Bicycle Mechanics - Backpeddling/Possible Problem

I have a 12 speed road bike with a Shimano rear derailleur.
I've noticed lately that while backpeddling to prepare to take off from a stop sign,that the chain seems to get sloppy and sometimes hangs or gets misaligned with the cogs.I'm thinking the deraillur needs to be cleaned up and relubed.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Glenn

Originally posted by GlennD
I have a 12 speed road bike with a Shimano rear derailleur.
I've noticed lately that while backpeddling to prepare to take off from a stop sign,that the chain seems to get sloppy and sometimes hangs or gets misaligned with the cogs.I'm thinking the deraillur needs to be cleaned up and relubed.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Glenn A clean systems helps including CHAIN. What gear combinaions you are in makes a difference tto.

I'd bet that your freewheel is crudded up. Clean it or replace it.

Originally posted by D*Alex
I'd bet that your freewheel is crudded up. Clean it or replace it. Maybe it's a cassette?

Originally posted by pokey
Maybe it's a cassette?

Dirty sprockets are dirty sprockets.

Originally posted by WorldIRC


Dirty sprockets are dirty sprockets. A CLEAN SYSTEM includes cogs. Anyone for some castor oil in their system?

Thanks for your replys.I removed the rear wheel,disassenbled the deraillur cogs,cleaned them and the chain with some 409,reassembled and now things seam back to normal.

Originally posted by GlennD
Thanks for your replys.I removed the rear wheel,disassenbled the deraillur cogs,cleaned them and the chain with some 409,reassembled and now things seam back to normal. Hope you relubed the chain.

Actually I wanted to remove the chain,soak it in some solvent and
relube with one of the popular lubes like White Lighting.
I don't own a chain tool and may try to order a power link.
Can the power links be installed without a chain tool?
Will I damage the chain by forcing off a link to install the power link?

Originally posted by GlennD
Actually I wanted to remove the chain,soak it in some solvent and
relube with one of the popular lubes like White Lighting.
I don't own a chain tool and may try to order a power link.
Can the power links be installed without a chain tool?
Will I damage the chain by forcing off a link to install the power link? Chains can be well cleaned without removing. Chains are made to be broken with a proper chain tool, and have to be in order to install the link.Make sure the link is the right width for your chain.

Maybe it's a cassette?

On a 12-speed road bike, it's 95% likely that it's a freewheel.


Dirty sprockets are dirty sprockets

True, but it's the pawl mechanism inside that needs cleaning, not the sprockets.


Thanks for your replys.I removed the rear wheel,disassenbled the deraillur cogs,cleaned them and the chain with some 409,reassembled and now things seam back to normal.

I was referring to the cogs on the freewheel, not the jockey wheels on the derailleur. 409 is a terrible thing to use on moving parts. I hope you thoroughly rinsed the thing out with hot water and lubricated the jockey wheels with chain lube. If not, you'll ruin them very quickly. Same goes for the chain.



Can the power links be installed without a chain tool?

No.


Will I damage the chain by forcing off a link to install the power link?

Force it off with what? Anything you force can get ruined. If you don't know what you are doing, go buy a book on bike repair and a chain tool. Even a chimpanzee can figure a job like that out.



Chains can be well cleaned without removing

No, they can't. You can buy a chain cleaning gizmo, but all it's going to do is clean up the surface of the chain, and spill greasy solvent all over the place. The only proper way to clean a chain is by removing it, putting it in a bottle with solvent, and agitating. Then rinse 3-4 times, dry, and relube. BTW, use only citrus solvents on chains that will be lubricated by wax lubes.

Originally posted by D*Alex


On a 12-speed road bike, it's 95% likely that it's a freewheel.



Sure,but it's the other 5% that alwayas bites you.

I have a 12sp cassette

I'm not the best at mechanics, but if backpeddling causes the chain to hang, or to clatter, it may be that the jockey pulley ( the top one in the rear derailleur) is not directly under the freewheel cog that the chain is resting on. IF you look from the rear, and the derailleur arm is not lining up with the cog above, but seems to be pulled one way, I think you need to adjust one of the adjustment screws. The cage that holds the pulleys should be perpendicular to the freewheel. Sometimes the arm or cage gets bent as well. I may be wrong though.