Chain skip
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,704
Likes: 355
From: NWNJ
Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
Chain skip
I am having chain skip jump issues when pushing big gears cassette is new
chain is new
not sure what else to do
i read loose chain too long is possible
so with a single front chain ring what’s the trick to perfect length?
thanks
chain is new
not sure what else to do
i read loose chain too long is possible
so with a single front chain ring what’s the trick to perfect length?
thanks
#2
Sr Member on Sr bikes

Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,094
Likes: 1,272
From: Rhode Island (sometimes in SE Florida)
Bikes: Several...from old junk to new all-carbon.
There are online chain length calculators that can help you with proper chain length. For example: https://www.bergfreunde.eu/chain-length-calculator/. Also, what is the condition (amount of wear) on the chain ring and cassette/freewheel? If they're too worn it will cause the chasing-teeth to not mesh properly...and 'skip.' Lastly...what is the cleanliness of the gears and chainring? Built-up grime/grease on can cause the chain to not mesh properly with the gears also.
Dan
Dan
#3
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,704
Likes: 355
From: NWNJ
Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
There are online chain length calculators that can help you with proper chain length. For example: https://www.bergfreunde.eu/chain-length-calculator/. Also, what is the condition (amount of wear) on the chain ring and cassette/freewheel? If they're too worn it will cause the chasing-teeth to not mesh properly...and 'skip.' Lastly...what is the cleanliness of the gears and chainring? Built-up grime/grease on can cause the chain to not mesh properly with the gears also.
Dan
Dan
thanks
the drive train sans Rear Der. Is all new this season
#5
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,704
Likes: 355
From: NWNJ
Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 3,598
Likes: 330
From: Fernandina Beach FL
Bikes: Vintage Japanese Bicycles, Tange, Ishiwata, Kuwahara
If the chain and the cogs are new then that's not what's skipping. The pawls in your freehub are shot. Replace the freehub & everything will be OK.
#7
Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 978
Likes: 405
From: Northern CA
Bikes: Cannondale tandems: '92 Road, '97 Mtn. Mongoose 10.9 Ti, Kelly Deluxe, Tommaso Chorus, Cdale MT2000, Schwinn Deluxe Cruiser, Torker Unicycle, among others.
I assume you "removed" the stiff link after chain assembly?
It could be your chainrings. They wear as well, albeit much more slowly than cassette cogs (they're larger, and it's usually the small cassette cogs that show symptoms first). But I had chain skip due to a worn small ring many years ago. It took very high pedal loads to induce, but sure enough, "BAM!" it would skip.
Cassette pawls could also be the culprit as mentioned by ramzilla. Thing is, pawl issues usually manifest during all pedaling situations, not just under high loads.*
Bent or broken axle COULD be the culprit as well, but very unlikely with a cassette. What could also be the issue would be a loose freehub body on the hub. Any flex under load in the interface between hubshell and freehub body would cause problems.
Another possible cause would be your rear derailleur. Derailleur tight in hanger? Is the hanger straight? Pulley wheel bolts tight? How's the cable housing? It ages over time and develops friction. If this is the case, frame flex during high pedaling loads can "break" the high-friction cable loose and cause an effective change in derailleur position.
Which comes to frame flex... If there's enough flex, the geometry of the cable between you shifter and derailleur can move enough to "change the gears."
So there are many potential causes other than the typical "new chain on a worn cassette" skipping problem.
*I say this in reference to single bikes. Not tandems. They're an ENTIRELY different beast. High pedaling loads on mountain tandems are BRUTAL on rear cassette hubs. I've destroyed six hubs so far, the most memorable being a Phil Wood FSC splitting in two on the Slicrock Trail!
It could be your chainrings. They wear as well, albeit much more slowly than cassette cogs (they're larger, and it's usually the small cassette cogs that show symptoms first). But I had chain skip due to a worn small ring many years ago. It took very high pedal loads to induce, but sure enough, "BAM!" it would skip.
Cassette pawls could also be the culprit as mentioned by ramzilla. Thing is, pawl issues usually manifest during all pedaling situations, not just under high loads.*
Bent or broken axle COULD be the culprit as well, but very unlikely with a cassette. What could also be the issue would be a loose freehub body on the hub. Any flex under load in the interface between hubshell and freehub body would cause problems.
Another possible cause would be your rear derailleur. Derailleur tight in hanger? Is the hanger straight? Pulley wheel bolts tight? How's the cable housing? It ages over time and develops friction. If this is the case, frame flex during high pedaling loads can "break" the high-friction cable loose and cause an effective change in derailleur position.
Which comes to frame flex... If there's enough flex, the geometry of the cable between you shifter and derailleur can move enough to "change the gears."
So there are many potential causes other than the typical "new chain on a worn cassette" skipping problem.
*I say this in reference to single bikes. Not tandems. They're an ENTIRELY different beast. High pedaling loads on mountain tandems are BRUTAL on rear cassette hubs. I've destroyed six hubs so far, the most memorable being a Phil Wood FSC splitting in two on the Slicrock Trail!





