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[Solved - chain] Bike creaking and "crunching" on 7th gear

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hyankov

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've converted my wife's 7x by 3x, to 7x by 1x. I am using this crankset and this chainring. I guess you could say they are entry level. I've gotten the bike to shift smoothly and everything works, except that on 7th gear, there's a noticeable creaking and a "crunch" you could feel in the feet. I've taken everything apart, applied anti-seize on all threads and surfaces and torqued to spec! It slightly alleviated the issue, but it's still there.

Is there any else I could try, or I have to accept that these components would give me this "crunchy" feeling when the effort is high. It gets worse on steep hills.

Thanks.
 
Discussion starter · #3 · (Edited)
Cleared2land said:
Old chain when cross chaining?
Click to expand...
The chain is brand new and although 7th-to-1st is indeed cross-chaining, the chainline is slightly favoring that configuration. Meaning, the way the chainring sits, makes the line of 7th gear straighter than the line on 1st. If I look at my chainline, 1st gear (largest cog) is cross-chained worse than 7th, but doesn't make a sound and it's really smooth.
 
#8 ·
hyankov said:
Only if I've received a defective brand new item. Given it's bottom-tier, I wouldn't be surprised :/ I'm actually already looking into replacing the (brand new) crankset. Maybe I'll just send this one back. Ugh.
Click to expand...

Why replace the crankset? The crunchy noise is due to low end drivetrain components, mostly the freewheel but also the $10 chain.
 
Discussion starter · #15 · (Edited)
Good news, bad news. I can confirm the Shimano chain solves the problem. No creaking, smooth as butter. Bad news - I completely botched the installation and now I'm with a chain link that's too tight and doesn't move freely. I am about to purchase a new chain (this one is already sized). Is there any alternative, like how can I loosen that link a bit?

Edit: I got it to loosen up using some tips. This has to be the worst chain installation in the history of chain installations and it's one link shorter than what Shimano calls for. I'll prepare my wife mentally that her chain could drop any time.

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On my test drives up and down the street, it skipped just one, on 6th gear and since that moment it shifts and runs smoothly. I could write a whole post on how I installed a snapped Shimano pin.
 
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