How to Fix a Slipped Bicycle Chain

ID: 37682

Description: Slipped bike chains may be caused by several...

Steps:

  1. Before getting off the bike, downshift bike into lowest front gear (using the left shifter).
  2. Being in the lowest front gear means the chain will be riding on the largest chain ring.
  3. Continue pedaling. This step alone may realign the chain.
    4. Step image Step image Step image
  4. If Step 1 did not work, get off the bike and lift the rear tire while spinning the pedals with your hand.
    5. Step image Step image Step image
  5. If Step 2 is not enough, push rear derailleur forward to release tension on the chain.
  6. Lift the chain and put it back on the chain ring.
  7. Turn the pedals with your hand while lifting the rear wheel to realign the chain (as in Step 2).
  8. Bike chains are very greasy and your hands will get messy. Use a pair of latex gloves, if available, or use a twig or leaf if you can.
  9. This step may take several attempts, but it will work eventually.
    10. Step image Step image Step image
  10. If you experience a lot of slipped chains, your chain might be too long. In this case, you will need to use a chain breaker.
  11. Put the chain on the outer chain guide of the chain breaker.
  12. Turn the handle on the chain breaker to push the chain pin part of the way out.
  13. This step may take quite a bit of force so don't be afraid that you are going to break something if the pin seems stuck.
  14. Do not push the pin all of the way out or else it will be nearly impossible to put back together.
    15. Step image Step image Step image
  15. Remove the chain breaker by backing up the drive pin.
  16. Pull the chain apart.
    17. Step image Step image Step image
  17. Repeat Steps 4-5 to remove a link:
  18. There are two parts to one link (one is narrow and one is wide). Both need to be removed for the chain to fit back together again.
    19. Step image Step image Step image
  19. If the chain fell off the rear derailleur, it needs to be re-fed through the proper pulleys.
  20. Feed the chain along the guide pulley (the highest of the two pulleys).
  21. Thread the chain inside the derailleur cage in between the tension and guide pulley.
  22. Thread the chain in front of the tab.
  23. Then, thread the chain over the tension pulley.
    24. Step image Step image Step image
  24. To rejoin the chain, align the open ends of the chain.
  25. Put the chain on the outer guide of the chain breaker with the pin facing the driving pin.
  26. Turn the driving pin until the pin is equally spaced in between the face plates like all of the other links.
    27. Step image Step image Step image
  27. Wiggle the link you just reattached. If it's too stiff, continue on to the next part.
  28. Put the chain on the inside guide of the chain breaker and turn the driving pin just a little. Check as you go along and continue until proper looseness is achieved.
  29. As before, do not push the pin all the way out.
    30. Step image Step image
Back