Back chain Wierd noise?

[CyclingSAM]

Didn't know where to put this but here it is.

On my road bike, when my cycle, on hardest gear, i can hear something at the back i dont know what its called it where the cogs are? The rader thing? Im not good at knowing bikes bit at the moment, but has anyone had this problem and describe it a little more, even so would you know how to fix it?

 

[garrilla]

The 'rader' thing is probably called a 'derailleur' (de-rail-ur)

You don't say what kind of sound. Is it clicking noise? I'm guessing that something is catching if its only happening when in the highest (rather than hardest) gear. However, when this is the case its often the chain catching on the front derailleur, which is the guide that changes the chainrings.

If you have'nt got a repair stand, you might carefully upend the bike and see if you can identify where the sound is located.

Best of luck.

 

[gbb]

Could be a bit of cable stretch Sam. It causes the chain to sit incorrectly on the sprocket, making a kind of continuous mechanical noise.
Is it a continuous sound or intermittent?
Cable stretch is easy to resolve. Where the cable goes into the rear mech (derailleur), it goes through an adjusting 'barrel' (usually black plastic)
If you can get the rear wheel off the floor (you need a stand, or upend the bike) and spin the cranks while in the noisy gear, at the same time turn the adjusting barrel 1/2 a turn one way and see if it quietens.
If it gets worse....turn the barrel back to your starting point, then back another 1/2 turn.
See here...look particually at the 'indexing adjustment' section
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html.

But be sure it is cable stretch before you go adjusting anything....

 

[CyclingSAM]

Yes very simlilar to a clicking noise, i turned it upside down, peddled it slowly, and saw it grinding along with the bar. I think its the bar that protects the chain as it goes round.

I found this picture its pointed in red.

Thats what i see when its sort grinding agaisnt it.

On the highest gear, witch is 3.

 

[betty swollocks]

Hi Sam.
What you have indicated is the front derailleur. This derails the chain from one of the chainrings (the round things at the front with teeth on) to the other. I see you have two chainrings.
The derailleur works by moving in and out and is actuated by a gear shifter/lever.
The noise you are hearing is probably the chain scraping on the inside or outside cages of the derailleur. Which is it?
It probably only scrapes when the chain is on certain cogs (the round things with teeth on at the back) - probably either the outermost or the innermost.
Looks like you have a vintage bike (a curly Hetchins?), judging by the chainstays. It might be worth a bit.
Post some more pics of the bike please, including the gear levers and advise whether the gearing is indexed (has notches you can feel when you change gear).
Looks like the bike has a mixture of modern-ish and vintage equipment on it, so I'm guessing that the gearing is not indexed and the shifters/levers are on the downtube.
Anyway, to stop the scraping noise, simply move the front derailleur so that the chain does not scrape, but not so much that the chain derails. This may involve moving the gear lever further in one direction or the other, or tightening the cable, or adjusting the limiter screws.

Look at Sheldon's website as gbb above has suggested and get back to us to let us know how you get on.

 

[CyclingSAM]

That picture isn't my bike its the only bike i could find on google lol to describe what i was on about.

I will try take some photos of my bike.

 

[CyclingSAM]

My bike chain and the derailleur.

Can you see if there is anything wrong with it?

 

[garrilla]

It does seem that you need to do some adjustment on the front Derailleur. Basically, the tension is wrong on the cable and when you change gears there is enough tension to change the gear but not enough to pull the guide clear.

It might be worth searching google for 'adjusting the front deraileur' to pick up ome of the videos on there

 

[TVC]

Hello SAM,

How long have you had the bike? If it's only a few months then it might be worth taking it back to where you bought it, they will most likely reset the indexing for you because all cables are expected to stretch and require adjustment as they bed in.
If you've had the bike for a while and are not too confident about setting it up yourself then a general service at your LBS (approx£35) will set the indexing as well as the brakes, true the wheels, clean, lubricate and check all moving parts. A full service (£85 in Leicester) will see them open the bearings as well and reset everything.

Might be worth the investment, if only for your peace of mind.

 

[CyclingSAM]

The bike is about 6 months got in Oct 21st 08 for my birthday

 

[TVC]

The bike is about 6 months got in Oct 21st 08 for my birthday

Good bike shops will offer a free check up after a few months to adjust everything that has bedded in - check that that is the case for your bike, and while you're there try to con your parents into buying you a pair of padded bibshorts.

 

[CyclingSAM]

I have shorts aswell just no cycling top, i have the a cycling jacket witch is quite fin and tight.

 

[CyclingSAM]

Some more pictures of the Front Derailleur

Should i able to put my finger in between it and the teeth of the chain?

Also as you can see that the tension wire is wrapped around is this bad?

I had to wrap it round because everytime i peddle it would scratch me and get caught.

 

[CyclingSAM]

Bumping please guys really need this fixed i can fix it if i know!

 

[Radius]

To be perfectly honest, I think you'd be best off letting your LBS do it this time around, until you're more familiar with the bike (yes, I can see the possible conundrum of not ever becoming familiar if it's always someone else fixing the bike, thanks...)
Or, have a look on bicycletutor.com, at the video for 'adjust front derailleur', and see if you think you can do it (look at the rear one as well)