Bike chain noisy, rusty or coming off?
Your answers (0)
Your answers
What’s wrong with the chain?
Does your bike have gears?
Has the bike been knocked over, dropped or crashed recently, especially on its right-hand side?
Stand behind the bike and look at the gear mechanism under the back gears.
Does it hang straight down, or lean in towards the spokes?
Has the chain been replaced in the last few weeks?
Does it slip mainly in the gears you use most?
Does your bike have gears?
Where does the chain come off?
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
The chain probably needs cleaning and oiling.
Can wait. Get it fixed when it suits you. If the bike feels wrong in any other way, don’t ride it. If it has squeaked for months, it may be worn too: the Spoke can check.
- How sure we are
- Most likely
This is the usual cause of what you’ve described.
- What to ask for
Chain clean & lube
It could also need: chain waxing, drivetrain deep clean.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
A chain this rusty usually needs replacing, and the gears it runs on are often rusty and worn too.
A clean and oil sometimes saves it.
Get it fixed soon. Until then, ride only if it feels right, and stop if it gets worse. A badly rusted chain can snap: pedal gently. A Spoke can tell whether it can be saved and what to buy.
- How sure we are
- Most likely
This is the usual cause of what you’ve described.
- What to ask for
Diagnosis: what’s wrong and what to order
It could also need: chain replacement, chain clean & lube.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
It probably needs a proper clean, which also makes the gears change better.
Can wait. Get it fixed when it suits you. If the bike feels wrong in any other way, don’t ride it.
- How sure we are
- Most likely
This is the usual cause of what you’ve described.
- What to ask for
Drivetrain deep clean
It could also need: chain clean & lube, full clean and detail.
Don’t ride it
A chain that snaps while you push hard can throw you.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
A bent or cracked link can snap under load.
- How sure we are
- Most likely
This is the usual cause of what you’ve described.
- What to ask for
Chain replacement
It could also need: diagnosis: what’s wrong and what to order.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
Possibly a bent gear hanger: the small metal bracket that holds the gear mechanism to the frame.
It’s made to bend in a knock, and when it does the gears go out of line.
Get it fixed soon. Until then, ride only if it feels right, and stop if it gets worse. Keep out of the easiest gear (the biggest back gear) until it’s checked: a bent mechanism can catch in the spokes. If it touches the spokes, stop riding. If the hanger needs replacing, it’s made for your frame: the Spoke will name it.
- How sure we are
- One of a few causes
This fits what you’ve described, but so do other things. A Spoke will check before starting.
- What to ask for
Derailleur hanger straighten or replace
It could also need: gear adjustment (indexing).
Don’t ride it
A bent mechanism can go into the spokes, lock the wheel and wreck it. Walk it.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
The gear mechanism, or the hanger that holds it, is probably bent.
- How sure we are
- Most likely
This is the usual cause of what you’ve described.
- What to ask for
Diagnosis: what’s wrong and what to order
It could also need: derailleur hanger straighten or replace, derailleur replacement.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
Probably worn back gears: a new chain often slips on old ones.
Sometimes it’s a stiff joining link or the wrong chain.
Get it fixed soon. Until then, ride only if it feels right, and stop if it gets worse. Slipping under load can throw you off balance: pedal gently, seated. The back gears come in many sizes, so a Spoke looks before you buy.
- How sure we are
- One of a few causes
This fits what you’ve described, but so do other things. A Spoke will check before starting.
- What to ask for
Diagnosis: what’s wrong and what to order
It could also need: cassette or freewheel replacement, gear adjustment (indexing).
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
Probably a worn chain (chains stretch with use), and possibly worn back gears.
Get it fixed soon. Until then, ride only if it feels right, and stop if it gets worse. Slipping under load can throw you off balance: pedal gently, seated. A Spoke measures the chain and tells you exactly what to buy.
- How sure we are
- Most likely
This is the usual cause of what you’ve described.
- What to ask for
Diagnosis: what’s wrong and what to order
It could also need: chain replacement, cassette or freewheel replacement.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
Slipping in every gear usually means the gears need adjusting.
Get it fixed soon. Until then, ride only if it feels right, and stop if it gets worse. Pedal gently, seated, until it’s fixed.
- How sure we are
- Most likely
This is the usual cause of what you’ve described.
- What to ask for
Gear adjustment (indexing)
It could also need: chain replacement.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
Probably a stiff link: one link in the chain that doesn’t bend freely, often from rust or dirt, so it jumps each time it comes round.
