Gears Making A Noise

[cycle2run]

Hi All

New to this forum but hoping it will be a big help. I am cycling to Paris in 3 months from Warwickshire before completing the Paris marathon for chairty. I purchased a 2nd hand Halfords Cheapey (Carrera TDF) Just to get going on my training

All is OK, however the gears seem a bit of a pain, as soon as I change gears on rear, the chain makes a noise at the crankset. Its as if it is all struggling to line up properly.

Now being new to cycling I dont know whether this is due to requiring a service / replacement or whether only certain gears line up with each crank on the set

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Racing roadkill]

Hi All

New to this forum but hoping it will be a big help. I am cycling to Paris in 3 months from Warwickshire before completing the Paris marathon for chairty. I purchased a 2nd hand Halfords Cheapey (Carrera TDF) Just to get going on my training

All is OK, however the gears seem a bit of a pain, as soon as I change gears on rear, the chain makes a noise at the crankset. Its as if it is all struggling to line up properly.

Now being new to cycling I dont know whether this is due to requiring a service / replacement or whether only certain gears line up with each crank on the set

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

You should have barrel adjusters on the cables from the hoods, which are used to trim the front and rear derailleurs, on the fly, so to speak. Have a look to see if the chain is contacting the front derailleur. If it is, wind the adjuster backwards ( anti-clockwise) to move the mech towards the chain rings, or forwards ( clockwise ) to move the mech towards the frame.

 

[roadrash]

this video explains it well

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkzvfCaIbyQ

 

[cycle2run]

Hi guys thanks for the help will check on my lunch. Sorry if its a silly question!

 

[Racing roadkill]

Hi guys thanks for the help will check on my lunch. Sorry if its a silly question!

There are no silly questions, just questions that weren't asked in time.

 

[mjr]

If it's making a noise, it's usually best to ask and fix before it grinds through something expensive! Put it in a noisy gear combination, lift the back wheel, spin the pedals and play 'spot the noise'... if you can see what's striking but can't fix it, take a pic and post it here for more pointers.

Good luck!

 

[Ajax Bay]

Although you may be able to solve this with the barrel adjusters, from your description

as soon as I change gears on rear, the chain makes a noise at the crankset

I infer that the front derailleur (FD) needs resetting - @roadrash has offered a video clip to help with that. The barrel adjusters can then be used for fine adjustment.

You said:

I dont know whether . . . only certain gears line up with each crank on the set

When you set up the FD, bear in mind that you'll be using the small (inner) chainring with the largest 7/8 sockets and the large (outer) chainring with the smallest 7/8 sockets. When riding, to maximise efficiency and to reduce the chance of 'noise at the crankset', avoid 'cross-chaining'. As a rule of thumb change chainwheels to avoid crossing the chain large to large and small to small and don't use the two largest sprockets when on the outer, nor the two smallest when on the inner. If the jump which occurs is too much for you to 'cope' with (either more force or more cadence) then double change by changing the 'opposite' way on the cassette at the same time as changing chainwheels. The only time I don't follow this rule is when I can see that I'm about to go through a dip (stay on inner) or if I can get over a rise just ahead and then there's a downhill (stay in the outer).

Not mentioned above is the possible ability with your LH STI to 'trim' the FD while riding, when the chain line is more angled than normal.

Good luck with your training both cycling and running, towards your ride to and run in the Paris marathon in early April.

 

[Globalti]

On a new bike the cables will settle and need adjusting in a couple of weeks. Many people rely on the shop to "service" their bike but you're better off learning to do this simple adjustment yourself so as to keep the bike in tip top running order.

 

[Ajax Bay]

This isn't a new bike @Globalti = see OP; but agree with advice and sentiment expressed.

 

[cycle2run]

Thanks for reply mate but yes its a used bike. I adjusted the rear as in video but still chattering on the crankset, is there adjustment on the crankset also?

 

[Racing roadkill]

Thanks for reply mate but yes its a used bike. I adjusted the rear as in video but still chattering on the crankset, is there adjustment on the crankset also?

Yes, two little Philips head screws on the front mech. Think of them as your right and left hand, and you're trying to pass a cake of some description across your body, from left to right, to another rider on your right ( imagine you're sat on the bike) The left hand can only reach so far across before you have to take the cake in your right hand, to pass it to the other rider. The screw nearest to the frame is your left hand, the screw nearest your chain rings is your right hand. Those screws determine the inner and outer 'stop' points of the front mech ( limit screws ). The barrel adjusters on the hoods ( possibly on the gear cables from the hoods) are for fine adjustments whilst on the ride, to keep the chain away from the sides of the mech, which will change position slightly as you ride.

 

[Ajax Bay]

is there adjustment on the crankset

@Racing roadkill 's had a go, but frankly, it's not worth asking that question on here until you've put some effort in yourself, simply looking at the first few google hits on "adjusting front derailleur" which have pictures to help you. This aspect - familiarity with the workings of your Carrera - reads across to your other thread on your ride.