prevent chain from falling off?
03-14-08, 05:11 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
prevent chain from falling off?
Hey guys!
My friends just got me into biking, so I've been biking everywhere for a week solid.
Today I decided to my first multi-mile ride -- not a big deal to you pro's, but that was hard for me!
Anyway, the chain started falling off my bike about once every two minutes. It got SO frustrating that I almost left the bike on the side of the road.
My question is, is there a tool or part that I can get that would reduce the chain from falling off? Like a wall or metal something? Any help would be appreciated!
My friends just got me into biking, so I've been biking everywhere for a week solid.
Today I decided to my first multi-mile ride -- not a big deal to you pro's, but that was hard for me!
Anyway, the chain started falling off my bike about once every two minutes. It got SO frustrating that I almost left the bike on the side of the road.
My question is, is there a tool or part that I can get that would reduce the chain from falling off? Like a wall or metal something? Any help would be appreciated!
03-14-08, 05:21 PM
#2
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,390
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1002 Post(s)
Liked 1,219 Times
in
697 Posts
Is it falling off the front gear or the back gear?
Does it fall off while shifting, just pedaling, or coasting?
How many gears does the bike have?
Pending these answers, it's most likely the rear derailleur out of adjustment, causing a lack of tension. Maybe the front.
Does it fall off while shifting, just pedaling, or coasting?
How many gears does the bike have?
Pending these answers, it's most likely the rear derailleur out of adjustment, causing a lack of tension. Maybe the front.
03-14-08, 05:42 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
hey mr knight, thanks for the quick response!
It falls off during shifting, and it's on the front gear (where the pedles meet the bike)...it falls to the inside of the gears.
Any more help is most appreciated! thanks thanks
It falls off during shifting, and it's on the front gear (where the pedles meet the bike)...it falls to the inside of the gears.
Any more help is most appreciated! thanks thanks
03-14-08, 05:46 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2953 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
I suggest you take it to your local bike shop ("LBS") and tell them that your front derailleur needs adjusting.
03-14-08, 06:23 PM
#6
don't try this at home.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: N. KY
Posts: 5,964
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 984 Post(s)
Liked 518 Times
in
356 Posts
If you get out and ride at least twice a week, you'll be surprised how fast your speed and distance increases.
It does sound like a front derailleur adjustment. You might want to try fixing it yourself:
Park Tools website has a how-to repair section, with pictures and step by step instructions. You can adjust the front derailleur with just a screwdriver. The chain falls off the small front chainring because the cage that moves the chain can move too far in, and needs the limit screw to be adjusted. It's pretty easy to do.
You should get a small set of metric Allen wrenches, too. They are the hexagonal shaped tools that fit most of the bolts on your bike. Even a cheap set like this would help.
On this page, scroll down to the section titled:
"Front Derailleur - Adjusting L-screw" (if the two screws aren't marked L and H, see the paragraph just above this.)
It does sound like a front derailleur adjustment. You might want to try fixing it yourself:
Park Tools website has a how-to repair section, with pictures and step by step instructions. You can adjust the front derailleur with just a screwdriver. The chain falls off the small front chainring because the cage that moves the chain can move too far in, and needs the limit screw to be adjusted. It's pretty easy to do.
You should get a small set of metric Allen wrenches, too. They are the hexagonal shaped tools that fit most of the bolts on your bike. Even a cheap set like this would help.
On this page, scroll down to the section titled:
"Front Derailleur - Adjusting L-screw" (if the two screws aren't marked L and H, see the paragraph just above this.)
1. Shift chain to innermost rear sprocket and innermost front chainring. Inspect derailleur for marking indicating "L" screw.
2. Check inner wire tension. It should be fairly loose at this time. If inner wire is taut, turn barrel adjuster clockwise into housing. The barrel adjuster is typically located where the cable housing enters the shift lever. If barrel adjuster is already fully turned into housing, loosen inner wire pinch bolt, slacken inner wire and retighten bolt.
