Imagine yourself on your favorite trail; the scenery is beautiful, and all you want is to enjoy is the lovely sound of nature, but then you hear that irritating clicking sound from the bike chain… There’s a good reason why the question “why is my bike chain clicking?” dominates many bike forums.
A bike chain clicks either because it’s too old, misaligned, the derailleurs require adjustment, or the components are worn out or damaged. The clicks can be signs of a minor problem, but they can lead to bigger damage to the bicycle or an injury/ accident to you if left unfixed.
A lot of bike issues usually boil down to the chain because many bikers tend to forget or don’t bother replacing or maintaining them.
Why Is My Bike Chain Clicking? Why Does My Bike Chain Make Noise When I Pedal?
Your bike chain is clicking because it’s old, misaligned, the bike components are damaged, or the derailleurs should be adjusted. While numerous reasons can cause bike clicks, you should rule out these first. Let’s look further into each of them.
1. The Bike Chain Is Too Old
Bike chains stretch over time, making them move laterally and horizontally more. This is usually a problem, mainly since most people don’t usually replace their bike chains as often as they should.
You will not hear any sound from a bike chain that fits in the sprocket perfectly, like how a new chain does. However, the gap widens as the chain stretches or wears out, causing them to clatter while you pedal.
It is worth checking your bike chain occasionally and oil it frequently. You can use QKURT Professional Bicycle Chain Tool Kit (View on Amazon) with a chain wear gauge, bike link plier, and bicycle chain’s missing link.
2. The Bike Chain Is Misaligned
This occurs if the spacers are poorly placed, the rear wheel isn’t centered (it’s quite common), or the chainrings, sprockets, or wheels are the wrong size.
There should be a straight, nice path connecting the rear sprocket to the bike chainring. Since chains have a bit of flex, there’s a little grace involved, but if it goes excessively far, it can wear down other bike components, and the chain will begin to click and even jump.
3. The Components Are Worn Out Or Damaged
Bike components such as chainrings and derailleurs wear out, but this issue isn’t as common as the other, so be sure before taking any action because it is expensive.
When the chainring wears off so much that it cannot grip the bike chain fully, your only option is to replace it because adjustments will not fix the issue.
The ideal chainring highly depends on the bike type. For instance, JGbike Elite Round Oval Chainring (View on Amazon) is an excellent chainring for mountain bikes, fat bikes, MTB XC Trail e-Bikes with 12, 11, 10, 9, and 8 Speeds.
4. The Derailleurs Require Adjustment
Poorly adjusted derailleurs commonly cause jumping and clicking. A majority of derailleurs and shifters change the gears using a cable, but the chain can jump out of gear if the line is too loose or tight.
You can fix a shifter cable that’s worn out by tuning it up. However, a shifter-derailleur is hard to deal with, so you should take your bike to a professional repair shop.
How Do You Fix A Clicking Bike Chain?
Fix your clicking bicycle chain by fine-tuning the tension of the cable running from the shifter to the rear derailleur because the clicks are mostly caused by the chain wanting to jump down or up a gear.
It isn’t uncommon for you to hear clicking noises coming from the bike chain, so you should know how to fix the issue. This is what you need to do.
1. Examine The Bike Chain
You can handle the issue yourself, but you must determine where the problem is to fix it well. A dry bike chain can generate clicking sounds, so examine the links, particularly the internal links.
If the chain links are rusted, frozen, or hard to move, you should lubricate each chain. Apply a high-quality lubricant like WD-40 Specialist (View on Amazon) made for extreme, muddy, and wet conditions, offering a durable coating to prolong the chain’s life and repel mud and water.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and wipe off excess lube to prevent trapping grime and dirt when applying the lube.
2. Check The Derailleur
If the chain still makes noise even after lubricating the bike chain. This is because the issue could result from the chain brushing against the cage of the front derailleur.
Determine which gear your bike usually is when clicking kicks in to avoid paying guesswork. For instance, the chain angle might make it run against the cage when in extreme gear, an issue known as cross chaining that can put too much pressure on the bike’s drivetrain.
3. Trim The Front Derailleur
Since the chain angle changes, while you shift, it will brush against the derailleur cage in certain gears, leading to clicking. Luckily, you can trim the derailleur in modern shifters; hence there’s a bit of shifting leeway on the shifters and can move the derailleur cage out slightly and keep the bike chain from rubbing.
4. Adjust The Bicycle Into The Gear That Causes Clicking
Push the front shifter’s lever. That will cause a small click, but it shouldn’t change the gear. When you check the front derailleur, you will realize that it has retreated and no longer touches the rubbing chain.
Shifters from different companies have varying trim amounts. Therefore, figure out where the additional trim of your shifter is and how to shift the gear without causing chain clicking and rubbing.
FAQs
1. Can You Use WD40 On Bike Chain?
WD40 isn’t suitable for your bike chain because it is primarily a solvent; hence it dissolves contaminants, making the parts clean and nice, but it gets rid of any lube, leaving your bike chain dry. Due to this, it will not help solve your bike chain clicking issues.
2. Why Does My Chain Click?
Clicking mainly means your bike chain likely needs lubrication. You may also need to adjust the front derailleurs or replace the worn-out components.
3. Why Does My BMX Chain Creak?
The squeaking on a BMX chain is caused by metal-to-metal contact on the bike’s components due to lack of grease, dry chain, loose or ill-fitted bolts, or corrosion. Routine lubrication and greasing prevent untoward squeaks and keep the bike durable.
4. Do New Bike Chains Make Noise?
Noises on a new chain are caused by a combination of an old drivetrain and the new chain. The noise can be permanent or temporary depending on the cassette or chainring’s deterioration level.
5. When Should I Replace My Bike Chain?
It’s time to replace your bike chain if you get a reading of 0.75% or more. If the chain you have is made for ten or fewer gears, change the chain when it draws near the 0.75% mark.
A chain with 11 or 12 speed should be replaced when it gets to 0.5% wear.
6. How Often Should I Lube My Bike Chain?
Your bike chain could use lubrication once a month if you are a frequent biker who uses their bicycle many times across the week. Furthermore, make sure you also keep it safe by cleaning it regularly to maintain optimal protection and performance.
In Conclusion, Why Is My Bike Chain Clicking?
While numerous reasons can make your bike chain click, you can only know for sure by assessing the bike. A proper assessment will guide you towards the best solution.
Resolving bike chain clicking is essential for an enjoyable ride because annoying noise is enough to ruin your ride. I hope you get the answers you require to fix the problem through this article.
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