Originally Posted by
Giant40
All I'm trying to do is clear up misunderstandings and provide better information. Apparently, much more has to be given. I know it's not easy to diagnose a problem accurately simply by using someone's description, which is why I'm trying to provide as much info as I can.
People keep suggesting that the chain is skipping between gears, which it isn't. Also the idea that it is only happening on certain gears, which it isn't. It happens on all 7 gears in the back and all 3 up front. Also, I don't have "zillions of miles" on this bike. I've only had it 7 years and usually ride it to a destination about 1 mile from my house most days. That little riding shouldn't put enough wear on it to cause these problems so soon.
It's taking a very long time for you to accept the
fact that your chain is badly worn and that as a result the cassette
must be worn as well. It's immaterial what later posts say about certain cogs or zillions of miles. My initial post, as well as FB's and the others that followed closely after, were all the info you needed (esp. if you Googled
chain stretch as advised). As I said before, diagnosis is not a matter of guessing, or choosing a solution you like.
Wow - I just went back to the post of yours I excerpted earlier (post #4 of this thread) and I noticed something. That previous thread was from
March 2012, and
at that time you had measured 1/4 in wear and said it was only skipping in the smallest cog. You were told then that you needed to replace the chain and cassette. You posted
again in January, asking if the problem was freewheeling or chain skipping. You were again instructed about how to measure chain wear (by FB) but chose to focus the rest of the thread on the cassette/freewheel. So this is the third thread on the same problem without you accepting the diagnosis given, even when you confirmed it yourself.
Pictures are unnecessary at this point. This is what you need to know:
You cannot ride a chain to (now) 1/2" stretch and skipping in every cog without causing a large amount of damage, requiring you to replace chain and cassette. Don't ask if you have to replace the chainwheels. They may kind of work but will be very inefficient and will immediately begin to stress the chain.
It happened because that bike is exposed to worse conditions than the others, and ridden without proper attention to maintenance. Regular tuneups, whether by you or a bike shop, should include checking the chain for wear.
Because you mentioned in the 2012 post that it happened only in the small cog it also means you ride that cog too often, and likely ride in general in a higher gear, which will cause quicker wear.
These are your choices, and there are no others to my knowledge: Replace the entire drivetrain (chain, worn chainwheels, cassette) and maybe even the pulleys on the deraiieur; replace the bike; or ride the other bikes (after you check their chains for wear as well as other problems that may have been neglected) until you can afford to fix this one. You already saved your money by not replacing things earlier - you now have pared down your choices to more money or fewer bikes.
Finally, when you ask for and receive expert help you need to respect the advice given as much as we respect your need for assistance. If you don't give the former you may not get the latter.