Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Random Skipping Under Pressure

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Random Skipping Under Pressure

Old 03-21-23, 11:48 AM
  #1  
bampilot06
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: 757
Posts: 11,245

Bikes: Madone, Emonda, 5500, Ritchey Breakaway

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10234 Post(s)
Liked 5,177 Times in 2,222 Posts
Random Skipping Under Pressure

Couple of months ago I built a trek 5200 with Ultegra 6500. The group set came off of my Ritchey Breakaway, which I bought used a couple of years ago. I think I put about 4,000 miles on the groupset but I have no idea how many miles are on it before I owned it. Never had any issues with it while it was on the ritchey, but I also never did much hard riding with that bike.

The 5200 has become my crit bike, and I also I use it for training, specifically intervals and sprint training.

I have noticed that recently it has started to skip when under a heavy load. I have narrowed it down to the number 8 cog but the wear seems fine. I replaced the chain, and it still does it, but I am not sure if it is still just the 8th cog or if the issue has moved to other cogs as well. Have not been able to ride it.

The other thing I have noticed, when I shift to a smaller cog, occasionally it will get easier to pedal 1 or 2 strokes before it engages. It is not consistent and I hear it shift, I can’t figure our why it does this. When I put the groupset on, I installed all new cables. I’ve put about 500 miles on the bike since I built it, and it does not do either issue in a bike stand.

Thoughts? If it’s the cassette I have no issue replacing it, just didn’t want to do that if it’s not the problem.
bampilot06 is offline  
Old 03-21-23, 11:52 AM
  #2  
mschwett 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2021
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,032

Bikes: addict, aethos, creo, vanmoof, sirrus, public ...

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1273 Post(s)
Liked 1,384 Times in 708 Posts
when my 11t and 12t were skipping, the wear was pretty much impossible to see (even when removed and cleaned), yet replacing it completely them completely fixed the problem.
__________________
mschwett is offline  
Old 03-21-23, 11:56 AM
  #3  
bampilot06
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: 757
Posts: 11,245

Bikes: Madone, Emonda, 5500, Ritchey Breakaway

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10234 Post(s)
Liked 5,177 Times in 2,222 Posts
Originally Posted by mschwett
when my 11t and 12t were skipping, the wear was pretty much impossible to see (even when removed and cleaned), yet replacing it completely them completely fixed the problem.

Awesome. I have like 4 spare 11 spd cassettes, 1 spare 12 spd, 1 spare 10 spd, No 9 spd……….
bampilot06 is offline  
Old 03-21-23, 12:04 PM
  #4  
bampilot06
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: 757
Posts: 11,245

Bikes: Madone, Emonda, 5500, Ritchey Breakaway

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10234 Post(s)
Liked 5,177 Times in 2,222 Posts
Originally Posted by SurferRosa
^ Agree with mschwett, it can be impossible to determine a skipping cog just by sight.

Ran into this problem recently on a really nice looking vintage freewheel where one cog in the middle of the cluster slipped terribly under load. Just had to bite the bullet and replace it. Problem solved.

Thanks, could the other issue be caused by a worn cassette as well?
bampilot06 is offline  
Likes For bampilot06:
Old 03-21-23, 12:23 PM
  #5  
Kontact 
Senior Member
 
Kontact's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,950
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4338 Post(s)
Liked 1,522 Times in 992 Posts
Originally Posted by bampilot06
Thanks, could the other issue be caused by a worn cassette as well?
If that happens after coasting, it is usually the freehub pawls being slow to engage. It is not easy to lube them on a Shimano freehub body, other hubs can be easy.
Kontact is offline  
Old 03-21-23, 12:26 PM
  #6  
bampilot06
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: 757
Posts: 11,245

Bikes: Madone, Emonda, 5500, Ritchey Breakaway

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10234 Post(s)
Liked 5,177 Times in 2,222 Posts
Originally Posted by Kontact
If that happens after coasting, it is usually the freehub pawls being slow to engage. It is not easy to lube them on a Shimano freehub body, other hubs can be easy.

I didn’t pay attention enough in the past to see if it’s after coasting. I’ll ride it tomorrow and see if that’s the case.
bampilot06 is offline  
Old 03-21-23, 02:11 PM
  #7  
maddog34
Senior Member
 
maddog34's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 2,975

Bikes: !982 Trek 930R Custom, Diamondback ascent with SERIOUS updates, Fuji Team Pro CF and a '09 Comencal Meta 5.5

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Liked 739 Times in 534 Posts
"The other thing I have noticed, when I shift to a smaller cog, occasionally it will get easier to pedal 1 or 2 strokes before it engages. It is not consistent and I hear it shift, I can’t figure our why it does this. When I put the groupset on, I installed all new cables. I’ve put about 500 miles on the bike since I built it, and it does not do either issue in a bike stand."

sounds like a Freehub Pawl engagement issue to me. they can be quite random.
there's a chance enough grunge has built up on your cassette to cause this, but that's usually only on an MTB...How old is your chain? check it for wear or have someone do so that is qualified. If the chain and cassette are ok, then it's definitely the Pawls in the Freehub not engaging consistently.

try this quick test.. lay the bike on it's left side.. shoot a "psst" (a few drops) of penetrating oil into the freehub's center... clockwise spin the wheel for a minute or so..... go ride the bike and see if the skipping still occurs...

Last edited by maddog34; 03-21-23 at 02:16 PM.
maddog34 is offline  
Old 03-21-23, 06:00 PM
  #8  
bampilot06
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: 757
Posts: 11,245

Bikes: Madone, Emonda, 5500, Ritchey Breakaway

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10234 Post(s)
Liked 5,177 Times in 2,222 Posts
Originally Posted by maddog34
"The other thing I have noticed, when I shift to a smaller cog, occasionally it will get easier to pedal 1 or 2 strokes before it engages. It is not consistent and I hear it shift, I can’t figure our why it does this. When I put the groupset on, I installed all new cables. I’ve put about 500 miles on the bike since I built it, and it does not do either issue in a bike stand."

sounds like a Freehub Pawl engagement issue to me. they can be quite random.
there's a chance enough grunge has built up on your cassette to cause this, but that's usually only on an MTB...How old is your chain? check it for wear or have someone do so that is qualified. If the chain and cassette are ok, then it's definitely the Pawls in the Freehub not engaging consistently.

try this quick test.. lay the bike on it's left side.. shoot a "psst" (a few drops) of penetrating oil into the freehub's center... clockwise spin the wheel for a minute or so..... go ride the bike and see if the skipping still occurs...

Chain is brand new less than 100 miles, that was my first attempt at getting to to stop skipping.

I’ll try lubing the free hub tomorrow. Thanks.
bampilot06 is offline  
Old 03-22-23, 09:09 AM
  #9  
KerryIrons
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 978
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 504 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 634 Times in 355 Posts
Originally Posted by SurferRosa
^ Agree with mschwett, it can be impossible to determine a skipping cog just by sight.
Yup. Essentially the definition of "worn cog" is "skips with new chain."
KerryIrons is offline  
Likes For KerryIrons:
Old 03-22-23, 06:09 PM
  #10  
bampilot06
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: 757
Posts: 11,245

Bikes: Madone, Emonda, 5500, Ritchey Breakaway

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10234 Post(s)
Liked 5,177 Times in 2,222 Posts
Rode it today, did intervals, and it didn’t skip once under load.

Then randomly during easy spinning it started skipping a lot on different cogs.

I pulled the wheels and the cassette off. I put the cassette on a different set of wheels and will give that a go tomorrow.

I also poured a generous amount of tri flow on the free hub body of the old wheels.
bampilot06 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.