New Chain - Creaky noise

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Well I have re built my bike so many times and solved so many noises over the years, but yesterdays was a new one!

Stripped the bike to bits on Saturday and re built it all, Sunday put the wheels back on and a new chain.

Got on it and it creeks when you pedal, so tried everything, seat stem, head bolt, QR skewers, SPD cleat, etc.

Now the first thing I noticed was the new chain did not creek on the big ring at the front, only the small one. So undid all the bolts so it was loose and it still did it, re tightened, and it still did it. Squirt of WD-40, it still did it. Lubed the chain, still did it, applied some lube to the chain ring teeth, still did it.

Anyway got the old chain out, cleaned it up and back on the bike, which has about 1500 miles in it and the creaking stopped.

So that's a first for me. Its an SRAM PC-971, 9 speed chain.

All I can think of it to either give the thing a good going over with some WD-40, or that the front small chain ring has reached the end of its life, it has never been replaced, the big one has three times. Or just put the chain on and live with it and hope is stretches out and sorts itself out, but it does sound very worrying when your on the bike!

I wonder what others thought?

Thanks for reading and any thoughts you may have !

Cheers all, Kevin

 

[smokeysmoo]

You haven't mentioned the BB or your pedals.

Other than that a trawl through THIS lot might throw light on something.

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

You haven't mentioned the BB or your pedals.

Other than that a trawl through THIS lot might throw light on something.

will do mate, cheers

 

[PaulSecteur]

Could it be that your old chainring is worn enough to match your worn chain so they mesh together, but the new chain doesnt fit to the worn chainring?

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Could it be that your old chainring is worn enough to match your worn chain so they mesh together, but the new chain doesnt fit to the worn chainring?

I think that is the conclusion I came to, never come across that before! so new one to be ordered!!

 

[Graham]

Stiff chain connector link? Might be happy rolling over the large chainring but not the small. Or a combination of that and a worn small chainring. Hope you solve it anyway!

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Solved !
it was the front inner chain ring, which was just too worn, so as the bike was completely messed from all the rain this week, I did a complete re build and clean just like last Saturday but for some reason only took 6 hours today.

Got to the end and fitted the chain and new chain ring and its runs super quiet !, well happy, plus fixed all the little niggles as well.

So were all good to go , and the weather next week looks great too.

Got the chain ring of CRC, brand new Shimano one for only 23 quid, free postage as well, how good is that !