Troubleshooting the drive train

[mungeclimber]

Ok, so I got this bike see, and when I ride it, it goes clickety clack.


I'm not sure if I need a new chain ring or if the derailleur is causing a skipping sensation on each revolution. It's not 100% consistent, but more like 98.9% it will 'skip'... and definitely if I pull any kind of upward direction/hill it will definitely go.

thoughts?

[mynameismud]

It might be something as simple as adjusting the cable length since cables stretch.  Turn the knob on the rear derailure out 2 or three clicks and see if that helps.

You might have some bent teeth or a bent derailure but start with the cable adjust.

[mudworm]

Get a ruler. If you measure 12 chain links, they should be 12 inches long. If the total length is beyond 12-1/8", your chain has been stretched too long and needs to be replaced. And if you've been riding like this for a while, you might just have to change the rear cog and even chain rings depending how bad of a shape they are in. I just did this a couple of weeks ago.

[mungeclimber]

thx, much appreciated!!!  I'll start there.