Get it fixed soon. Until then, ride only if it feels right, and stop if it gets worse. Pedal gently until it’s fixed. If a link looks bent or twisted, the chain needs replacing.
- How sure we are
- One of a few causes
This fits what you’ve described, but so do other things. A Spoke will check before starting.
- What to ask for
Chain clean & lube
It could also need: chain replacement.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
Gears that need adjusting, a worn chain, or a bent hanger.
Get it fixed soon. Until then, ride only if it feels right, and stop if it gets worse. Pedal gently until it’s fixed.
- How sure we are
- Needs a look
We can’t tell from here. Someone needs to see the bike.
- What to ask for
Diagnosis: what’s wrong and what to order
It could also need: gear adjustment (indexing), chain replacement, derailleur hanger straighten or replace.
Don’t ride it
A chain that jumps can come off, and on a fixed gear or a pedal-backwards brake that can lock the wheel or leave you without a brake.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
A worn chain or gear, or a chain that has gone slack.
- How sure we are
- Needs a look
We can’t tell from here. Someone needs to see the bike.
- What to ask for
Diagnosis: what’s wrong and what to order
It could also need: chain replacement.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
The front gear mechanism probably needs adjusting, so it stops pushing the chain too far.
Get it fixed soon. Until then, ride only if it feels right, and stop if it gets worse. A chain that drops can make you slip off the pedal: change gear gently at the front.
- How sure we are
- Most likely
This is the usual cause of what you’ve described.
- What to ask for
Gear adjustment (indexing)
Don’t ride it
A chain or mechanism in the spokes can lock the wheel. Walk it.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
The gear mechanism went too far, because it needs adjusting or is bent.
The spokes or mechanism may be damaged.
- How sure we are
- Needs a look
We can’t tell from here. Someone needs to see the bike.
- What to ask for
Diagnosis: what’s wrong and what to order
It could also need: derailleur hanger straighten or replace, gear adjustment (indexing), broken spoke replacement, derailleur replacement.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
The back gear mechanism needs adjusting so it stops at the smallest back gear, or, especially if it started suddenly, the hanger that holds it is bent.
Get it fixed soon. Until then, ride only if it feels right, and stop if it gets worse. If the hanger needs replacing, it’s made for your frame: the Spoke will name it.
- How sure we are
- One of a few causes
This fits what you’ve described, but so do other things. A Spoke will check before starting.
- What to ask for
Gear adjustment (indexing)
It could also need: derailleur hanger straighten or replace.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
A worn chain or front ring, or gears out of adjustment.
Get it fixed soon. Until then, ride only if it feels right, and stop if it gets worse.
- How sure we are
- Needs a look
We can’t tell from here. Someone needs to see the bike.
- What to ask for
Diagnosis: what’s wrong and what to order
It could also need: chain replacement, gear adjustment (indexing), chainring replacement.
Don’t ride it
A chain coming off can throw you, and the wheel may not be secure.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
On a bike with one gear at the back, the chain’s tightness depends on where the back wheel sits.
If the wheel has slipped forward, the chain goes slack, and the wheel may be loose too. A worn chain also falls off.
- How sure we are
- One of a few causes
This fits what you’ve described, but so do other things. A Spoke will check before starting.
- What to ask for
Diagnosis: what’s wrong and what to order
It could also need: chain replacement.
This is based only on your answers. Nobody has seen your bike. If you’re not sure it’s safe, don’t ride it.
- What might be wrong
Chains stretch as they wear and then wear the gears too, so replacing one in time saves money.
Can wait. Get it fixed when it suits you. If the bike feels wrong in any other way, don’t ride it. A Spoke measures the wear and tells you what to buy.
- How sure we are
- Needs a look
We can’t tell from here. Someone needs to see the bike.
- What to ask for
Diagnosis: what’s wrong and what to order
It could also need: chain replacement.
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What usually causes it
- The chain probably needs cleaning and oiling.
- A chain this rusty usually needs replacing, and the gears it runs on are often rusty and worn too.
- It probably needs a proper clean, which also makes the gears change better.
- A bent or cracked link can snap under load.
- On a bike with one gear at the back, the chain’s tightness depends on where the back wheel sits.
- Chains stretch as they wear and then wear the gears too, so replacing one in time saves money.
- A worn chain or gear, or a chain that has gone slack.
The checker gives general information from your answers. It isn’t an inspection and doesn’t tell you a bike is safe. Nothing here limits liability the law doesn’t let us limit, including for death or personal injury caused by negligence.