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Why Does My Bike Chain Keep Falling Off? Read Here!

Why Does My Bike Chain Keep Falling Off

What Causes My Bike Chain To Keep Falling Off?

What Causes My Bike Chain To Keep Falling Off?

Here’s a quick answer, a chain that has been in storage for a long time may be rusty, causing it to fall off.

The chain may also have become slightly worn. If your bike chain is not being used, it should be cleaned before storing it.

If the chain is in good condition, it will probably need lubrication. You can do this using chain lube or chain oil.

Why Is My Bike Chain Falling Off?

A bike chain should come off occasionally. When it comes off repeatedly, it’s a sign of a mechanical problem. This problem can be difficult to fix because there are many factors involved.

This problem can be caused by several factors and mechanical reasons related to the drivetrain component, such as worn or damaged chainrings, rear chainring, sprockets, cassettes, chainring bolts, chain links, chain tensioners, and other parts. We will also discuss how to prevent this problem in the future.

The first step is to determine if a broken link in the chain causes the problem. The easiest way to do this is to check the teeth on the innermost side of the chain. If you find any missing teeth, you know that the chain is broken.

Next, we’ll examine the rest of the chain to determine what might have caused the breakage. Is the chain too tight? Too loose? Incompatible chain? Are the chainrings worn out? Is the chain rubbing against the frame?

Once you’ve determined what’s wrong, you’ll want to ensure that the chain is adjusted correctly. You can use a “chain tester” tool to help you adjust the chain.

Finally, you’ll want to clean up the area around the derailleur pulleys. Dirt and grime can cause friction between the chain and the pulleys, leading to more problems down the road.

Different ways your Bicycle Chain keeps coming off.

Different ways your Bicycle Chain keeps coming off

A chain falling off while riding your bike is very annoying, but it could be dangerous. It would help if you took care when you ride your bike because it can happen quickly.

The most popular reason for a chain-breaking is because it is worn out. This may be due to riding too much or riding over rough terrain. A broken chain needs to be replaced.

You can do many things if you need to fix your bicycle chain. You can take it to a bike shop or use a tool to fix it yourself.

Something is loose

You shouldn’t pull too hard on parts and make them bend and break, but you should wiggle them a bit to see if they’re loose or rattling.

A tool like this multi-tool could help fix your bike chain. This tool is designed specifically for bikes. It’s essential to ensure that you do not overdo the chain or apply too much force when tightening the chain.

When the bike is upside down and spinning, spin the pedals and check if the gear derailleur is centered. The problem might be caused by the wrong gear being selected if it isn’t.

Make sure to adjust your derailer to be precisely centered over the gear you want it to be.

The front derailleur is not accurate.

You should adjust front derailleurs by loosening the bolts, holding them onto the frame, then tightening them back up again. You may need to loosen the chainring bolts first, depending on how tight they are.

It would help if you always tightened the front derailleur bolts after adjusting the rear derailleur.

Incompatible Drivetrain Parts

Chain specifications should be easy to understand.  Chains consist of many parts. 

Some parts may be interchangeable, while others must match exactly. 

For example, if you buy a new cassette, you may replace the chain. But if you buy a new chain, you might need to change the cassette.

When you put in a new chain, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. This will help prevent problems such as this.

Stretched Chain

You should replace bike chains after 500 miles of riding. Chain stretching is caused by wearing out the inside roller. Worn-out chains slip off the chainring because the chain stretches. A worn chain causes problems if you ride hard.

You should test a bike chain every time you replace it. You can use a ruler to check how much wear is on your chain.

You need to replace your chain if you notice any signs of wear. Don’t forget to check the cassette and chainring teeth before returning them.

The chain is too long.

A chain splitter is an essential tool for any cyclist. When replacing your chain, make sure you line up your new chain to your old chain and then use the chain splitter to split the chain into two pieces.

It would help if you tightened up the chain before discarding it.

Worn Cogs Teeth

Chain replacement should be done as soon as possible after a chain has slipped. This will prevent damage to the drivetrain components.

We recommend you check this article about why the new chain is slippin’.

Derailleur Hanger Alignment

New generation bikes have metal pieces added to the frame to hold derailleurs. These parts are made out of aluminum and designed to break if there is any impact. Carbon frames are incredibly fragile and need to be protected by adding metal pieces. Derailleurs must be in perfect alignment with the cassette cogs.

A bent derailleur hanger makes the derailleur lose its alignment with the cassette. This results in lousy shifting and making clicking noises while pedaling. When the derailleur shifts down to the lowest cog, the chain falls off and gets stuck.

Hitting Hard Bumps

Bumps cause vibrations, and these vibrations make chains fall off. Mountain bike riders use this knowledge to improve their bikes.

Rear Derailleur is an upgrade that solves the problem permanently. Shimano and Sram introduced high tension derailers to solve chain drops in MTB. The narrow, wide chainring is the ultimate chain solution for MTB.

Chain or components are worn out.

Cranksets and chains need to be replaced periodically. Some parts of the bike are more important than others. Components such as the crank arms and bottom bracket bearings are critical and must be replaced before riding. Other parts such as the seat post and handlebars are less critical and can be replaced after riding.

Bicycles need regular maintenance, just like cars. You should check your bicycle regularly to make sure there isn’t anything wrong with it. You may be surprised by how many times you’ve done this already. Your bike only has seven gears on the back, but for some reason, you’re not paying attention, and you’re trying to put it into an eighth gear that doesn’t exist.

This will cause the derailleur to incorrectly extend itself too far and cause your chain to fall off. A simple solution is just not to let this happen.

Last words

As you can see, maintaining your bicycle is very easy. It’s a matter of common sense and checking things regularly. Make sure you don’t neglect essential maintenance.

Last Updated on November 24, 2022 by

Evan Medders

Evan Medders

I'm Evan an avid cyclist and bike consultant. Besides my biking, I enjoy being a dad to two, a husband to one. Cycling is a fun and sustainable means of transportation, something not only our planet but also your body craves. We need to stay in physical shape, and keep our Earth in a good condition so we face fewer natural disasters. Biking is our way to see we do our part :)

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