Problems Since Fitting New Chain

[Cletus Van Damme]

I replaced the chain on my commuting bike at the weekend and used it for the first time today and I am having issues that when I stop pedaling if descending or taking a rest the chain often clatters on the chain stay. It is worse when the length of the chain is required to be shorter, for example on the middle front chainring and lower down closer to the small sprocket on the back. I bought this bike used off a mate, so I have no idea if the chain has been changed with the incorrect length. I also believe that this has probably been happening with the old chain but not as bad as I noticed scratches on the chain stay recently, that were not there originally. But I do not think that it was as bad. I measured the chain exactly the same as each other laying against each other and also removed a complete link today by using the method of having the chain around the large front ring and large back. However it is still doing it, not quite as bad but still bad enough. The freewheel appears to be fine and the chain line looks ok and I do not think that the cassette is worn. I have attached a couple of pictures.

What happens when I stop pedalling in certain gears, or try to pedal backwards in same gears:

What it looks like normal in same gear stationery:

 

[mickle]

Is the freewheel mechanism working? Looks like it's sticky - which doesn't happen over night - so I suspect that one of your cones is loose - and that when the wheel went back in the axle assembly was too tight on the bearings, exerting undue pressure on the freehub and causing it to bind.

 

[MacB]

yep. I'd go with Mickles idea, neighbour had exactly this with a newish Spesh Rockhopper and it was freehub issue, fortunately caught before any bearing damage, sorted by shop very quickly and easily.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Cheers guys thanks for the great advice as usual, I had it in my head that maybe the springs were shot in the rear mech. Stupid I know Anyway I checked for play in the rear wheel and indeed it has it so the cones are loose. I do not have a cone spanner yet so will not attempt it myself and instead take it to my LBS. Thanks for the great advice as usual

 

[mickle]

God I'm good.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Took into mt LBS and he said he can adjust the cones but he reckons that it probably will not make any difference to the freehub. He thinks it may need a new one and with the hubs been Xero Lite's I will need that particualr freehub body. Looking about on the net I cannot see this part and have a feeling that it may be cheaper to buy a cheap Shimano rear wheel But then again I am not that clued up.

 

[MacB]

Took into mt LBS and he said he can adjust the cones but he reckons that it probably will not make any difference to the freehub. He thinks it may need a new one and with the hubs been Xero Lite's I will need that particualr freehub body. Looking about on the net I cannot see this part and have a feeling that it may be cheaper to buy a cheap Shimano rear wheel But then again I am not that clued up.

Hmmm, I don't know anything about those hubs but it won't have to be too many £s before a new wheel is a serious temptation...then repair this one at your leisure as a spare? Shame about the LBS though, the mechanic in mine would have had the wheel off and identified the actual problem just out of curiosity alone. He'd have adjusted the cones and, if that didn't work, had a rummage in the parts bin to see if he had a freebie that would fix it for me, last option would have been spending on a new part....no prizes for guessing why I keep going back to them!

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I agree with your comments MacB. I just read an interesting guide on the Park Tools website about servicing hub cone bearings and flushing out freehub body's with solvent and re-lubricating them. If I do go down the new wheel route which I have a feeling that I might, as I guess I was hoping that the LBS would try what I have just mentioned, but from what he told me it ain't gonna happen. Anyway I will buy some cone spanners and try it myself. Cannot do any harm to try and I am also keen to learn as I would rather do things myself if possible. I used to mess about with cars and carried out some major repairs, so hopefully learning about bikes should not be that bad. Having surplus parts to learn with is always a bonus though than messing with my bikes that are in regular use.

Also if I buy a new wheel I will make sure that I purchase one that has replacement parts readily available at reasonable prices.

 

[MacB]

I agree with your comments MacB. I just read an interesting guide on the Park Tools website about servicing hub cone bearings and flushing out freehub body's with solvent and re-lubricating them. If I do go down the new wheel route which I have a feeling that I might, as I guess I was hoping that the LBS would try what I have just mentioned, but from what he told me it ain't gonna happen. Anyway I will buy some cone spanners and try it myself. Cannot do any harm to try and I am also keen to learn as I would rather do things myself if possible. I used to mess about with cars and carried out some major repairs, so hopefully learning about bikes should not be that bad. Having surplus parts to learn with is always a bonus though than messing with my bikes that are in regular use.

Also if I buy a new wheel I will make sure that I purchase one that has replacement parts readily available at reasonable prices.

spot on, exactly the route I'd take, worst that can happen is you knacker the old wheel in your repair attempts, but you'll learn at the same time. But even if you need to spend on a new freehub body you'd then have leisure time to do so, means you can watch e-bay, classifieds, etc and save some dosh.

Be interested to hear about, and see pics, on any progress

 

[brockers]

I wouldn't be surprised if your hubs are Novatecs (Or failiing that, Chosen). I'd provide a link, but their website Novatec.com.tw seems to be down. In the meantime take a look at some of these. The 291/292s btw are the Planet-X 'superlights'. They make a make a whole bunch of hubs using straight-pull and j-bend spokes which also get branded up by Ambrosio, Halo, Xero etc.

Edit: linky not working as it should. Do a search of Novatec hubs on eBay and see if any look familiar.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Hmmm, I don't know anything about those hubs but it won't have to be too many £s before a new wheel is a serious temptation...then repair this one at your leisure as a spare? Shame about the LBS though, the mechanic in mine would have had the wheel off and identified the actual problem just out of curiosity alone. He'd have adjusted the cones and, if that didn't work, had a rummage in the parts bin to see if he had a freebie that would fix it for me, last option would have been spending on a new part....no prizes for guessing why I keep going back to them!

Jeez louise, is it 1952 where you live? LBS's around here don't do owt for nowt and are in the game of selling overpriced bits to riders in need.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Also if I buy a new wheel I will make sure that I purchase one that has replacement parts readily available at reasonable prices.

Chesney. By the bits to make a new wheel from some helpful people like Spa or SJS build it yourself and you will have a skill for life and something to be proud of. (and it is great fun)

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Thanks for more great advice. Greg, I agree building a wheel would be a great skill to have and something that I would enjoy learning. It's just having the time having a young family that I find difficult. I have also tried wheel truing as the rear wheel on my Secteur is garbage. It keeps going out of true and I try true it myself, it lasts a hundred miles or so and then back to square one. I guess it is learning how to have all the spokes equally tensioned. What I find annoying is that if the wheel of the Secteur would stay true I could put it on this bike and get some lighter wheels for it. But with the rear wheel on my Secteur being troublesome I am probably going to have to buy a wheelset for that and a rear wheel for my commuting bike All the more reason why it would be good to be able to maintain them myself I guess.

Cheers Brokers will checkout that info.