Reasons Why Bike Chain Keeps Falling Off and How To Fix

How to Fix a Bike Chain That Keeps Falling?

After becoming familiar with the potential reasons for the chain coming off, you should also know how to fix it. If the problem is correctly identified, it can be easily solved. One or more of these solutions may help you resolve the problem. The fix may be as easy as cleaning the link or as complex as replacing multiple drivetrain components. We're going to zero in on these DIY tasks that you can easily complete. If you still experience any difficulty, you can talk to a professional technician for assistance.

Chain Cleaning

The chain on your bike acts as a kind of mechanical log of your cycling journeys, collecting debris like sand from arid rides, clumps of pollen from spring rides, and rusty bits of road grit from wetter rides. If you don't clean your chain, the dirt will turn into a grinding paste that will wear out your chain, make shifting difficult, make cycling uncomfortable, and lead to a waste of energy.

Maintaining a clean drivetrain is essential if you want to get the most speed out of your bike without breaking the bank. A clean bike, as the adage goes, is a fast bike.

Your lube, riding conditions, and mileage will all play a role in how often and thoroughly you need to clean your drivetrain. The frequency with which you must perform a thorough cleaning is also inversely proportional to your skill with preventative maintenance. But if your drivetrain sounds gritty, and every ride leaves you with a calf tattoo, or you have an approaching race, it's probably due.

Here is the quickest and easiest way to clean your bike’s chain:

This simplest of methods involves wrapping the chain in a clean, lint-free cloth and then pedaling backward through it to remove surface grime. You'll need to rinse and repeat until the rag stays substantially clean. The chainrings and the dirty derailleur pulley wheels can be cleaned with the rag. Baby wipes are another option that does the job well enough.

After the chain has been cleaned reasonably, you can re-lube it as necessary. Since oil-based lubricants can aid in floating impurities to the surface, you can wipe the chain several times until it appears clean.

In some cases, such as when using a dry lube, it's recommended to clean the chain after each ride. Light cleanings like these should be performed regularly, as described above, to reduce the frequency with which deeper cleanings must be performed. However, one of the more comprehensive procedures should be used if your drivetrain is already highly dirty.

Please note that while using a rag dipped in a degreaser may produce better visual effects, it combines the degreaser with your dirty lube rather than cleaning it. In the end, you'll only have chain lube that isn't as effective as intended.

Correct Cassette Alignment

You can use the wrench to realign the cassette if it's not in the right place or if it's not working properly. As with smaller gears, you can use pliers to adjust them. The process of figuring out the issue and coming up with a solution can take a lot of time. It is strongly suggested that you seek the advice of a certified specialist if you are having problems with the cassette. They use specialized tools to measure the cassette and ensure that everything is in the correct position.

Rear Wheel Adjustment

If the chain on your bicycle is stretched, you can change the length of the chain by adjusting the rear wheel. If you remove the bolts, the wheel that is in the back can be pulled backward. When you are finished correctly adjusting the chain, you can then secure the back wheel by turning the bolt clockwise.

Doing this will help you solve the issue without the expense of purchasing a new chain.

Correct the Chainring Wheel Uneven Surface

A wrench is an ideal tool to adjust the chainring so that it no longer has an uneven surface. Taking care of any teeth that are crooked or misaligned should be one of your top priorities. Using the wrench, you can easily realign chainrings. You can also use a bigger wrench to straighten up the chainring if it is bent slightly in any direction.

It is recommended that you take off the chainring before making any adjustments. This is because if you do this, other components will be protected from any potential damage.

Derailleurs Adjustment Correction

There are two distinct ways in which the derailleurs can be readjusted. It is necessary to use the limit screw-in to keep the chain from coming off. To correctly attach the chain to the cassette and the chainring, you will need to make a few changes to this screw.

It is also important to ensure that the metal bracket that secures the derailleurs to the frame of the bicycle has the appropriate amount of adjustment. It is a setting that needs to be adjusted, even on the most innovative bicycles.

Bike Chain Replacement

You will need to replace the chain if you have exhausted all other possible solutions to the problem of it falling off and the chain being worn out. Finding a certified specialist who is also well informed about bicycles is something you absolutely must do. He will be able to help you find a chain that satisfies all of your requirements in terms of width and length.

To ensure that there are no more problems in the future, he will adjust the chain so that it is in perfect working condition. Generally speaking, it's a simple problem to fix; even if you are a seasoned rider, you should be able to finish the repair without assistance from anybody else. It's possible that the internet may provide you with several useful guides that will walk you through the process of replacing the chain.

Conclusion

The chain plays a crucial role in transmitting rotational motion on bicycles. Remove the chain, and the bike will not move. The chain usually comes off if there's a problem with the bike's gears or derailleurs. We have detailed different steps to narrow down the cause of the problem and how to fix it.