Chain suck, what's your solution?

[Mongoose]

My bike has chainsuck issues in the granny gear. It's a Blur XC which some say is part of the problem. During VT50 this year (which had INCREDIBLE amounts of mud) I couldn't get one full rotation of my crank without the chain sucking in the granny gear. The middle gear was fine.

I did some research and found that it's mainly due to a worn granny. Mine doesn't look too bad.. but I might try a steel granny ring which might help? What does everyone here do about chainsuck on these muddy new england trails?

[agabriel]

You sure your chain is sized properly?

[xxxcore]

My bike has chainsuck issues in the granny gear. It's a Blur XC which some say is part of the problem. During VT50 this year (which had INCREDIBLE amounts of mud) I couldn't get one full rotation of my crank without the chain sucking in the granny gear. The middle gear was fine.

I did some research and found that it's mainly due to a worn granny. Mine doesn't look too bad.. but I might try a steel granny ring which might help? What does everyone here do about chainsuck on these muddy new england trails?

If it's aluminum - get rid of it - the al is slightly wider than steel to deliver the necessary strength. Did you put that on? Most all Granny's are steel. Todays chains are very narrow. A lot of mud will do that too. Clean it well and lube - one link at a time - look for stiff links.

[TheSlav]

http://www.gvtc.com/~ngear/ (http://www.gvtc.com/%7Engear/)

I run this on my 1x9 to keep the chain from jumping. I believe it was originally designed for the standard triple setup up front though. Simple design, cheap, works great.

[hogboy]

I promptly fly into a seething rage...throw my bike against a tree, jump up and down on it several times, smash it some more, then try to ride home half-wobbly, then throw bike away. yeah, that's what I do for chainsuck.

[hammerhead]

I think my Matt uses Hogboy's method. At the finish of the Mt Snow Kenda Cup Race he threw his bike. It cleared 50' in the air, just about the farthest it made without chain suck in the last 2 laps.

Seriously, new granny, clean and lubed chain and stay out of the mud.

[leebo]

No issues on the Surly 1x1 :) , But a short as chain as will allow helps.

[C.P.]

Steel chainring for granny, chain lube, (check for stiff chain links-just in case) and you should be all set.

[Mongoose]

The granny ring I have now is aluminum. I got it at the beginning of the season. Blackspire has a steel "chuck" granny grear I might try.

[digger]

LX 22t are steel and easy to come by. Same for lower end race face. All are flat rings with no ramps, so there's really nothing better about one steel ring than the next.

[Brett A]

Seriously, new granny, clean and lubed chain and stay out of the mud.
I agree with Harold. But you can't always stay out of the mud, especially if you are invested in major events like the VT50.

I rode this year's VT50 also (which they are comparing to the washout of '03) and i did not have any drive train issues. I had replaced the entire drivetrain (except for the derailleurs) shortly before the race.

The steel granny i replaced was probably only a dozen long-rides old and was sucking something horrible from the little bit of mud at the year's Horror at Harding Hill.

So I've found it doesn't always take much wear for a granny/chain to start having this problem. And i also found that fresh/new will work amazingly well under awful conditions.

(Here's my bike at this year's finish)

[JackFoley]

+1 for the new chain / granny gear combo

I've been very surprised at how quickly my chains are wearing this year with all the rain and mud.

[bikdav]

+1 for the new chain / granny gear combo

I've been very surprised at how quickly my chains are wearing this year with all the rain and mud.

Rain and mud will take out a chain in a very short period of time. My winter bikes have that problem a lot. Just the same, steel chainrings do last way longer than aluminum in such conditions.

[Flying Bison]

I went through major chain suck problems this year, and not only in the mud, it go so bad that it happened pretty much any time I pedaled under pressure. After going through 2 granny rings I finally replaced the entire drive train, not cheap, but what you know? No more chain suck! At least not yet....

[SteveC]

remove the chainrings, and carefully smooth any offending burrs or nicks you might find on the teeth. Use a fine round file and/or extra fine sandpaper. Just don't remove too much of the teeth.
Sometimes this works. Theory is, once the chain gets hungup, it creates these burrs that just make the problem worse...

[Mongoose]

I'm going to try a new steel granny ring, maybe I can file down the middle ring if it needs it.

[Shodan]

if you're going through alot of granny try a ti , lasts about 5 times as long and comes in 20-24t

[Mongoose]

I'm trying a steel ring atm. So far so good.

[DAVID J]

Sh!t-can your granny and run a 2x9 .26-30 tooth for the small is plenty.

[MTBME]

I use a shark fin on the chain stay. No chain suck.

[SteveC]

I use a shark fin on the chain stay. No chain suck.
woah that's way old-school! But it works!

[MTBME]

Its perfect. There's no way the chain is getting in there. I don't know if they sell them anymore?

[C.P.]

Isnt the old shimano XT shark fin to keep the chain from getting sucked between the tire & chainstay? It wont help if the chain sucks itself up on the granny ring...which is what major chainsuck looks like...kinda like this...

http://www.mountainbikerides.co.uk/images/fettle/chainsuck/suck.jpg

The only other consideration for chainsuck is Lube selection, with Mud, I find a water based or "dry" lube doesn't work well in New England mud...I have used so many different wet lubes, and so many work well...right now I am using and liking Prolink gold (http://www.progoldmfr.com/products/prolink.html)...

Some-what related...Shimano released a new chain in their dura ace lineup that has directional markings on it, it also has ramps and grooves that are designed to speed shifting based on the direction of the shift and reduce chainsuck. I suspect this design will make it's way to other chain manufacturers if it is any good...something to watch for...