any bicycle mechanics or mtn bike freaks???

Anonymous-0 · Mar 27, 2012

Gotta ask, unbelieveable the range of folks on here...

Anyway,
got these two mtn bikes (huffy's I think)...
16 speed (??), ride fine, but as soon as you peddle with any strength on an upgrade for example, the chain skips (for lack of better words) at about every 3rd or so round of the pedals. The spring loaded derailer kinda flips up when it does it. Shifts fine and smooth, just that annoying skip. Anyone ran across this on any bikes that you or your kids have/had? If so, how did you fix it (assuming you did)?

Thanks, Dave

Joho · Mar 27, 2012

Does it skip on the front sprockets or the rear sprockets?

Anonymous-0 · Mar 27, 2012

(quoted from post at 02:29:58 03/27/12) Does it skip on the front sprockets or the rear sprockets?

rear.... Not even sure if skip is the right description.... What I see (when I can pedal hard and look without getting dizzy and loosing balance) is the rear derailer flipping up.... Hoping it's a kink in the chain, but don't see one and don't really feel one when I work it between my fingers..... chain lube has never been a strongpoint around her tho :roll:

Maybe a new chain and keep it oiled good???? The derailers are on these bikes shimano I think....

Thanks, Dave

Anonymous-0 · Mar 27, 2012

The chain and rear sprockets are shot. The chains have a master link and the rear gears sorta unscrew from the hub after you screw the special tool into the center of the sprocket over the axle.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 27, 2012

(quoted from post at 02:38:04 03/27/12) The chain and rear sprockets are shot. The chains have a master link and the rear gears sorta unscrew from the hub after you screw the special tool into the center of the sprocket over the axle.

These bikes are new as far as being ridden (sprockets haven't had time to wear)... Could it be just the chain??? Here's what happens around here ( had a couple new bikes because of thieves)... New bike, wife or stepson (been awhile) rides it without maintenance... I forget maintenance..... Chains look rough, I oil, 6 months ( and a few rides later) wife says the bike ain't right.... Skipping.....

jiminct · Mar 27, 2012

dave i used to compete in mtb races and do my own mech work so i'll try and give you a hand as best i can. its possible the chain is not good but you said the bikes are fairly new. are these bikes full suspension, front suspension or rigid(no suspension)? if they're full suspension the "skipping" can be fairly common especially when pedaling hard and standing up as you compress the rear shock it will give the chain slack and may cause it to skip. assuming the rear shock is a coil-over type you can tighten it up some to take out some of the slack when the shock compresses. also check to see if the drive line is not too far out of line while shifting gears and while in each gear. you will need to hold the bike up to do this or turn it over on the seat. if you can't figure out if the driveline is correct you may need to find a bike mech and they can put in on a bike work stand. they can also check the chain/sprockets with a special tool for wear.

Zachary Hoyt · Mar 27, 2012

Sounds to me like the chain needs to be lubed better. I ride a
touring bike, and even that has to have fairly regular oiling, and the
mountain bike chain gets dirty a lot faster if you are riding it off-
road where there is dust, mud etc. Over here I go to NAPA and get
a product called chain and cable lube in a fine point spray can, I
use that periodically. In between and when out on a trip I carry 3 in
1 oil or ATF in a small bottle. The spray works the best but you
want to wipe the chain with a rag afterward as it leaves a black
residue on anything it touches.
Zach

ncpapaul · Mar 27, 2012

Dave I ride mountain bikes and wrench on them a bit. I have had that happen also, on a new bike, I wrote it off as fat-old-man wear on the chain and sprockets. Does it seem worse in low gear? and better in high gear? The local "experts" told me to stay out of low gear! Keep up speed, yeah right! IF you are young and full of it. Most of my bikes are put together from student-discarded bikes and I highly recommend the website sheldonbrown.com Look up Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Technical Info on the Internet and you can learn a lot. Paul in Mississippi

Anonymous-0 · Mar 27, 2012

When you say it skips do you mean it slips a cog but stays on the same gear ring. If it is actually changing gears and going to a smaller ring (higher gear) then the cable tension is probably a little too loose and needs adjustment.

Handyman · Mar 27, 2012

you have a couple of links in the chain that are tight, get a chain breaker and just gently press the rivets out just a tiny amount and that should fix the problem. the links are probably the ones the bike assembler put together when he assembled the bike and didnt make sure they would flex properly before sending them out the door. bike shops will sell a special chain breaker tool that is made to push the pins out and then push them back in again, there are no master links on bicycle chains.

yak651 · Mar 27, 2012

Most likely need to adjust the cable tension. I'm assuming it's not really "skipping" but that the derailuar is not lined up with the sprocket teeth. Should be a "knob" next to where the cable enters teh derailuar, turn it out and try it, if it gets worse turn it in.

Bob M · Mar 27, 2012

That's classic symptoms of a worn (stretched) chain. Punch the link to see how to quickly determine chain wear.
chain stretch

Chip812 · Mar 27, 2012

It's an alignment issue with the derailleur... The chain, when it slips, is actually trying to shift (up/down) and the edge of the chain is starting to ride on the next sprocket... Seen it a dozen times... If the bike is of sufficient quality, you should have 'notches' in the shift pattern that represents the gears... A slight adjustment in the shifting cable to make sure the indentions match the gear should straighten the problem... If you don't have the detents, then a slight adjustment of the gear positioning lever/handle should make the chain align properly with the gear... Simple problem. Gear cable either stretched slightly or slipped...
8)

flyingace · Mar 27, 2012

(quoted from post at 06:30:52 03/27/12) It's an alignment issue with the derailleur... The chain, when it slips, is actually trying to shift (up/down) and the edge of the chain is starting to ride on the next sprocket... Seen it a dozen times... If the bike is of sufficient quality, you should have 'notches' in the shift pattern that represents the gears... A slight adjustment in the shifting cable to make sure the indentions match the gear should straighten the problem... If you don't have the detents, then a slight adjustment of the gear positioning lever/handle should make the chain align properly with the gear... Simple problem. Gear cable either stretched slightly or slipped...
8)

I agree this is most likely and the easiest/cheapest to fix. Start here.

Paul Shuler · Mar 27, 2012

Dave, I have logged thousands of miles on a bike seat. If the bike is new or has not been used that much then I would imagine the cables have stretched a little bit. Very common. Go with what Yak said below and I think that will fix you up. Once the cable has all the stretch out of it you may not need to adjust it again for a long time. It takes a lot of use to wear out chains and gears but it can be done. My old touring bike has maybe 10,000 miles all on the original chain and gears. The bike has held up better than I have.

barnE · Mar 27, 2012

Try to use gear combinations that keep the chain straight between front and rear sprockets. Dave

Anonymous-0 · Mar 27, 2012

I've worn out sets in less than a few months. Usually because I was provided cheap parts.

Had them skip from the git-go too.

Again replaced gearset and chain.

any bicycle mechanics or mtn bike freaks???

Anonymous-0

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