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Chain slap help on Ciclon

1016 Views 11 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Internal14, Jun 22, 2009

Phishin Paul

Discussion Starter · Jun 16, 2009

I thought I would try a post here and see if any wrenches have suggestions for me. Recently I have been getting a crazy amount of chain slap on my Ciclon to the point that it is distracting the ride and makes the bike sound like it is falling to pieces. I have taken out links several times hoping to reduce noise but no luck. I have already taken enough links out that I cannot shift into any big ring low (not that I use those but I discovered this the other day). Any suggestions? Just get a new chain? The current chain is SRAM 991 that is 3 months old with a SRAM 970 cassette, XO shifter, X9 rear der, XT cranks and XT front der. Also it is always the lower portion of the chain bouncing. Last night I noticed it even slapped when pedaling at times. I could fix the problem by riding with my Ipod but I would rather ride smooth and quiet.

Thanks

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JmZ

· #2 · Jun 16, 2009

Armchair mechanicing going on here, so be forewarned...

Is the spring in the rear mech in good shape and firmly in place?
Does the chain have any stiff links?
Are the front chainrings worn and holding onto the chain, but not bad enough for chainsuck, yet?
Chainstay protector as a partial band aid?

Just a few thoughts, use them or discard them as you desire...

JmZ

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eddieshowcase

· #3 · Jun 16, 2009

I have a Ciclon, typical 3-ring up front set up and the chain slap noise bugged me too.

I my case there was clanking on the chain stay, AND the front derailleur.

For chain-slap on the chain stay, that's easy, I used some old handlebar tape and wrapped the chain-stay, or you can use a lizard skin etc..

Turns out most of the clankity-clank sound is coming from the chain bouncing on the front derailleur cage (I bet this is much of what you are hearing too).

I've tried a few things, lately took some electrical tape and just wrapped a small cut-to fit piece 2-3 times around the bottom of the front derailleur where the chain is rubbing. That has helped a lot, and its easy to re-do when it wears out.

With the above, I'm satisfied.... however the only way to get rid of it completely would be to perhaps run 1x9 w/ a short-cage rear derailleur... or get a front chain guide.

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Phishin Paul

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 16, 2009

JmZ said:
Armchair mechanicing going on here, so be forewarned...

Is the spring in the rear mech in good shape and firmly in place?
I will check that but last night it looked good.
Does the chain have any stiff links?
No
Are the front chainrings worn and holding onto the chain, but not bad enough for chainsuck, yet?
Purchased new xt late October so I don't think I have worn them yet. Cleaned last night and they looked good
Chainstay protector as a partial band aid?
I have a lizard skin but I am thinking about wrapping with bar tape for more coverage

Just a few thoughts, use them or discard them as you desire...

JmZ

Thanks for the ideas. I will check spring later today.

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Phishin Paul

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 16, 2009

eddieshowcase said:
Turns out most of the clankity-clank sound is coming from the chain bouncing on the front derailleur cage (I bet this is much of what you are hearing too).

I've tried a few things, lately took some electrical tape and just wrapped a small cut-to fit piece 2-3 times around the bottom of the front derailleur where the chain is rubbing. That has helped a lot, and its easy to re-do when it wears out.

I may try that because that seems to be where all the noise is coming from. Strange thing is that it has only recently started so I am trying to figure out what has changed or worn to cause the bouncing/clanking.

Thanks.

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Ciclistagonzo

· #6 · Jun 16, 2009

Phishin Paul said:
I may try that because that seems to be where all the noise is coming from. Strange thing is that it has only recently started so I am trying to figure out what has changed or worn to cause the bouncing/clanking.

Thanks.

If it's only when coasting I would think that your rear hub may be sticking a little and not ratcheting enough to balance out tensions (on top and on bottom). But you say it's doing it while pedaling too and it's recent? Check for a bent tooth that's pulling the chain up. I've bent more than a few teeth on Shimano Rings.

My, $.02 worth anyway.

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Wrex Everything

· #7 · Jun 17, 2009

Same type of thing was happening on my El Salt...

... until I adjusted/tightened the "B-Screw" on my rear derailleur. Looking at the very rear portion of your rear derailleur's body, you'll see a little screw. I think this is called the "B-Screw". Anyway, this screws down against a little tab in your derailleur hanger, effectively pushing your derailleur and chain away from your cassette. I had to screw this thing in quite aways, but when I did so, things quieted down quite a bit back there. Worth a look.

Shoots... just noticed that you have a Sram derail, so my suggestion may not help you. My issues were on an XTR rear d....

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Phishin Paul

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 17, 2009

OK, I just got back from a ride. I may be crazy, but I just switched chain lubes of all things tonight and it seemed to quiet the ride down. I was using Rock & Roll lube and tried Dumonde Tech Lite tonight on Mike's suggestion from All Mountain Cyclery. It did help believe it or not. Funny, on the bottle it reads, "Reduced chain noise". Wow, those marketing guys must actually ride.

I am not quite where I want to be with the issue but thanks for all the suggestions. I will keep going through the list.

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bingemtbr

· #9 · Jun 19, 2009

A few things:

1. Regarding the B-limit on SRAM rear der, make sure the SRAM der is installed correctly. It uses a funky little tab to emulate Shimano's B-tab set up.
2. If your freehub is dying, this could be the culprit. Switch out rear wheels for one ride.
3. My ghetto chain stay protector is an old inner tube zip-tied at either end. I have used old roading bar tape and hockey [stick grip] tape before but those are not as cheap as a blown tube.
4. Last thing you wanna check is your rear shock. I recently had a "squeak-squeak-squeak" on the upside of my left leg's pedal stroke. Really frustrating considering the new drivetrain which is complete with CK bb. Took off the shock (an '08 Fox DHX 5.0) and found that not only was the upper mounting bolt "u" shaped but that the shock reducers where destroyed/ripped into parts. Hence the squeaking. A call to T and a trip to the local Fastenal solved the problem.

-B

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Internal14

· #10 · Jun 20, 2009

I can't believe no one has asked....but what kind of hub??

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Phishin Paul

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 21, 2009

Internal14 said:
I can't believe no one has asked....but what kind of hub??

Chris King. I had it serviced about 3 months ago and is working good as new.

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Internal14

· #12 · Jun 22, 2009

OK....humor me....do you know how to service the hub yourself? I had one of those gawd awful hubs too one time....I never liked it because it always had a bit of slack it seemed before it engaged. I finally trcked it down to the seal that is behind the big sealed bearing that sits behind the cassette body, underneath a clip.
Pop clip out....yank out flimsy paper thin seal, and voila the hub ran(coasted) sooo smooooth.
This was unacceptable to me, so it got thrown on eBay and away it went.
And yes, this hub went back to King twice in one year because of this issue, and every time they assured me every thing was right. But it just had too much drag under coasting and trying to kick the front end up after coasting, just was unsafe.
Also it led to much drivetrain/chainslap noise.

Something to look at. Try changing wheels for a ride or two with a non-king hub'd wheel.

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