Chain skipping on new freewheel and chain setup – What went wrong?

Asked by: Dan Phillips

Why does my new bike chain skip?

Most of the time, a skipping chain is caused by cable stretch. In the first half dozen rides on a new bike, your shift cables stretch the most. They can also stretch over time as you ride. Hippley explains, “It takes cable tension to open a derailleur, which shifts your chain between gears.

Is it normal for a new chain to skip?

Most of the time, the slipping of a new bike chain is caused by loose cables. The new shifting cables stretch a lot during the first few rides. The cables stretch way too far with time, and that’s when the problem arises, and your chain starts to slip between gears.

What causes chain skipping?

Gear indexing issues



One of the most common reasons for a skipping chain is simply a drivetrain that needs a simple indexing adjustment. This is so common that even many brand new bikes can exhibit these symptoms. The good news is that this is probably the simplest to diagnose and fix of all potential issues.

How do you stop a chain from skipping?

Quote from video: The derailleur a some videos that where they where at just the trailers. But basically you're going to adjust the barrel adjuster here. And adjust.

Why does my chain jump when I back pedal?

The cause is some friction or hangup of the chain in the RD as you backpedal. This unloads the chain and it will follow it’s path of least resistance. A brand new chain is less laterally flexible and will highlight the problem of hangup at the RD.

Can a loose chain cause skipping?

Most of the time, skipping or slipping bike chain can be caused by a very stretched chain or worn cogs teeth, after a long riding and hard use, the chain will get stretched, and start causing damage for both cassette and chainrings teeth, at a certain point the chain will lose its good mechanical contact causing the

Why do chains skip under pressure?

This is an indication that you have a badly worn chain ring. This can be one of the most violent skipping occurrences on a bike since the pedals will grind forward on half pedal stroke and engage. Also a bent tooth can cause a cascading effect and make this happen.

How do I know if my chain is aligned?

Quote from video: And we measure with a tape measure then we push it all the way up. So from the top of the chain to the top of the chain the chain should only move about an inch to an inch and a quarter.

How do I know if my chain is too loose?

To find out whether your chain is too long take a look at it from the side with your eyes being level with the chain. A loose chain will sag close to or below the chainstays as the chain hangs between the rear cogs and chainring. The chain might skip as you pedal, or even drop off the gears.

What happens when chain is too tight?

With a chain being too tight, that causes tightness and stress on the rear suspension. This can be quite uncomfortable for the rider. The chain itself will also become worn out much more quickly. The stress between each link may become too much and, in extreme cases, may break while you’re out for a ride.

What happens when chain is too short?

If the chain is too short, this shift is difficult to make and the derailleur cage is stretched out and almost parallel to the chainstay. If the chain is really short, then you might not even be able to shift into the largest cog.

What happens if you chain is too long?

A chain that’s too long (loose) may cause dropped chains and/or inconsistent shifting — front and back shifting. A chain that’s too short (tight) can cause even bigger problems.

Why does my bike chain jerk?

One cause of chain skipping is a stretched chain. Believe it or not, bicycle chains actually stretch! A stretched chain will wear down the sprockets causing them to become sharp. The teeth then have less to grip the chain with and under load can lose the chain causing chain skipping.

Why is my bike chain suddenly loose?

Your chain might simply be too old or can stretch over time. When this occurs you need to replace it. Consider that your loose chain also may be due to operator error. Exceeding the recommended gear range for the rear derailleur on your bike may lead to a droopy chain when you ride in these gears.

Why does my bike chain go slack?

Quote from video:

Does a new chain make a difference?

The most noticeable difference when putting high-quality chains is the shifting performance. The shifting is smooth as silk, even when changing gears under load, you can shift from the small to the big cogs within a seconds. Upgrading to a high-quality chain is a big boost to your drivetrain system.

How do I know if my chain is healthy?

Quote from video: The amount of life left in your chain is with a tool like the CC 3.2 wear indicator. Or the CC to change checker.

Why does my chain get tight and loose?

A motorcycle chain that keeps getting loose is usually caused by the rear axle or chain tensioning bolts not being tight enough. It can also be cause by a new chain not being worn in enough, worn down sprocket teeth, having too tight of a tension, or having the wrong size of chain installed.

What happens if chain too tight?

With a chain being too tight, that causes tightness and stress on the rear suspension. This can be quite uncomfortable for the rider. The chain itself will also become worn out much more quickly. The stress between each link may become too much and, in extreme cases, may break while you’re out for a ride.

How can I make my chain tighter?

Quote from video: With make sure the tire is not rubbing against the cream. And begin to tighten one. Side. Once one side is pretty tight switch to the other.