Gear adjustment

"Keith Willoughby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My chain came off three times during my ride today - once of the small
ring, and twice off the biggest cog. I've had some problems with gear
adjustment before - for a while, it wouldn't change down from the second
ring to the smallest, but I adjusted one of the screws and it seemed to
be sorted.

I've looked at the chain as it goes through the mech, and on the top
jockey wheel, it appears to kink every few teeth, which explains the
clicking noise I was hearing today (the chain is tapping against the
jockey-wheel cage.

So, what should I look at first? Which bit makes the chain fall off
inside? Front derailler? Rear derailler?

I think David Millar knows the answer ....

elyob said:

"Keith Willoughby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So, what should I look at first? Which bit makes the chain fall off
inside? Front derailler? Rear derailler?

I think David Millar knows the answer ....

You think it's my team manager's fault, then?

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
"The catcher hits for .318 and catches every day
The pitcher puts religion first and rests on holidays"

Keith Willoughby said:

My chain came off three times during my ride today - once of the small
ring, and twice off the biggest cog. I've had some problems with gear
adjustment before - for a while, it wouldn't change down from the
second ring to the smallest, but I adjusted one of the screws and it
seemed to be sorted.

Cable tension is also important.

Quoted message said:

I've looked at the chain as it goes through the mech, and on the top
jockey wheel, it appears to kink every few teeth, which explains the
clicking noise I was hearing today (the chain is tapping against the
jockey-wheel cage.

I don't know what you mean by "kink" if the links aren't stiff (check
that). Chain rubbing cage can be a difficult problem to solve. Sometimes
it's because something is bent (including the hanger: bit of frame mech
attaches to), sometimes you just have to live with a bit of it.

Quoted message said:

So, what should I look at first? Which bit makes the chain fall off
inside? Front derailler? Rear derailler?

Front for front, rear for rear! :-)

I think you've got all sorts of things to look at and tinker with. Follow
the advice here: http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

~PB

Keith Willoughby said:

My chain came off three times during my ride today - once of the small
ring, and twice off the biggest cog. I've had some problems with gear
adjustment before - for a while, it wouldn't change down from the second
ring to the smallest, but I adjusted one of the screws and it seemed to
be sorted.

I've looked at the chain as it goes through the mech, and on the top
jockey wheel, it appears to kink every few teeth, which explains the
clicking noise I was hearing today (the chain is tapping against the
jockey-wheel cage.

So, what should I look at first? Which bit makes the chain fall off
inside? Front derailler? Rear derailler?

Depends whether it fell off at the front or the back ;-)

From the description above, it looks like it fell off at the front. So
you need to adjust the stop screws on the front derailleur.

The kinking every few teeth sounds like you've got some stiff links in
your chain, which would also increase the chance of the chain coming
off. If it's just one poorly joined link then it might be worth having
a fiddle with a chain tool to try and get it right. If you've got
several links then it might mean you need to lube your chain a bit
better, or you might need a new chain.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

"Keith Willoughby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

elyob said:

"Keith Willoughby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So, what should I look at first? Which bit makes the chain fall off
inside? Front derailler? Rear derailler?

I think David Millar knows the answer ....

You think it's my team manager's fault, then?

Only if you can flick your chain back on with a forefinger at 25+mph ...

Pete Biggs said:

Keith Willoughby said:

My chain came off three times during my ride today - once of the small
ring, and twice off the biggest cog. I've had some problems with gear
adjustment before - for a while, it wouldn't change down from the
second ring to the smallest, but I adjusted one of the screws and it
seemed to be sorted.

Cable tension is also important.

The front cable is pretty loose. You certainly wouldn't get a note out
of it if you plucked it.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've looked at the chain as it goes through the mech, and on the top
jockey wheel, it appears to kink every few teeth, which explains the
clicking noise I was hearing today (the chain is tapping against the
jockey-wheel cage.

I don't know what you mean by "kink" if the links aren't stiff (check
that).

OK, but it happens more often than once per chain revolution.

When I say 'kink', I mean that the chain seems to move a mm or so to the
outside of the jockey cage, then back again.

Quoted message said:

Chain rubbing cage can be a difficult problem to solve. Sometimes
it's because something is bent (including the hanger: bit of frame
mech attaches to), sometimes you just have to live with a bit of it.

Quoted message said:

So, what should I look at first? Which bit makes the chain fall off
inside? Front derailler? Rear derailler?

