Chain Sucks, well Sucks!!

[5cents]

well the subject pretty much sums up my subject.

Here is the 411.

I go for a ride on Saturday, it was a easy location, no severe climbs or intense tech parts. just your typical colorado xc single track. But this ride turned out to be the most frustrating of my life.

I am riding an '02 Trek Fuel 90. It is mostly stock, but I have upgraded componets as time and more importantly funds have allowed. { The front D-train is bontrager (which I think is part of the problem)}

So we start up the small starting climb, I shift from the mid front to the granny front and boom the chain sucks (f#cking xtr chain is all i start thinkin) seizes up and down I go. This happens several times even when I am already in the small ring up front. I knock my back on some narlley roots and rocks. I have the bruises and lacerations to prove it. (ouch :nopity: )

So my question to all the wrenchs and gearheads out there, wtf? I never had a problem with my chain before, (I have used xtr on this set up 4 chains now.) So, did I not take out enough links, (too loose?) Or is it a shifting limit problem? Or is it my crankset? Any Ideas, suggestions, solutions would be much appriciated.


Thanks monkeys
:monkey:

[Arutha]

Normally when I have had chain suck issues it is because of the rings. Check to see if there are any burrs on them. They can be filed down if so. If it is pretty beat you can replace the ring. I suppose it could be the chain. Make sure the chain doesn't have any bent links or is really stiff at certain links. I guess that could cause a problem but again it has always been ring issues with me.

[Repack]

Sounds like you should replace the middle and small rings. If they are shot, you can't file them. Chains suck when the rings get too worn to hold it properly. If you are a newbie, try laying a section of new chain (if you have such a section) around the rings. This won't tell you if the rings are boarderline, but if the chain won't seat properly all the way around, the rings are shot. A good mechanis could tell you just by looking. Also look to see if they are starting to "shark fin". When you look at the rings from the side, the front and back slope should be the same. If you have much more than 1000 miles on the rings, odds are good that the rings are shot. None of the above are "rules", but they might help you figure out whats going on. Best solution=go to shop.

[oldfart]

On the same rings? If the chains were replaced due to wear, the rings are toast. I'd replace at the very least the small and middle. The small because its causing the chain suck and the middle as it gets more use typically. What happens is the chain wears where it pivots and gets longer, aka stretch, which means the chain wears the teeth so that the get hooked. The hooks especially with a new chain hold the chain when under pedalling tension and if you watch while some one else rides your bike you'll see the chain travel part way up the ring rather than straight off the bottom of the ring. If it were my bike I'd also replace the big ring and cassette. I have the scars to demonstrate what cheapness does when the big ring that "looked" OK skips at 40kph when I stood up on a short hill.