Chain question

My chain is falling off when I go over bumps sometimes. The last time that this was happening to me I made sure that the back wheel was as far back as possible, making the chain tighter. I tried to do this again and the chain still seems to be a little loosey goosey. I haven't changed the back wheel so it seems to me that the chain has gotten longer somehow.

Is this possible?

I guess my next course of action is to remove a link.

Any other suggestions or theroys on this would be helpfull

thanks. 

Views: 78

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael A on December 9, 2010 at 1:05pm

I am assuming this is a single speed, did you use the same cog or one the same size when you changed the wheel? Chains do wear out and stretch, if your running a fixed gear your putting HUGE amounts of stress on the chain. Any bike shop will check the chain for wear with a gauge.

Permalink Reply by Davo on December 9, 2010 at 1:21pm

It is a single speed with the same cog. It looks like I should just get a new chain. Would it be bad if I took a link out to make it tighter?

Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on December 9, 2010 at 1:22pm

Chains don't stretch - the pins wear out. I can't give you a good answer without more information about your bike, but chances are very likely that your chainline isn't straight.

Permalink Reply by Michael A on December 9, 2010 at 1:23pm
Permalink Reply by Fred Noinaj on December 9, 2010 at 1:51pm

oh man, that happened to me last summer. NOT a fun experience.

 

...and chains DO stretch.

 

http://bicycletutor.com/chain-wear/

Michael A said:

Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on December 9, 2010 at 6:12pm

No, they don't. The elastic waistband in your underwear stretches. Chains elongate due to the pins wearing out. It's not the same thing.

 

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html



Fred Noinaj said:

 

 

...and chains DO stretch.

 

http://bicycletutor.com/chain-wear/

Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on December 9, 2010 at 7:10pm

Absolutely not. I am merciless in my pedantry.

 

I still think Davo should look into a possible chainline issue once the old chain is off of the bike. If it's crooked a new chain will only solve the problem temporarily, will have a considerably shorter service life and will climb the teeth of the chainring when it becomes loose, thus the falling off. It would also be wise to check the cog and chain ring for any significant wear.

 

H3N3 said:

Oh, jesus.  Can we agree that "stretch" is acceptable and accepted lingo to refer to the phenomenon of a chain elongating due to pin wear?


And to answer Davo's other question-- chains are said to wear in to the gears they're running on and end up quasi-matched; it doesn't sound like precision is a huge consideration here considering he's been putting up with a sloppy chain, but a new chain would be better than removing a link.


Michael Perz said:

No, they don't. The elastic waistband in your underwear stretches. Chains elongate due to the pins wearing out. It's not the same thing.

 

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Vondo on December 9, 2010 at 7:22pm

I will take a flyer here and say that if it were chain stretch (yes, we all agree it's technically not the correct term) he would feel a bit of "slipping" when he back pedaled on the bike, so since he didn't mention that symptom, it would be a crooked chainline? 

Permalink Reply by Vondo on December 9, 2010 at 7:33pm

Pedantically speaking, links don't come in pairs, instead each single link consists of two outer plates, the roller pin and two inner plates. Sorry, I'm THAT guy...

Permalink Reply by Moc Artsy on December 10, 2010 at 2:51am

The cost of a nice, new single speed KMC Z chain at Irv's in Pilsen is $9.99, and you won't even need a chain tool to install it because it comes with a master link. The cost of a worn chain to your cog and chainring will be significantly higher. It's one of those little things it doesn't pay to try to troubleshoot. And, yes, you should check your chain line.

Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on December 10, 2010 at 3:30am

No, but don't tell the ladies that.

H3N3 said:

You're a foot doctor?

Michael Perz said:

Absolutely not. I am merciless in my pedantry.

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Mark Kenseth on December 10, 2010 at 4:45am

Different context: I wanted to get new wheels for my office chair, and my co-worker said, "You mean casters."  I was like, 'fine.' 

 
 
stretch [ strech ]

verb  (past and past participle stretched, present participle stretch·ing, 3rd person present singular stretch·es)

Definition:
 
1. transitive and intransitive verb extend by force: to lengthen, widen, or extend something, or become lengthened, widened, or extended, especially by force
2. intransitive verb expand and regain original shape: to be capable of expanding and returning to the original shape afterward
3. transitive and intransitive verb extend excessively: to extend something excessively so that the shape is permanently altered, or be extended in this way
The sleeves of this sweater have stretched.
4. transitive and intransitive verb extend to full length: to straighten or extend the body or part of it, especially the limbs, to full length
She woke up, yawned, and stretched.
The cat lay stretched out by the fire.
stretched his arms
5. transitive verb strain body part: to strain a part of the body such as a muscle
6. transitive and intransitive verb tauten: to make something taut or tight, or become taut or tight
7. transitive verb suspend something between two points: to suspend something, or make something reach, between two points
8. intransitive verb extend in space: to spread out or extend over an area or in a particular direction
9. transitive and intransitive verb extend over time: to last or continue over a period of time, or prolong something
10. transitive verb make small amount go further: to make limited supplies or resources go further than usual, planned, or expected
11. intransitive verb be enough: to be sufficient to allow something
Will the budget stretch to hiring a temporary assistant?
12. transitive verb exceed limit or break rule: to exceed a limit or break a rule that would usually prohibit something
13. transitive verb push something to limit: to strain or push something to the limit
You're stretching my patience.
14. transitive verb push somebody to limit of ability: to cause somebody to make full use of his or her abilities or intellect, e.g. with challenging or demanding work
15. transitive verb exaggerate something: to make something sound better or worse than it really is, especially in order to make it seem more impressive ( informal )
To call his house a mansion is stretching it a bit.
16. transitive verb knock somebody down: to knock somebody down with a blow ( informal )



noun  (plural stretch·es)

Definition:
 
1. stretching exercise: the straightening and extending of a part of the body, e.g. as an exercise
2. expanse: a large expanse of something, especially land or water
3. period of time: an uninterrupted period of time
4. crime prison term: a term of imprisonment ( slang )

5. elasticity: the ability to expand and return to the original shape afterward
6. difficult challenge: something that is difficult to achieve ( informal )

7. sports straight part of racetrack: the straight part of a racetrack, especially the final section approaching the finishing line
8. final stage: the final stage of an event, task, process, or period of time, especially one that has been difficult or challenging
9. baseball position by pitcher: the position taken by a pitcher in order to hold a runner close to a base
He had so many base runners that he was pitching from the stretch all day.
10. automotive long passenger car: a limousine that has an extended body ( informal )
hired a stretch for the prom


adjective 

Definition:
 
1. elastic: made of or being a material that has great elasticity
wore stretch pants for skiing
2. extended to provide extra space: extended or enlarged in order to provide extra space, e.g. for additional seating
a stretch limousine
[ Old English streccan, probably < Germanic, "rigid"]

stretch·a·bil·i·ty [ strèchə bíllətee ] noun
stretch·a·ble [ stréchəb'l ] adjective

at a stretch 

1. continuously
worked five hours at a stretch 

2. with great difficulty or effort
could get there by six at a stretch
at full stretch using all the energy or resources available

RSS

Groups

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service