Chain help

Dear all,

I seem to have messed something up when cleaning my chain, which was caked with winter gunk. It's a newish (~4 month old) KMC 510 being properly cleaned for the first time. I took it off, gave it a good scrub with some citrus degreaser and a toothbrush, gave it a bit of a soak in some engine oil then wiped dry and stuck it back on the bike.

Ever since, the drivetrain [Langster Sugino Messenger OTP to a 14t Dura Ace cog, which was fitted at the same time as the new chain] feels really "clicky", almost as though there is sand in it, and is much louder. It was nice and smooth before, just a little bit "sticky" from the gunk. I also hear a quiet "taptaptaptaptaptaptap", almost as though the chain has somehow stretched and is no longer lining up properly

Could all this be caused by my having stuck the chain on in a different direction/orientation to when I started? Is there any easy way to figure out which way is the right way to stick it together now? Have I spacked things up irretrievably?

Cheers,

Arn.

have you greased it well? is the sound from the whole chain (loose rollers) or from one link?

Could all this be caused by my having stuck the chain on in a different direction/orientation to when I started? Is there any easy way to figure out which way is the right way to stick it together now? Have I spacked things up irretrievably?

Cheers,

Arn.

no, no need, no.

messenger chainrings are notoriously not quite round. turn your bike upside down, turn the chainring slowly and check your chain tension is consistent.

you need to set the chain tension to be correct when the chainring is at it's furthest point away from the rear cog (i.e. tightest position). Otherwise you'll stretch the chain and get loose rollers = noisy chain.