Bicycle Mechanics - Weird Popping Issues With Chain

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theone12
04-06-11, 03:02 PM
Hello All,

Just posting b/c I am experiencing constant popping of the chain (every 3-4 revolutions, almost as if trying to shift although the shifter cables are destroyed) when riding on my ancient Raleigh Record - but here's the catch - no issue whatsoever after a good rain.

Do you think it might be an issue of insufficient lubrication (have already tried applying some)? Or something else?

Thanks

ryker
04-06-11, 04:10 PM
Stiff link?

http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html#stifflink
theone12
04-06-11, 05:06 PM
Hey thanks for the input - will check that out. For now I'll just try and keep it lathered with bike grease.

wrk101
04-06-11, 05:18 PM
How many miles on it? When was the last time you cleaned it? +1 I get those symptoms on stiff links.
theone12
04-06-11, 05:22 PM
No telling how many miles it's seen before myself (not the original owner) - however I've probably put at least ~ 100 miles on it. The bike is pretty old, but this is main recurring problem I get - I'll take a look at the SB page on stiff links.
Dan The Man
04-06-11, 05:28 PM
Lubrication will not always do the trick if the stiff link is seized in there tight with rust and not moving at all. If you have a chain tool, you can pop the pin most of the way out and flex around the link to get it moving again then pop the pin back in and flex the link again to loosen it. Otherwise you can try to set the chain into some sort of vice and use leverage to get that link moving. Or just live with a chain that skips every few revolutions.
theone12
04-06-11, 05:48 PM
Hm..well I don't have any tools, but I guess a trek to the bike shop may be in order if this is indeed a stiff link (appears as such from your input). Living with a skipping chain is unacceptable..I'm sure you would agree
Dan The Man
04-07-11, 08:09 AM
It is very easy to determine if it's a stiff link. Just run the chain through your hands and see if each link bends. Or if you don't want to get dirty, watch the drive train and you spin the chain around, and see if one of the links isn't making the turn through the pulleys.
theone12
04-07-11, 08:11 AM
Yep, went through and I believe I found it yesterday - thanks for the advice.
FBinNY
04-07-11, 08:22 AM
Simple diagnostic trick for chain noises.

Once or twice per pedal revolution, it's crank or chainring related.
2-4 times per pedal revolution, depending on gear (53/13 = roughly 4), it's in the wheel.
once every 3-4 pedal revolutions, it's someplace in the chain.

If you learn to speak bike, your bike will tell you where the problem is.