Front for front, rear for rear! :-)

Hmm, ok. Both, then.

Quoted message said:

I think you've got all sorts of things to look at and tinker with. Follow
the advice here: http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

Cheers.

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
The sky is falling

Danny Colyer said:

Keith Willoughby said:

My chain came off three times during my ride today - once of the small
ring, and twice off the biggest cog. I've had some problems with gear
adjustment before - for a while, it wouldn't change down from the second
ring to the smallest, but I adjusted one of the screws and it seemed to
be sorted.
I've looked at the chain as it goes through the mech, and on the top
jockey wheel, it appears to kink every few teeth, which explains the
clicking noise I was hearing today (the chain is tapping against the
jockey-wheel cage.
So, what should I look at first? Which bit makes the chain fall off
inside? Front derailler? Rear derailler?

Depends whether it fell off at the front or the back ;-)

From the description above, it looks like it fell off at the front.
So you need to adjust the stop screws on the front derailleur.

It fell off at both. I was just wondering if that meant two problems, or
one problem with two results.

[...]

Cheers.

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
Freedom is slavery

Keith Willoughby said:

It fell off at both. I was just wondering if that meant two problems,
or one problem with two results.

It's a fair enough question actually. Occasionally a problem at the rear
will trigger problems at the front, but it still sounds like improvements
could be made at both ends anyway. Concentrate on getting each aspect
working as well as possible rather than worrying about the whole thing all
the time, is my (vague) advice.

~PB

Keith Willoughby <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

My chain came off three times during my ride today - once of the small
ring, and twice off the biggest cog. I've had some problems with gear
adjustment before - for a while, it wouldn't change down from the second
ring to the smallest, but I adjusted one of the screws and it seemed to
be sorted.

I've looked at the chain as it goes through the mech, and on the top
jockey wheel, it appears to kink every few teeth, which explains the
clicking noise I was hearing today (the chain is tapping against the
jockey-wheel cage.

So, what should I look at first? Which bit makes the chain fall off
inside? Front derailler? Rear derailler?

I had the same kink/clicking noise after I had jammed the chain
against the sprockets after replacing the wheel. This had bent over
one of the teeth on the top jockey wheel of the XT mech (they are
quite soft) which was lifting the chain each time the tooth came
round. I straightened the tooth (the top bit broke off) but I have
not had any changing/kink/clicking problems since.

in message <[email hidden]>, Keith Willoughby

(') said:

My chain came off three times during my ride today - once of the small
ring, and twice off the biggest cog. I've had some problems with gear
adjustment before - for a while, it wouldn't change down from the
second ring to the smallest, but I adjusted one of the screws and it
seemed to be sorted.

I've looked at the chain as it goes through the mech, and on the top
jockey wheel, it appears to kink every few teeth, which explains the
clicking noise I was hearing today (the chain is tapping against the
jockey-wheel cage.

So, what should I look at first? Which bit makes the chain fall off
inside? Front derailler? Rear derailler?

Either. And falling off on the inside is not good news - you can cause
serious damage to your chain, wheel and jockey arm. Both deraileurs
have limit screws for each end of their travel - these are what should
prevent overshifting your chain.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Morning had broken, and I found when I looked that we had run out
of copper roove nails.

Simon Brooke said:

Both deraileurs
have limit screws for each end of their travel - these are what should
prevent overshifting your chain.

....If angle of front derailleur is correct.

~PB

Joe Roach said:

Keith Willoughby <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

My chain came off three times during my ride today - once of the small
ring, and twice off the biggest cog. I've had some problems with gear
adjustment before - for a while, it wouldn't change down from the second
ring to the smallest, but I adjusted one of the screws and it seemed to
be sorted.

I've looked at the chain as it goes through the mech, and on the top
jockey wheel, it appears to kink every few teeth, which explains the
clicking noise I was hearing today (the chain is tapping against the
jockey-wheel cage.

So, what should I look at first? Which bit makes the chain fall off
inside? Front derailler? Rear derailler?

I had the same kink/clicking noise after I had jammed the chain
against the sprockets after replacing the wheel. This had bent over
one of the teeth on the top jockey wheel of the XT mech (they are
quite soft) which was lifting the chain each time the tooth came
round. I straightened the tooth (the top bit broke off) but I have
not had any changing/kink/clicking problems since.

That sounds promising. Thanks.

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
The snow meant for them falls on the roadway