Noisy Chain

Um. What kind of noisy? High-pitched squeaking like a plague of rats, or is it more of a 'gnurr, gnurr' grinding?

If the former, it's a tightness/lube issue, probably lube. Your chainline looks OK to me, not perfect but still pretty good. If the latter, you may be running around with a 3/32" chain on 1/8" cogs. This WILL make a grinding noise, because the steel chain will be grinding the softer ally away from the cogteeth. Check the chain for little flecks of ally.

It's OK to have a 1/8" chain on 3/32" cogs. That 1/64" on each side is about--what--3/10 mm clearance? No problem at all. But the other way will def. kludge things for you.

It looks like you don't have any foot retention. Get some clips+straps, otherwise your bike will not be safe.

I am assuming as this is your first fixed conversion, you've not ridden fixed before. You NEED foot retention. Apologies if this is condescending).

I've got some toe clips/straps on the way, my route is mostly flat and i've got brakes so assume things will be ok.

Um. What kind of noisy? High-pitched squeaking like a plague of rats, or is it more of a 'gnurr, gnurr' grinding?

If the former, it's a tightness/lube issue, probably lube. Your chainline looks OK to me, not perfect but still pretty good. If the latter, you may be running around with a 3/32" chain on 1/8" cogs. This WILL make a grinding noise, because the steel chain will be grinding the softer ally away from the cogteeth. Check the chain for little flecks of ally.

It's OK to have a 1/8" chain on 3/32" cogs. That 1/64" on each side is about--what--3/10 mm clearance? No problem at all. But the other way will def. kludge things for you.

More of a grindy noise to be honest, but when I ride it there is no noise which is why i'm suspect to be honest!

Um. What kind of noisy? High-pitched squeaking like a plague of rats, or is it more of a 'gnurr, gnurr' grinding?

If the former, it's a tightness/lube issue, probably lube. Your chainline looks OK to me, not perfect but still pretty good. If the latter, you may be running around with a 3/32" chain on 1/8" cogs. This WILL make a grinding noise, because the steel chain will be grinding the softer ally away from the cogteeth. Check the chain for little flecks of ally.

It's OK to have a 1/8" chain on 3/32" cogs. That 1/64" on each side is about--what--3/10 mm clearance? No problem at all. But the other way will def. kludge things for you.

you would have great trouble getting a 3/32" chain to run on 1/8" chainrings and cogs. i doubt it would actually work at all.

sorry if i missed something

you would have great trouble getting a 3/32" chain to run on 1/8" chainrings and cogs. i doubt it would actually work at all.

sorry if i missed something

Thats exactly what Captain Blight said...

I think you did miss something :)

i mean, you wouldn't be able to pedal as the chain would barely engage the chainring and cog, and certainly wouldn't be silent.

i mean, you wouldn't be able to pedal as the chain would barely engage the chainring and cog, and certainly wouldn't be silent.

Very true, you wouldn't get very far at all.

I've got some toe clips/straps on the way, my route is mostly flat and i've got brakes so assume things will be ok.

Just be cautious when pedaling at speed. I'm a newbie at this and I started 3 weeks ago without foot retention. I had powerstraps fitted inside of a week because of a few scarey moments going down hill!

spenceey:

So did you make it into work ok?

Are you dead?

This was the first thread I checked... please reply the suspence is killing me!

Hugo!

You'll be glad to hear that I made it to work fine! No noise no problems what so ever. In fact the thing which bothered me most was my brakes in the wet!

Even on hills I was fine, really enjoying riding fixed too, although I had to concentrate more going down hill as I've got no foot retention

Perhaps the noise will calm down with time but at the moment it's not given me any greif and I have just done 13 miles on it, think it's a case of it will get worn in and if it aint broke don't fix it!

That whole post is gold.

The teeth dont appear to be engaging the chain at its center in those pics. Its not out by much, but maybe enougth to make noise, when turned without load. While riding the engaged teeth will exact more force on the chain centralising this initial engagment.

ie. no worries

Hugo!

