Bicycle Mechanics - Chain Noise -Roller coaster going up a hill

Okay, I freely admit that I'm new to bike mechanics. I can manage to clean a chain, find and oil squeaks, wrap a handle bar, make minor derrailleur adjustments, wipe down the bike and the like... but...

The last time I cleaned my chain, I broke it and soaked it overnght in degreaser. BIG mistake, as it turns out. There was no "master link" and When I put the cleaned chain back on the bike and oiled it, the squeaks were replaced with an annoying ticking/clicking as each roller hits the rear cassette. It sounds for all the world like a little rollercoaster going up a hill. NO more peaceful rides...

I figured that perhaps I'd put the chain on backward... so I broke the chain and flipped it back to front. No dice. Broke it (same link) and flipped top to bottom. No dice. Now I'm no longer certain which way is up or forward. (no wise cracks please.... I'm feeling pretty stupid already. :eek: )

So...

Is there any way to tell which way a chain "should" lie on the cogs?

Should I just get a new chain from the LBS and be done with it?

And do I need to worry about replacing the rear cassette while I'm changing chains? I've put only two seasons on this bike. Around a thousand miles total, 708 of them so far this spring.

One other "possible" variable is the lube. I have recently switched from Pedro's Ice Wax to 3in1 oil. No squeaks, just the <*insert annoyed pejorative here*> ticking/clicking when pedalling - and 3in1 is a lot less "gummy" on the chain.

Help? :o

Chains are not directional and have no top or bottom. Are you sure you don't have a stiff link where the chain was reassembled? If the chain noise is continuous, then you have to consider the lube as the cause and you might want to consider a lube that is a bit thicker than 3n1. Pedro's is a relatively dry lube, the wax being the main constituent of the lube. Rear cassettes generally last two chains, rarely three chains depending on how often you replace the chain. Most of us get 3-6kmiles from one chain. 8spd last longer than 9spd and 10spd is even shorter life span.
Steve

I worked out the kink carefully, so I know it's not just the link that was broken. The noise is continuous.

Hm.... Okay. Back to a thicker lube then. (icky thick gunk build up notwithstanding)

Thanks Steve. I'll try it. I really REALLY miss my quieter ride!

And thanks also for the chain-lifespan info. That's good to know.

Except now that you broke the chain 3? times in the same spot, you will most likely find that the chain will break while you are riding because you wore the link out.

Yeah. I know. I'm not too pleased about it, but that _is_ a consequence of my quest for the previously-quiet-ride (however unintentional it may have been). Live and learn.

Can one buy a master link and replace the breaking point link, or do chains only come one way or the other with no interchangeability?

One link seems cheaper and simpler than a whole chain - Just wondering?

The SRAM, KMC and other masterlinks work with any bike chain, assuming only you have the right link for the chain: (8, 9 and 10spds all have different masterlinks.) They make taking the chain off very easy.
Shimano's pin replacement method sux. I switched to SRAM least expensive chain just because of the masterlink that comes with the chain. The links do wear so reusing them for more than 2 chains is not a good idea and many will advise new master with each new chain. There is one kind to avoid, it may not be available now: good ones have two pieces that are identical in appearance, there was one type that I had on a KMC that had one piece that was the two pins on a plate and the 2d piece was the opposite plate. This type is HARD to get off compared to the type with two side plates each with a single pin. Steve

:o :o :o I found the source of the racket. :o :o :o

FYI - It's not the lubrication. It's not a stiff link...

It's the fact that I didn't run the chain through the derrailleur properly. On the upper cog, there is a metal tab to keep the chain against the roller. I had threaded the chain OUTSIDE of the tab instead of INSIDE. :o :eek: :o Hence the noise issue.

Found it this morning while applying a thicker lube link by link... and noticing that the clicking noise was evident even while on my stand... pinpointed the der area and in looking closer found the problem. I'll rethread the chain properly tonight when I get home.

<sound of banging-head-on-wall here>

I wrong route the chain through the rear der all the time, especially when I don't have another bike nearby to compare. Those guide tabs can be tricky. Still think 3n1 is a bit too thin and prefer the wax lubes instead. Thanks for the F/U Steve

:o :o :o I found the source of the racket. :o :o :o

FYI - It's not the lubrication. It's not a stiff link...

It's the fact that I didn't run the chain through the derrailleur properly. On the upper cog, there is a metal tab to keep the chain against the roller. I had threaded the chain OUTSIDE of the tab instead of INSIDE. :o :eek: :o Hence the noise issue.

Found it this morning while applying a thicker lube link by link... and noticing that the clicking noise was evident even while on my stand... pinpointed the der area and in looking closer found the problem. I'll rethread the chain properly tonight when I get home.

<sound of banging-head-on-wall here>

dont feel too bad, I did the exact same thing...but it only took me about thee turns of the crank to figure it out :D

Rethreaded... Viola'!!! MUCH quieter! Can't wait to get out and ride tomorrow after work to check it out on the road.

Steve... What's a F/U? Is this an abbreviation for an expletive? Inquiring minds want to know.

Phatman... Yeah, yeah... Gimme a break ... I've only been working on my own bike since this spring. My friendly-bike-repair-guy is traveling/on tour for the next month or so and I'm learning (the hard way) to do my own minor repairs. I just wish the repair manual he loaned me listed common mistakes and how to avoid them... <sigh>


A BIG thank you... to all who attempted to diagnose and cure my bike over the forum. I really appreciate it! And I learned more than derraileur routing... Thanks sch, for the chain replacement info and lubrication advice. I didn't know any of that stuff before, and every little bit helps.