Curing chain suck

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cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
Sometimes (maybe once or twice a month)
when shifting from the large to small chainring my chain gets stuck between the two and locks up, i have to back pedal to release tension on the chain so it drops onto the small chainring.
The bike is only had maybe 1500 of use so i would think the chainring is not that worn?

I have a few scars on the bottom of the chain stay which is annoying.
 

Grasen

New Member
Location
CF24
when shifting from the large to small chainring my chain gets stuck between the two and locks up

???????
 

summerdays

Cycling in the sun
Location
Bristol
I had it on my first bike, and it started about 4 weeks from new. I did get used to it and could feel the moment it was starting and usually stop it getting totally jammed. The LBS looked at it and couldn't work out what the problem was. Eventually I replaced the chain because it was worn... and it was fine from that point onwards (I wasn't sure whether when I replaced the chain whether I accidentally made it one link shorter than it had been or not - it was the first time I was changing a chain and my first go at the length I ended up trying to do a sort of male-male coupling of the chain links).


Good luck sorting it out ... it seems to be a mystery as to what causes it ... whether there are a number of causes I don't know.
 

zacklaws

Guru
Location
Beverley
I've only suffered from it once, and it was caused by the original manufacturer's lubricant on the chain. Usually I fit KMC chains which I have never had a problem with, but earlier this year I had to fit a SRAM chain as I could not get to my LBS and had to go to another one to get a chain and they did not stock KMC. It turned out to be the worst chain I had ever used, with slow changing and frequent chain sucking and jamming. Eventually, I twigged that the lubricant on the chain was far tackier than that on a KMC chain so I lubricated it with some oil and it cured all my problems instantly. I then gave it a complete degreasing to remove all traces of the original lubricant, a very light oiling and it worked perfect.
 
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OP
cyberknight

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
I've only suffered from it once, and it was caused by the original manufacturer's lubricant on the chain. Usually I fit KMC chains which I have never had a problem with, but earlier this year I had to fit a SRAM chain as I could not get to my LBS and had to go to another one to get a chain and they did not stock KMC. It turned out to be the worst chain I had ever used, with slow changing and frequent chain sucking and jamming. Eventually, I twigged that the lubricant on the chain was far tackier than that on a KMC chain so I lubricated it with some oil and it cured all my problems instantly. I then gave it a complete degreasing to remove all traces of the original lubricant, a very light oiling and it worked perfect.

mmmm
Could be the chain as i think the changing does feel slow anyway come to think of it, i can always feel the tension being taken up a bit slower than i would like.
 

gbb

Squire
Location
Peterborough
Thats interesting about the different chain Zack...i've started suffering a little from Cyberkights problem, and i've just changed the chain from KMC to Veloce. Lubricant isn't the problem in my case because ive lubed it already several times. I didnt suffer with it with the KMC chain.
Food for thought there tho...
 

PpPete

Legendary Member
Location
Chandler's Ford
Progold chain lube will slowly dissolve away the tacky grease and replace it with a lube that is (IMO) ideal for the "Mickle Method"
 

Broadside

Guru
Location
Fleet, Hants
I created a massive problem on mu bike with chain suck. I removed the chain rings for cleaning and then put them back on without lining them up with the markers correctly. It was a nightmare with lots of problems until someone on here pointed out the problem to me. have you moved or fiddled with your chain rings recently?
 
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cyberknight

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
I created a massive problem on mu bike with chain suck. I removed the chain rings for cleaning and then put them back on without lining them up with the markers correctly. It was a nightmare with lots of problems until someone on here pointed out the problem to me. have you moved or fiddled with your chain rings recently?

No i have not touched the chainring etc, the bike has not been fiddled with at all except for normal maintenence.
 

woohoo

Veteran
I started getting chainsuck after my KMC chain had covered about 2000 miles although it still measured up as being OK. I replaced it with a Campag Centaur, left the original lube on it (which I had read elsewhere is good stuff) and have done a further 700 miles on it without any problems (I've lightly wiped and sparingly relubed the chain during this time). I doubt if it was anything to do with KMC versus Campag; I think the old chain was just knackered despite what the Park tool was telling me.

On my MTB (Trek Fuel EX8), I got chainsuck from new but that was cured by adjusting the "B" screw and it's still OK.
 
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cyberknight

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
Have you checked for "chain stretch"? Or what ever the proper term is when its getting worn.

Checked the chain and its fine , i will try adjusting the b limit screw then if that fails i will replace the chain.Its fairly clean as i use a chain bath on it last week and relubed after it was clean.
 

woohoo

Veteran
The "B" screw isn't a limit screw. It is on the rear der. and adjusts the tension placed on the read der. jockey wheels.
 
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