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I have constant clicking noise from the 2nd largest rear cog on my cycle. It starts as soon as I shift into the 2nd gear either from 1st or 3rd gear.

I have checked the following things:

  1. Cable tension - all gear shifts are smooth and quick (both on stand and while riding).
  2. Limit screws are fine.
  3. I have cleaned/oiled the chain and wiped off excess lubricant.
  4. Checked if any of the links are sticking/getting stuck to its adjacent link- they are not.
  5. Visual inspection of teeth shows no excessive wear or bent teeth on any of the cogs.

I have been unsuccessful in trying to locate the problem. I would be grateful for any pointers that will help in troubleshooting this problem. I am learning to fix my bike and would like to avoid taking it to LBS if possible.

Information: Cogs are 9 speed with Deore derailleur.

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  • 2
    Sounds like your barrel adjuster is slightly out of adjustment. Shift to the middle ring and the adjust the barrel adjuster in/out until the chain centers directly over the ring, with the derailer not touching the chain on either side.
    – Daniel R Hicks
    Commented Aug 29, 2013 at 20:41
  • (Note that you should probably position the rear derailer to a middle gear before making the above adjustment, to get the chain angle fairly straight.)
    – Daniel R Hicks
    Commented Aug 29, 2013 at 21:01
  • Have you checked for bent teeth or other damage on your cogs? Have you checked that they are not bent in any way (use a caliper to check distance to adjacent cogs)?
    – arne
    Commented Aug 30, 2013 at 8:18
  • if the derailleur hanger is bent, even slightly, you might be able to tune the shifting on one side, say for smallest cogs, but not on the other end, so the chain when on the 2nd largest could be rubbing on the 1st largest.
    – bigstones
    Commented Aug 30, 2013 at 19:41
  • Is it only the 2nd cog, and no others?
    – Christopher Scott
    Commented Sep 3, 2013 at 14:45

1 Answer 1

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It would be one of a few things:

  • The rear derailleur is not center aligned on the rear cog when in that gear. Take a look at the cog and derailleur gear alignment dead on from the rear when in the noisy gear and look for vertical alignment. If it is misaligned it can be ajusted with the barrel adjuster.
  • The chain is not clearing the front derailleur guard when in this gear. Look at it from the top down when in the noisy cog and ensure no rubbing between the chain and derailleur guard. If there is rubbing the limit screws can be adjusted
  • The cog is damaged in some way causing some sort of misalignment

The problem with the first two possibilities is that I'd expect the noise to persist in the 1st cog as well.

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  • It was the first of the three that you and Daniel R Hicks in a comment above pointed out. I was able to fix this by adjusting the barrel adjuster.
    – Akshay
    Commented Sep 5, 2013 at 14:38

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