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chain issues, and crowded handlebar bell suggestions?
This is my first post and it is rather nerve racking!. I'm a novelist
commuter of 9 months. I ride a department store bought box-MTB (I am a student and this was bought for me as a teenager) tweaked for the occasion. The bike is an 18 speed (shimano) MTB, and is about 10 years old but was hardly ridden before this year (it had probably done less than 20miles). I have two problems. Firstly, I have just discovered it is illegal to ride without a bell fitted to your bike in my state (and it was driving me nuts not having one anyway). Unfortunately, the way my bike was designed, there is literally no where I can put a standard bike-bell (yet it came with a bell in the box, go figure). Between the grips, brakes, shifters and the centre part of the bar where it gets thicker toward the center (standard bell doesn't fit around it) there just isn't anywhere to put it. The front brake cable (they are centre pull brakes) runs down through the centre of the horizontal part of the stem so mounting it on the stem itself interferes with the brake cable and clips the top bar of the frame when cornering. Additionally, this is where the switch is for my lights (these are on a T shaped plate fixed to the bolt of the handlebar so they are not taking up any space on the bar itself - they wouldn't fit). Is there another way of fixing a bell to the bike without the (useless) standard bell U-bits (Now I'm getting all technical) to overcome this problem? I would prefer it to be practical as I believe in common sense cycling. The handlebars are already quite wide (~23 inches) The second problem and probably more serious is a chain issue. The chain does two things. Firstly, sometimes on the forward pedal the chain becomes jammed on the chainring requiring a little back pedalling and gently coming forward again. It happens when not changing gears and regardless of how much load is on it. The other chain problem is sometimes when pedalling (whether under load or not) the chain slips off the teeth of the front sprockets. On the forward pedal the crankshaft and chainring just spins around for a couple of laps before the chain re-engages with the teeth of the sprockets. I suspect the two problems are related. I haven't made any changes to the bike that resulted in the chain issue. It just happened out of the blue one day. If you need any other specifications (or clarification of my poor description and terminology), let me know. Thanks in advance Michelle |
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#2
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chain issues, and crowded handlebar bell suggestions?
I would guess the chain is rusted or otherwise not as flexible as it
ought to be from sitting for so many years. The symptoms you describe are often from a worn-out chain or chainrings, but if the bike is hardly used, that would be unlikely. Try lubing up the chain a bit. With the bike stationary, pedal backwrds with you hand and see if the chain goes smoothly through the rear derailleur. If it snags, that shoulg guide you to where the chain is stiff. If it is you mihjt be able to wiggle it loose, but maybe it needs to be replaced. Or a tooth on the chainring could be damaged. Inspect them. As for bells, most I've seen around here aren't more than 1" across and should be able to fit just about anywhere. A big kids' one might be more difficult. Joseph |
#3
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chain issues, and crowded handlebar bell suggestions?
Michele Woods wrote:
Is there another way of fixing a bell to the bike without the (useless) standard bell U-bits (Now I'm getting all technical) to overcome this problem? It's hard to imagine you can't find open space on the handlebar if the bike is still stock. But here are two options, both of which cost extra $$$. Extra handlebar space can be had with an Excess Access or SpaceBar. Go to http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/l...g/shimano.html to find photos; the photos are a long ways down the page, so keep scrolling. $20 for one of these. Or you could get some MTB bar ends and mount the bell on there. Sheldon to the rescue again, here's a photo: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/h...s.html#barends. Again, about $20. The second problem and probably more serious is a chain issue. The chain does two things. Firstly, sometimes on the forward pedal the chain becomes jammed on the chainring requiring a little back pedalling and gently coming forward again. It happens when not changing gears and regardless of how much load is on it. The other chain problem is sometimes when pedalling (whether under load or not) the chain slips off the teeth of the front sprockets. Try a little oil and look for a stiff link as Joseph mentioned. A new chain should cost $10-25, so it's easy to spend more effort on the chain than it's worth. -- Dave dvt at psu dot edu |
#4
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chain issues, and crowded handlebar bell suggestions?
mount the bell on the stem.
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#5
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chain issues, and crowded handlebar bell suggestions?
maxo wrote:
mount the bell on the stem. From the OP: The front brake cable (they are centre pull brakes) runs down through the centre of the horizontal part of the stem so mounting it on the stem itself interferes with the brake cable and clips the top bar of the frame when cornering. Additionally, this is where the switch is for my lights (these are on a T shaped plate fixed to the bolt of the handlebar so they are not taking up any space on the bar itself - they wouldn't fit). I don't know how the stem-mounted stuff "clips the top bar of the frame when cornering." She must be turning really sharp or she has an odd-shaped bike. At any rate, she says the stem is unavailable for mounting a bell. -- Dave dvt at psu dot edu |
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