You'll be glad to hear that I made it to work fine! No noise no problems what so ever. In fact the thing which bothered me most was my brakes in the wet!

Even on hills I was fine, really enjoying riding fixed too, although I had to concentrate more going down hill as I've got no foot retention

Perhaps the noise will calm down with time but at the moment it's not given me any greif and I have just done 13 miles on it, think it's a case of it will get worn in and if it aint broke don't fix it!

You're based in the Fine City, right? If you're coming tomorrow night on the ride I'll take a look then. It sounds like it's fine though.

Not sure if i'll be around tomorrow mate. Will have the bike at work till about 530 then will go home on the hour and 30 trip

Sorry to birng this old thread up again, however, I have some suspect chain (line) issues.
I have just replaced a previously silent chain with a KMC this weekend to find it is making a grinding noise when I pedal hard. I have checked the chain line and it looks straight, the chain is not too tight nor is it slack and the chain ring teeth look centered when they enter the chain.
This may sound daft but is there a right way up for the chain? i.e can I have put it on upside down? Obviously the chain is already lubed at the factory but should I apply more oil?

Any help/advice appreciated.

Try more lube...

So you've put a new BB and C/set on but you're using the old chain and cog/freewheel?

If this is the case you'll probably need to ride it for a while till it all beds in the same or get a new chain and cog.

New chains take time to bed in, so can often sound much worse than the old one despite being in better condition. If it's only grinding when the pedals are at a certain position in the revolution then it could be too tight and be binding, bringing the wheel forward a little should sort it out.

...or it could be a noisy chain.

I had a KMC D101 silver which was noisy from the start. I have recently replaced it with a K710sl (gold). Silence is golden.

That said, I have run a 510 and a 710sl silver before and both were also pretty silent.

So you've put a new BB and C/set on but you're using the old chain and cog/freewheel?

If this is the case you'll probably need to ride it for a while till it all beds in the same or get a new chain and cog.

No, I have the original BB, C/set, fixed cog and I just replaced the chain. It was near silent before on the old half link chain but now grinding quite loudly. I am going to lube up the whole lot tonight then give it a good ride to see if it makes any difference. It is a bit disconcerting for it to be so loud.

Thanks all.

I have one of those gold Izumi track chains and it makes a right racket

No, I have the original BB, C/set, fixed cog and I just replaced the chain. It was near silent before on the old half link chain but now grinding quite loudly. I am going to lube up the whole lot tonight then give it a good ride to see if it makes any difference. It is a bit disconcerting for it to be so loud.

Thanks all.

The old chain would have worn 'in sympathy' with the cog, chainring etc,. As they are possibly now worn the new chain will not mesh so well with the worn teeth of the cog/chainring. How old are the cog/chainring and how long was the previous chain on for?

The old chain would have worn 'in sympathy' with the cog, chainring etc,. As they are possibly now worn the new chain will not mesh so well with the worn teeth of the cog/chainring. How old are the cog/chainring and how long was the previous chain on for?

I can't remember how old the cog/chainring is...possibly a year old. The last chain was a half link that was on for about a month before i decided against it and bought the new one.

The cog and chain wheel do not look particularly worn.

I can't remember how old the cog/chainring is...possibly a year old. The last chain was a half link that was on for about a month before i decided against it and bought the new one.

The cog and chain wheel do not look particularly worn.

it is difficult to tell the wear just by looking at it. I tried mixing a new chainring and chain to a worn cog, which made a horrible clattering noise under during heavy pedalling, which was solved by swapping the worn cog out to new one. (hence totally new drivetrain in the end)

Get yourself a block chain - nothing like them - they make so much noise people know you're coming. Still got my coventry solid block chain and when you run it dry it squeaks and rattles.

if its a KMC Kool chain thats your problem Maybe running it upside down ?