What Does Chain Binding Mean? (Read This First)

What Does Chain Binding Mean

Suppose you have ridden your bicycle for about 5000 miles or more; you must’ve experienced a chain binding at one time or another.

You’re lucky if the chain doesn’t snag terribly on the sprocket and only makes an irritating noise. 

But chain binding is easy to prevent, given that your bicycle’s chain is well oiled and not too tight.

The clutch actuating cover is where the chain binds. You can reduce the probability of chain binding by grinding the area. 

Chain binding is when your bike’s chain is tight around the sprockets. The pressure makes it hard to steer and, most of the time, makes the wheels lock up. Your bike’s chain could also get tight because of the friction between the chain’s teeth and the sprocket.

What Causes a Chain to Bind on a Mountain Bike?

What Does Chain Binding Mean

A mountain bike rides on unfriendly terrain for long periods. Yet, their chains can also clog strongly.

The chain binds because of large loads and faulty chain joints. The binding might occur due to a lack of maintenance.

Any mountain bike bound this way can still be repaired without much cost.

#1. Continuously Heavy Load

Sprockets have limited weight and traction control. Any excessive and continuously increased stress on it leads to breakdown.

The breakdown starts when the pinholes enlarge, and the links tear away and break.

While riding your bike, do not place too much pressure on it. If not, your chain would bind.

#2. Faulty Chain Joints

Chains move fluidly as the bike rolls. Immediately, you notice your chain binds. It means your chain might be stiff. The fault in the chain could be because of stiff links or derailed sprockets.

#3. Derailleur

A chain can bind on a mountain bike because of the derailleur. Some get bent as derailleur hangers wear.

It is sometimes possible to bend the derailleur parts back into shape using an alignment tool, but you should consider replacing the whole part instead. In addition, you should check the gears along the part for damage. 

#4. Damaged Sprocket

Sprockets make chains perform better. And they are made to fit pitch, roller diameter, and chain width.

However, frequent and unmaintained use makes the teeth wear out, and the size of the teeth changes. Sprockets get damaged due to misaligned chains.

What Causes a Chain to Bind on a Road Bike?

Road bikes are designed for smooth and territorially friendly roads. So their chains are also simplistic and often narrow in application and steering.

Road bike chains bind because you interchange road bike and mountain bike chains. It could even be because of too tight tension.

Your bike’s efficiency and life span depend on the chain you use. Unlike road bikes, the mountain bike chain is thicker, and the mountain bike cassette is much more spaced.

That is why your mountain bike chain would not fit on either a road bike or a single cog. 

#1. Lack of Maintenance

Chain functions well when properly taken care of, lubricated, and maintained. Poor maintenance can cause a chain to bind on a mountain bike.

Maintenance must be constant and consistent if your bike frequents areas of dirt, clogs, and too much friction.

#2. Chain Compatibility

If the chains aren’t the right size on a road bike, it will have trouble fitting on the sprocket properly.

The most common fit difficulties arise when you use a different number of gear speed chains and cassettes at the same time.

It may work well with minor tweaks, but be cautious if you don’t want your chain to get stuck.

#3. Tension

For the chain of a bike to work well, the cable tension should be at its optimum and perfectly calibrated.

Too little slack makes the chain stuck and unable to move up and down well. Your chain can lose tension even if it is new.

Over time, it should settle into the perfect tension. But it would be best if you still readjusted the chair yourself sometimes.

Examples of Road Bikes and Mountain Bikes 

Road BikesMountain Bikes
Wilier – GTR TeamIbis Ripmo V2 XT
Bianchi – Oltre XR4Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp
Orbea – Orca M30Yeti SB130
Cervelo – Caledonia 105Ibis Ripley GX Eagle
Ridley – Fenix SL DiscSanta Cruz 5010 CC XO1 RSV
Marin – Gestalt 2 Polygon Siskiu T8
Ridley – Liz DiscGiant Stance 29 2
Bianchi – Infinito CV Specialized Fuse Expert 29
Tommaso – Monza Specialized Turbo Levo Comp

How Can I fix the Chain Binding on my Bike?

Fixing a chain bind is easy. In the stiff link, gently bend the chain from side to side, ensuring it is at the right angle to how the cassette bends around the chainrings.

Next, grasp the closest connection points on either side of the stiff link with a firm grip. If the chain remains stuck, work the chain up and down till you loosen the plates.

Is Chain Binding the Same as Chain Suck?

Technically, they aren’t the same. However, the results are pretty much similar.

The differences in meaning mean when trying to handle them, the same methods aren’t used. Rather, chain binding is handled like a chain binding problem.

The chain may become locked between the cranks and chainstays, especially if it becomes jammed on the teeth when changing between the front chainrings. 

As the chain cannot disengage from the teeth of a front chainring, it is carried around the circumference of the ring, winds back on itself, and jams between the ring and chain stay.

As a result, the smaller chains stick together, causing ‘chain suck.’ On the other hand, chain binding is when the chain is extremely coiled around the sprockets.

In other words, if the chain is tight at one point in the rotation, it will become excessively tight after another half-turn. 

What Causes Chain Suck?

Chain suck frequently manifests on bicycles when the chains get sticky, wet, and muddy.

The chain sucks when bicycles are on mountainous terrain. If your chain wears out, the bicycle rollers might cease incessantly.

#1. Muddy Environment

A muddy environment is an avenue for bicycles to experience high fiction. The chain doesn’t move from the teeth during a shift.

The chainrings become overloaded, and the derailleur cannot provide enough tension. 

#2. Worn Chain

A poorly maintained chain can not keep up with certain loads and would give in faster.

Sometimes, the chain gets stuck between the chain stay and crank because the chain can’t handle the pressure after consistent use without care.

#3. Shifting Under load

Chain sucks happen due to load shifting. While riding and carrying a load heavier than the specified weight, the shifting power outputs through a single tooth and one link.

So despite the smooth movement, the chain is under much pressure. And it suddenly sucks dangerously.

Conclusion

Different factors impact the bicycle chain’s effectiveness and activity. Chief among these are chain binding and chain suck.

All different scenarios where the chains become too tight around the cassette. However, if your chain is properly maintained, you keep an ear for unusual sounds.

You would solve your chain problems with ease, without full-blown problems.

Josh Matthews

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