I have a seven-speed bike that I use around town, and recently I’ve been having a problem that is driving me crazy. For some reason, my bike chain keeps falling off. I haven’t changed anything about the way I ride or take care of my bike, but every time I go for a ride it seems I end up with a chain that no longer matches any of the gears. This is very inconvenient. When I go to the bike shop they always tell me they can’t find anything wrong, so I’m wondering if there is something I am doing that could be causing this problem.
Why Bike Chain Keeps Falling Off
I have never had this problem before until today. Every now, my bike chain falls off for no apparent reason. The first time it happened, I thought the chain came off because of me not properly putting it back on but after looking further into it there are several other reasons why your bike chain may come off.
For example, if the bolts are not tightened on the rear derailleur, it could come off. Also, if the front derailleur is too high or low for certain gears, this can cause the chain to slip off easily.
Another issue that may contribute to loose chains is if your bicycle has a cassette freehub and you do not use some kind of lubricant on the cogs. This will cause a lot of friction and your chain can easily come off as it is trying to mesh with the cog.
In addition, if you use an excessive amount of force while pedaling or if you have a damaged rear derailleur hanger, your bike chain could become off-balance and fall off.
There are other reasons why your bike chain may come off but the most common reason is because of improper installation. As you can see, there are many different reasons that can cause a loose bike chain, and having to fix the bike chain yourself can be tedious.
How Do I Keep My Bike Chain From Falling Off?
The all-too-familiar sound of a falling chain is an unwelcome accompaniment to any ride. With the popularity of single-speed and fixed-gear bikes, the problem is increasingly common.
This article will attempt to look at why chains come off the chain rings, and how to avoid it happening again so you can keep riding. The chain on a bicycle is supported by the chain rings and the rear cog.
It should have some slack so it will move up and down the cogs smoothly. If a chain is too long, it will fall off to one side or the other, if a chain is too short, it won’t clear the adjacent cog and will either jam between cogs or come off completely.
If your chain is falling to one side, you need to take up the slack on the chain or replace it. If your chain is falling off completely, there are a few things you need to check.
Are Your Chain Rings True?
If they are bent or badly worn, the chain will not ride straight up and down the chain rings. Take them to a bike shop and have them checked for wear, particularly where they meet the body of the ring. It is a common problem, and a quick adjustment to the truing stand will solve the problem.
Is Your Rear Cog Straight?
Chains have a nasty habit of jamming between the cogs of a freewheel hub. Bent rear cogs can cause a chain to continue to fall off the side on which it first falls. Take them to a bike shop and have them checked for wear, particularly where they meet the body of the cog.
Is Your Chain Kinked?
Chains should have some slack so they can move up and down the cogs smoothly. If your chain is kinked or stiff, it will not follow the cogset. It might be that you need to take up the slack in your chain.
If your rear cogset is old, worn, or has some damage, it might be time to replace the rear cogset with a new one. You may have a bent chain ring or cog, and need to replace it. If you aren’t sure, take the bike into a bike shop and ask them to check it out for you. There are several popular options to keep your chain in place and many of these work.
There are several ways to keep your chain in place. The cheapest solution, and the one most popular with commuters, is a length of old inner tube wrapped tightly around the frame. This will act as a flexible guide that will keep your chain in place.
More expensive options include the K-edge guide and the Cyclo-O-Ring. The Kedge was designed to fit over the cogset, and is an extremely lightweight and effective option. The Cyclo-O-Ring is a lightweight aluminum ring that fits over the chain ring, and has angled guides that help keep your chain in place. It is designed to fit on rings up to 48 teeth.
What Happens If Bike Chain Is Loose?
The bike rider will experience jerky movement and the bike will be unstable. If it’s a cruiser bike, it will be hard to keep the bike in motion and eventually, the pedals might become immobile.
Bike Chain Loose
The bike chain is the main component that drives the bike and keeps up the momentum. It links all of the gears on a bike and thus assists in changing gears to keep up with the speed. The bike chain is designed in such a way that it does not come loose often; however, if it does, it can be extremely dangerous both for the rider as well as others on road. To avoid such circumstances one should go for regular bike maintenance.
Causes Of Bike Chain Coming Loose
There can be various causes that are accountable for your bike chain coming loose. Some of them are discussed below.
The most common cause of your bike chain coming loose is by using low-quality lubricant. If the lubricant that you are using is of low quality, it will damage your bike parts. In such cases, the bike components start coming loose, and eventually, the bike chain will come off.
Another reason can be by not tightening the bolts of your bike parts correctly. If you are having some loose bolts on your bike, it might start affecting the working of your gears. In such cases, the gear will not be able to handle the speed and the bike chain might come off.
If you are driving your bike at a low speed and then suddenly increase it, your bike chain might get caught somewhere and can be the reason behind it coming loose.
If your bike chain is too old, then there are chances that it might come off. Also, if you are not maintaining it well then the bike chain might get damaged and lose its strength.
Precautions To Take When Bike Chain Is Loose
1. If you are experiencing your bike chain coming loose frequently then there are chances that it might affect the performance of your gears. Thus, you should take the following precautions to avoid such issues.
2. You should go for regular bike maintenance to get rid of bike chain loose issues.
3. You should go for high-quality lubricant that will protect your bike parts from damage and will keep the bike running smoothly.
4. You should check the bolts of your bike regularly and tighten them as needed.
5. If your bike chain is old, you should replace it with a new one.
6. You should use the bike brakes and gear properly to avoid jerky movements.
If you follow these precautions then it will be much easier for you to keep your bike chain tight. If the problem continues even after taking these precautions, you should go to a mechanic and get your bike checked to avoid any accidents.
How Do I Know If My Chain Needs Tightening?
That depends on a variety of factors, such as how worn your chainrings and cogs are and the size of your rear sprocket. For the average rider though, it’s not necessary to re-tighten your chain often. If you check it regularly by pulling on it, it’s good for a few months. Check your owner’s manual to find out how much you should pull on the chain.
If, when checking your chain, you find it is loose and has extra play in it, tightens it as soon as possible to prevent serious damage. If the chain is extremely loose, it could come off altogether, causing damage to your frame and possibly injuring you.
How Do You Tension A Chain?
• Take the chain off of the bike
• Remove any dirt or dust from the chain with a rag and some lube
• Look for wear on the teeth of the sprocket – if there is, replace it before continuing
• Put your bike in gear and pedal backward to release the tension on the chain
• Turn your bike upside down so that you can see where to find slack in your chain
• Grab onto both ends of one side loop of loose links, then pull them away from each other until they are taut again
Does Chain Tension Affect Speed?
Chain tension is the force that resists the motion of a bicycle chain. There are two types of bike chains, so it’s important to know which type you have before adjusting the chain. When there is too much slack in the chain, it will be hard for your gears to turn and this can cause problems with speed.
The best way to check if your bike has enough tension on its chain is by feeling how tight it feels when you try to move forward or backward. If there isn’t enough tension, then you may need to tighten it up by using a screwdriver or Allen wrench (depending on what type of bike). Once you’ve tightened up the chain, make sure everything else is in working order before getting back out on the road again.