Chain not always catching

[unfittinglizard]

Hiya all

First time on here so please be gentle lol

Rather odd issue coming up lately.

Sometimes when I go to pedal it can take a quarter or half a pedal for my chain to actually catch and do anything.

This can happen at all speeds and gears and when starting off.

Sometime it will also just slip completely and make a horrible clunking noise (which also causes me to loose balance if it "drops" whilst i pedal)

is there a way of tightening it up without shortening the chain dont know if there is a chain tensioner on rear derailer?

many thanks

[nfmisso]

Sounds a bit more complicated.

* has the chain stretched? You need to measure.
* what is the condition of the freewheel/cassette? Pictures REQUIRED.
* what is the condition of the rear derailleur? Pictures REQUIRED.
* Is it a new bike, or older?
* why do you think that shortening the chain will make any difference? If the chain was correctly sized when installed, the length is not an issue.
* Are the shifter index? If yes, is the cable adjusted properly?

could be something else entirely; you have not provided enough information to be specific.

[cny-man]

This has nothing to do with chain "tension" or length. If it truly happens even when you start up (as you should) in a lower gear, and also occurs when just pedaling the problem is that the mechanism that clicks when you coast and engages when you pedal is not working properly. The cause is either broken spring(s)/pawl(s) or dirt/rust. This link shows how the system works on a freehub (cassette) system, but a freewheel has the same mechanism.

Freewheels can sometimes be saved by flushing out with solvent and then lubricating with oil - best done with the freewheel removed. Disassembly of a freewheel is not recommended, as you can't get new pawls or springs anyway.

To overhaul a freehub: http://www.bikeradar.com/us/gear/article/workshop-how-to-overhaul-your-freehub-23757/