Bicycle Mechanics - Chain pain

The bike is a 1980's vintage Raleigh 10 speed. Decals were removed before my ownership. I think it's a Super Record, maybe it is maybe it ain't.

I decided to refurb it and replaced the cables, pads and chain. The chain was was cheap Bell 10 speed chain from the kind of department store that kills small town downtown stores all over America by selling cheap Chinese made merchandise.

Anyway,

BEFORE the new chain, it shifted well, I had no complaints.

AFTER the new chain, it hops gears whenever I am in the smaller rear gears, using either front gear. I thought about trying the old chain, but it was really old I and figured I just buggered up the derailleur settings when I replaced the cable. So I took it to the LBS for a $45 tuneup.

The LBS said the chain might be the wrong size, so I authorized them to replace it if needed.

So today I picked it up, they trued the wheels, replaced a spoke and adjusted everything. I asked about the gear skipping and the guy said it tested Ok.

I took it home, rolled out on it... put it into the small rear gears and almost fell off the bike when I began to pedal hard.

I was going to put the old chaing back on, but I can't find it now, arrrg.

So what is it? It was fine before the new chain, now it skips. I guess I know the answer... But how do I get a correct chain? Apparently the LBS didn't have it, or they would have replaced it and made a little more money.

Help.

The chain should be a standard item. It could be that the cogs and/or chainrings are excessively worn, which is quite possible with a bike of this vintage. Putting a new chain on while retaining the old, worn freewheel or cassette could be a source of problem.
You don't describe exactly what the bike is doing. Is it hunting from gear to gear? Is the chain derailing from the cassette? Skipping?
There could be other causes from simple derailleur adjustment to a bent derailleur or hanger....

It skips. You pedal along and when you push down harder on the pedal, wham, you do a half turn with the pedals. In the larger rear gears this does not happen, only in the smaller. It feels as if it's riding up and over the gears.

The bike is old, but I'll bet it's got less than a couple hundred miles on it.

You need to replace the cassette or freewheel.. whichever it is you have.

Replace the cassette. Sounds like it got a lot of touring put on it.

So how specific are these things? The derailleur is suntour. Should a Suntour freewheel work? Or does any english thread work as long as it's within width?

I's sorry about the stupid questions, but I only need to be told once.

Tell the bike shop to deal with it. Pick it up after and ride like the wind.

Fixed it myself. Pulled the chain and compared it to the old chain. The new one was 5 links shorter. :twitchy: I should compared it before, so that one will go into the live and learn files.

I popped on the old chain and bam, it all worked again. :p

I had asked the old guy at the LBS about the problem and he did say that the chain length could do that, saying that I might have put on an 8 speed chain (whatever that is, 8 speed?).

I told them to check that. They must not have... :innocent:

They lost my future business.

As I said before, "You need to replace the cassette or freewheel.. whichever it is you have."

Fixed it myself. Pulled the chain and compared it to the old chain. The new one was 5 links shorter. :twitchy: I should compared it before, so that one will go into the live and learn files.

I popped on the old chain and bam, it all worked again. :p

I had asked the old guy at the LBS about the problem and he did say that the chain length could do that, saying that I might have put on an 8 speed chain (whatever that is, 8 speed?).

I told them to check that. They must not have... :innocent:

They lost my future business.

Theold guy at the LBS thinks that 8 speed chains are a different length? Don't go back!

I had the same problem this summer. New chain, old freewheel - bad. New chain, new freewheel - good.
The old had several thousand miles on it, and only the smaller (most used) gears skipped.

I replaced the chain because I had a chain break on a different bike. That hurt!