new cyclist chain slipping

[mickeycee]

Hello all.I'm new here so I will probably sound thick as I've only recently started cycling.
I have a 6 month old bike and Ive recently developed a problem where the chain slips usually under pressure on most gears (shimano 24 gears 8 sprocket cassette)
Does lack of oil on the chain cause this? I thought I had enough oil after washing it the other day but my mate told me it was quite dry.I have checked the sprocket teeth and I cant see any significant damage.it seems to slip from the front(the 3 cogs by pedals) but I can't be sure and these seem ok.
Is there any checks I can do to confirm the exact problem?
Thanks

 

[HovR]

First of all, welcome to the forums!

Now a few things to check for:

Stiff links: Make sure all links in the chain can pivot freely - If your chain is quite dry, this may be the issue.

Mixing Worn/New Components: Have you changed the chain recently without changing the cassette and/or chain rings? If the old components were well worn, then mixing new and worn components in the drive mech can cause chain slip, as they wear together.

Gears: Is it actually the chain slipping? Sometimes if the bike undesirably changes down a gear, this can feel like the chain is slipping, but is actually a whole different problem.

Hope this helps

 

[mickeycee]

My desciption may have been a bit vague for you all but what happens is the pedal seems to jolt foward slightly occasionally (about every 10-15 reps) and then when under pressure the chain seems to slip,which gives a noise i suppose like a crack.
Ive taken some photos of my sprocket teeth to see if anyone thinks it looks okay or damaged.
Ive bought a new lube today and have had a quick 10 minute ride out after work, but it still slips but not as often.
heres my pics I dont know if they are any help. bike pics

 

[addictfreak]

If its only six months old I would take it back to your LBS. It could just be a matter of cable tension. Cables often give a little on new bikes.

I would doubt very much that you have worn cogs or chainrings after just six months. Unless you have been doing an awful lot of cycling.

 

[jonathanw]

Loose rear dérailleur cables???

Try tightening them by turning the barrel adjusters anticlockwise. If new to this there are loads of you tube videos on rear dérailleur adjustment. Have just done the same on my 7 year olds 8 speed which kept jumping. Frustrating and fiddle at first but most rewarding after you have done it a few times.

 

[mickeycee]

Loose rear dérailleur cables???

Try tightening them by turning the barrel adjusters anticlockwise. If new to this there are loads of you tube videos on rear dérailleur adjustment. Have just done the same on my 7 year olds 8 speed which kept jumping. Frustrating and fiddle at first but most rewarding after you have done it a few times.

cheers i will try that tomorrow night.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

In your pics, your chain does look a wee bit smeggy to me. It may be a stiff link that's causing the slippage. Generous dose of degreaser, and check by hand whether you have a link that's stiff or still gunged up. (You've got a quick link on your chain so, if there is some stubborn muck, you could take off the chain and give it an overnight soak.) Then give it a nice relube.

A clean, happy chain is a thing of great joy. I learned this after neglecting one, not realising that, with every turn of the crank, it was exacting revenge on every tooth it came into contact with. Too expensive to risk a second time and it really is a pleasure to know that a looked after chain will look after your cogs in turn.

The teeth, though, look fine to me.

If it is a rear dérailleur problem, then I'd have thought you would hear the chain giving out more than a happy whirring purr. Does it sound a bit graunchy in certain gears, and if you do have a noisy gear you could try selecting that gear and back pedalling to see whether the chain wants to jump or protest?

 

[JtB]

My experience is that the chain does slip if not lubricated. Replaced the chain/block on my old Carlton a few months ago, not lubricated it since and its already slipping. Same thing happened with my last chain/block whenever I neglected to give it some TLC.

 

[gbb]

Any other time i'd say it sounds like a sticky freehub or freewheel, but on a bike thats only 6 months old ?
There again, my old 9 speed Bianchi suffered occasionally with a sticky freehub, then it just stopped happening. It was quite new when it happened, so maybe.

 

[Nearly there]

I had a similar problem the other week after id been playing around with my bike a bit shouldnt have done it but ive managed to get it back to how it was and no more slips.

 

[Brommyboy]

I have also known a chain to jump if there are too many links! With chain on two biggest sprockets/rings, when pulled tight there should only be 4 spare links and no more.

 

[lukesdad]

I thought he said it was slipping on chain rings ?

 

[dirkthedaring71]

Simple.

Turn the bike upsidedownand turn the pedals by hand. If the chain doesn't run smootly ( I.e makes a clicking sound like it wants to change gear) then try another gear to see if that's any better. if still noisy then slightly adjust the rear derallier cable tension by turning screw a 1/4 turn at a time.

When you have it running smooth, go for a ride and see if it still slips. If it does you will need to buy a new chain and cassette.

Chaincosts £8 and the cassette about £20 plus fitting. It's worth spending a bit more to get the tools to do it yourself. They should cost another £20.

Good luck