Chain Width Question?
#1
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Chain Width Question?
Hi, trying to nail down issue?
I have a Giant Cypress Lx 8 speed.
The last two top gears won't let the chain advance but the others are fine.
Some suggested that the chain may be a couple mm too wide? tried adjusting front and rear no avail.
what is the standard size for an 8 speed hybrid bike? before I take it to a shop.
thanks.
I have a Giant Cypress Lx 8 speed.
The last two top gears won't let the chain advance but the others are fine.
Some suggested that the chain may be a couple mm too wide? tried adjusting front and rear no avail.
what is the standard size for an 8 speed hybrid bike? before I take it to a shop.
thanks.
#2
Facts just confuse people




Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 19,278
Likes: 7,031
From: Mississippi
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Who suggested that the chain was too wide? Have you ever changed the chain? More likely that the RD just needs adjustment. Might need a new cable.
Top gears are the top ratio gears which will be the smaller rear gears on the bike? Or are they the low ratio gears which are the biggest rear cogs on the bike? Or are you describing the gears on the crankset?
If you messed with the two limit screws that are side by side, they don't do anything for your issue. They are only limits for how far the RD can move. If anything it's the barrel adjuster or inline adjuster you should probably have tweaked. But that isn't necessarily your issue. There are other things it could be.
Top gears are the top ratio gears which will be the smaller rear gears on the bike? Or are they the low ratio gears which are the biggest rear cogs on the bike? Or are you describing the gears on the crankset?
If you messed with the two limit screws that are side by side, they don't do anything for your issue. They are only limits for how far the RD can move. If anything it's the barrel adjuster or inline adjuster you should probably have tweaked. But that isn't necessarily your issue. There are other things it could be.
Last edited by Iride01; 07-31-23 at 12:35 PM.
#3
Banned
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 390
Buy a 8-speed designated chain for a 8-speed cassette and there will be no problems. See if you can manually move the chain to these two cogs while rotating the wheel - if you have a bike repair stand, or get someone to hold the rear wheel off the ground so you can rotate the pedals. Sometimes it is a matter of checking for stiffness in the individual link attachment points which is going to be more of a problem with the smallest cogs where the radius is less for the chain.
#4
This rings of limit screws or bent hanger. Limit screws are easy but useless if the hanger is bent. Your local bike shop has the hanger alignment tool. The repair should be covered under "shift adjust" for under $20-ish
#5
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,027
Likes: 1,062
From: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Elite Disc, 1983 Trek 520
Do the "top two gears" mean the largest cogs, which are the lowest gears, or the smallest cogs, which are the highest gear ratios? If the latter, it's probably excess friction in the cable housing, usually in the back loop at the derailleur. Remove the cable from the derailleur and see if it'll shift by itself. If so, work on the cable.
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,985
Likes: 709
From: Boulder County, CO
Bikes: '80 Masi Gran Criterium, '12 Trek Madone, early '60s Frejus track
Usually, when a rear derailleur stops working, it's because something got bent. Usually the hanger. Check the hanger alignment before chasing rabbits down holes.
#7
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Thanks for all your replies, I'll look further into what has been suggested.
The bike has all new cables and shifters, issue is at the 7th & 8th gear on the rear cassette, and the largest chainring.
Works fine in all 8 gears when the chainring is in the smallest & middle but will only go up to 6 on the largest chainring.
& stiffens and won't go any further in the front chainring.
The bike has all new cables and shifters, issue is at the 7th & 8th gear on the rear cassette, and the largest chainring.
Works fine in all 8 gears when the chainring is in the smallest & middle but will only go up to 6 on the largest chainring.
& stiffens and won't go any further in the front chainring.
#8
Senior Member




Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 7,342
Likes: 3,203
From: NW Oregon
Bikes: 1982 Trek 930R Custom, '91 Diamondback Ascent w/ XT, XTR updates, Fuji Team Pro CF road flyer, Specialized Sirrus Gravel Convert, '09 Comencal Meta 5.5 XC, '02 Marin MBX500, '84 Gitane Criterium bike
Thanks for all your replies, I'll look further into what has been suggested.
The bike has all new cables and shifters, issue is at the 7th & 8th gear on the rear cassette, and the largest chainring.
Works fine in all 8 gears when the chainring is in the smallest & middle but will only go up to 6 on the largest chainring.
& stiffens and won't go any further in the front chainring.
The bike has all new cables and shifters, issue is at the 7th & 8th gear on the rear cassette, and the largest chainring.
Works fine in all 8 gears when the chainring is in the smallest & middle but will only go up to 6 on the largest chainring.
& stiffens and won't go any further in the front chainring.
What you have described is a Chain LENGTH problem. Add four to six links to the chain and try it then.
#9
Thanks for all your replies, I'll look further into what has been suggested.
The bike has all new cables and shifters, issue is at the 7th & 8th gear on the rear cassette, and the largest chainring.
Works fine in all 8 gears when the chainring is in the smallest & middle but will only go up to 6 on the largest chainring.
& stiffens and won't go any further in the front chainring.
The bike has all new cables and shifters, issue is at the 7th & 8th gear on the rear cassette, and the largest chainring.
Works fine in all 8 gears when the chainring is in the smallest & middle but will only go up to 6 on the largest chainring.
& stiffens and won't go any further in the front chainring.
#10
Thanks for all your replies, I'll look further into what has been suggested.
The bike has all new cables and shifters, issue is at the 7th & 8th gear on the rear cassette, and the largest chainring.
Works fine in all 8 gears when the chainring is in the smallest & middle but will only go up to 6 on the largest chainring.
& stiffens and won't go any further in the front chainring.
The bike has all new cables and shifters, issue is at the 7th & 8th gear on the rear cassette, and the largest chainring.
Works fine in all 8 gears when the chainring is in the smallest & middle but will only go up to 6 on the largest chainring.
& stiffens and won't go any further in the front chainring.




