, the chain will skip 1-2 links with a low clunk and the pedals dropping about 2-3 inches then catching again.
If that describes what's happening to you, then replace the cassette. (hang on to the old one just in case).
Classic new chain/old sprocket skip is as follows. When you pedal fairly hard, especially on smaller sprockets, the chain will skip 1-2 links with a low clunk and the pedals dropping about 2-3 inches then catching again.
If that describes what's happening to you, then replace the cassette. (hang on to the old one just in case).
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“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.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“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.
03-24-15, 06:24 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 564
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If the old chain wore the cassette to the point where it skipped, you can be almost sure the new chain will also.
Classic new chain/old sprocket skip is as follows. When you pedal fairly hard, especially on smaller sprockets, the chain will skip 1-2 links with a low clunk and the pedals dropping about 2-3 inches then catching again.
If that describes what's happening to you, then replace the cassette. (hang on to the old one just in case).
Classic new chain/old sprocket skip is as follows. When you pedal fairly hard, especially on smaller sprockets, the chain will skip 1-2 links with a low clunk and the pedals dropping about 2-3 inches then catching again.
If that describes what's happening to you, then replace the cassette. (hang on to the old one just in case).
Ordered a brand new Veloce cassette from eBay. Can't wait for it to arrive! Until then my bike's gonna be at home resting!
I'm just really, really weirded out that that cassette and chain wore out so quickly. I've only had the bike for 6 months. Before that it was in some guy's garage for 10 years and he only rode it 20 miles. I believe him because when I first saw the bike it was impeccable; it looked like it just came off the showroom floor. Not a hint of dirt or misplaced grease. In those 6 months I only really started riding the bike in the last 3 months. The longest ride I've taken it on was 70 miles. There is no way the bike has seen more than 1000 miles. I'd be willing to bet less than 500 miles. And here I am with a worn out chain and cassette. What gives?
Last edited by Deontologist; 03-24-15 at 06:28 PM.
03-24-15, 06:43 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 37,147
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5009 Post(s)
Liked 1,125 Times
in
655 Posts
In any case the best predictor of cassette wear is the stretch of the prior chain. Did you measure it?
In any case, over the net diagnostics aren't super reliable, so save the old cassette in case the new one skips, in which case you'll be looking for another cause.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“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.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
“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.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
velociraptor
Bicycle Mechanics
7
02-01-15 07:14 PM
itsthewoo
General Cycling Discussion
9
10-29-10 05:54 AM
