Is it normal to have some chain skip on my mountain bike?

Question

I have a hardtail mountain bike. I just upgraded a lot of the drivetrain, but I noticed I have chain skips. It was happening kind of frequently this evening so I took the bike for a stroll. After a few minutes of riding, I went to launch myself from a stop sign and the chain broke. First time ever. This chain and cassette are almost braind new (only about 300 miles on them) and the chainrings only have about 400 miles on them.

I put a new chain on and sure enough things were much better, but I still managed to get it to skip once in the 20 minutes I rode my bike hard. I was in the largest chainring and one of the smaller rear cogs. I was going downhill, mashing the gears as hard as I could.

I read on another forum that it's impossible for human strength to exert enough energy on a bike to cause a chain skip. However, I'm not sure what else it is. Almost all of my drivetrain is new. My chain is BRAND new. My cassette looks like it's in tip top shape with almost zero wear marks (besides it's almost brand new anyway).

Does anybody have any suggestions? Is it normal to have SOME chain skip when you're pedaling like Lance Armstrong ripping down the street mashing the gears? I just don't get why it happens still.

Answer 1

Take chain off out of derailleurs, put the chain on big chainring and big cog, there should be one link of overlap, if not remove/add to one link of overlap. Then reinstall with current settings, see if that fixes it. If not I would try the increasing the rear derailleur chain tension, or your cassette is more worn out than you think.

Answer 2

Where was it skipping? Chain rings or cassette, hub?

Also cross ringing it, meaning big,big or small chaingring and small cassette gear causes a lot of wear .

Is it the proper chain for you cassette and chain rings? Wrong link spacing?

Did it skip because your paws in the hub did not engage properly?

Also check you chain wrap around your cassette, you need enough chain wrapped around the cassette to grip it properly.

Is you frame/rear triangle/swing arm bearings and welds all in good shape?

It also could be as simple a cable tension adjustment for your gears or derailleur stop adjustment.

Answer 3

There should be no "chain skip" as you describe. either the chain needs to be adjusted by removing a link, or the chain derailleur needs some adjustment.

Answer 4

You should check the derailleur position in relation to the sprocket. Watch where he talks about the " B " screw.



http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-rear-derailleur/

Answer 5

no chain skip IS NOT normal,try adjusting the derailleur

Answer 6

sounds like your chain may be to long try removing a few links if this don't work take your bike to a shop and see if they can fix it.

Answer 7

I just had this same problem. It may be that your axiom is worn down. This means that the part that catches on the inside of the tire is not catching anymore so you won't move anywhere.