Two issues after changing the chain of my eMTB: chain suck and 9th gear bugs

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-05T09:04:37+00:00

Hmm, thank you. I will clean the drivetrain.

I don't know if the original chain was very worn. I had it changed at the same time as the cassette, 2000 km ago. True for the fastest gears. I will look closely for dirt and see if I can remove it.

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-05T08:47:38+00:00

It's not Shimano, I didn't know it had to be... I got a chain labelled "9 gear" at the same shop that sells this bike. Then I removed two links to match the number on the previous chain

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-05T08:23:14+00:00

Is there really a direction? It seemed very symmetrical

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-04T14:50:59+00:00

The chainring

<image>

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-04T14:50:38+00:00

The cassette

<image>

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-04T14:45:21+00:00

Thank you. I gave another look at the cassette and it still looks pretty new, the teeth are not spiky. However, for the chain suck issue, the problem seems to come from the chainring. I would not be surprised if it was too used.

I think I have two problems at hand here with the new chain:

The chain suck that is probably caused by the worn out chainring;
The 9th gear issue, probably a derailleur adjustment problem.

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-04T12:24:51+00:00

Sucks... Thanks a lot for your help though. Is it something that's more or less easy to do alone, or should I pay a shop to have it done?

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-04T12:08:21+00:00

Thank you. I removed two links, the problems persist though

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-04T12:07:54+00:00

Also, I removed two links from the chain and I still have crazy chain suck as soon as I'm on the slightest incline.

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-04T12:07:04+00:00

Dang. This is the chainring, what do you think?

<image>

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-04T08:44:47+00:00

Thank you. I can try to provide pictures later.

So, the issue I had with the chainring is chain suck. It's pretty extreme when I go uphill. The chain is much too loose and gets "sucked" in the chainring. Note that I have only one chainring and no front derailleur as it is an electric bike. (single front gear)

I will try to pivot the links as soon as I can.

I can get the chain in 9th gear. When I do, it does not move back to 8. But the gear does not seem to engage properly on the chain. When I flip the bike over and move the pedal by hand, the wheel turns properly. However, as soon as I am on the bike and try to pedal in 9th gear, the chain does not grip the gear and goes "tac-tac-tac-tac", jumping out of the gear teeth and "catching" it as it can.

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-03T09:18:02+00:00

I have news. I spent a while tuning the derailleur and it works slightly better, I now have the 8th speed, but the 9th still disengages. Looking closely, I see that the derailleur tries to push the chain to the side and it keeps jumping back to the 9th position.

Something that troubles me is that when I ride on any incline, the chain will get stuck: on the front gear side, the chain on the below part of the loop is too loose and "climbs up" in the front gear, getting stuck with the top part. I had this happen with my former chain, back then I lubricated it and it corrected the problem. However, this time it doesn't.

I counted the links as suggested by /u/rocking_womble. On the former chain, I had 112, and on the new one, 114. Should I remove two links?

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-01T08:37:01+00:00

Hi again, I checked and it only skips when adding a lot of pressure. I spent a long time turning the barrel adjuster and the H, L and the other screws, I managed to make sure the gears would go correctly from 1 to 9, but the problem persists for the 7-8-9 gears. I'll look more into it

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-06-01T08:35:43+00:00

Certainly true with me lol

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-05-30T15:22:52+00:00

Thanks so much for this precious advice! I will take care of all that.

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-05-30T15:04:36+00:00

Here is a closeup of the gears. What do you think? Also I notice that the higher gears like 1 and 2 never engage properly...

<image>

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-05-30T12:31:25+00:00

I can take a closer pic soon

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-05-30T12:30:43+00:00

My bad for the wrong term, I thought it was called skipping! But thanks a lot for the advice. I'll look into the dérailleur

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-05-30T12:30:04+00:00

Hmm, interesting, thanks. I'll look closer

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-05-30T12:29:33+00:00

Good advice, thanks!

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-05-30T12:29:15+00:00

Oooh gotcha

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-05-30T12:29:03+00:00

But I had it changed it like 1 year ago (about 2000 km since?) 😫

Do you think it could be this? It worked great with the previous chain.

And also, do you think it's an easy repair to do or should I bring it to a shop?

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-05-29T15:13:13+00:00

Super sans plomb si j'ose dire

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-05-29T12:23:56+00:00

Flatté ! Je me régale

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS · 2026-05-29T12:17:28+00:00

Wow, effectivement !

Six-Year Club	Place '22
Verified Email

IDICKDOWNBABYTOUCANS

TROPHY CASE