3. Sight gap between inner chain plate and inner cage plate. Only a small gap should be visible, about 1/16" or 1mm, about the thickness of a dime.
Then it continues from there.
2. Check inner wire tension. It should be fairly loose at this time. If inner wire is taut, turn barrel adjuster clockwise into housing. The barrel adjuster is typically located where the cable housing enters the shift lever. If barrel adjuster is already fully turned into housing, loosen inner wire pinch bolt, slacken inner wire and retighten bolt.
3. Sight gap between inner chain plate and inner cage plate. Only a small gap should be visible, about 1/16" or 1mm, about the thickness of a dime.
Last edited by rm -rf; 03-14-08 at 06:36 PM.
03-14-08, 07:00 PM
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wow!~ you guys are all amazing
Thanks for the help!!!
Does this really happen only after a week of riding? If so, I guess I'm harding on my bike than I thought (also, being fat doesn't help_)
Thanks for the help!!!
Does this really happen only after a week of riding? If so, I guess I'm harding on my bike than I thought (also, being fat doesn't help_)
03-14-08, 09:27 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2953 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
If you get out and ride at least twice a week, you'll be surprised how fast your speed and distance increases.
It does sound like a front derailleur adjustment. You might want to try fixing it yourself:
Park Tools website has a how-to repair section, with pictures and step by step instructions. You can adjust the front derailleur with just a screwdriver. The chain falls off the small front chainring because the cage that moves the chain can move too far in, and needs the limit screw to be adjusted. It's pretty easy to do.
You should get a small set of metric Allen wrenches, too. They are the hexagonal shaped tools that fit most of the bolts on your bike. Even a cheap set like this would help.
On this page, scroll down to the section titled:
"Front Derailleur - Adjusting L-screw" (if the two screws aren't marked L and H, see the paragraph just above this.)
Then it continues from there.
It does sound like a front derailleur adjustment. You might want to try fixing it yourself:
Park Tools website has a how-to repair section, with pictures and step by step instructions. You can adjust the front derailleur with just a screwdriver. The chain falls off the small front chainring because the cage that moves the chain can move too far in, and needs the limit screw to be adjusted. It's pretty easy to do.
You should get a small set of metric Allen wrenches, too. They are the hexagonal shaped tools that fit most of the bolts on your bike. Even a cheap set like this would help.
On this page, scroll down to the section titled:
"Front Derailleur - Adjusting L-screw" (if the two screws aren't marked L and H, see the paragraph just above this.)
1. Shift chain to innermost rear sprocket and innermost front chainring. Inspect derailleur for marking indicating "L" screw.
2. Check inner wire tension. It should be fairly loose at this time. If inner wire is taut, turn barrel adjuster clockwise into housing. The barrel adjuster is typically located where the cable housing enters the shift lever. If barrel adjuster is already fully turned into housing, loosen inner wire pinch bolt, slacken inner wire and retighten bolt.
3. Sight gap between inner chain plate and inner cage plate. Only a small gap should be visible, about 1/16" or 1mm, about the thickness of a dime.
2. Check inner wire tension. It should be fairly loose at this time. If inner wire is taut, turn barrel adjuster clockwise into housing. The barrel adjuster is typically located where the cable housing enters the shift lever. If barrel adjuster is already fully turned into housing, loosen inner wire pinch bolt, slacken inner wire and retighten bolt.
3. Sight gap between inner chain plate and inner cage plate. Only a small gap should be visible, about 1/16" or 1mm, about the thickness of a dime.
Then it continues from there.
03-14-08, 09:58 PM
#10
Senior Member
There's two phillips head screws on the linkage arms. Study them while you are shifing up and down. It helps if you can use some rope or webbing ties to lift the bike up so you can pedal it with one hand while studying the derraileur movement. Figure out which screw is the one that stops it from shifting inwards and screw that one inwards until it won't push the chain off on the inside. Check the other while you're at it.
YOu'll find it's not that big a deal. There's nothing on a bike that is rocket science. Congratulations, you're now a bike tinkerer.....
