Roadini Drivetrain Questions

[Jesse Marshburn]

Hi All, 

There seems to be some knowledgable mechanics in this group, so I wanted to ask about the drivetrain on my 52 Roadini. It works okay, but just doesn't seem very smooth and happy...clunky is the way I'd describe it. I'm wondering if some folks might be able to offer some advice on where I should begin troubleshooting or perhaps what parts I should swap out to make it 'happier.' Also worth noting that I built the bike up myself and I'd consider myself a 'competent at best' - level mechanic. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Here's what I'm currently running:

-Shimano 105 hub (FH-R7000). I believe this is technically a 10-11 speed hub...I'm running it with the spacer for a 10-speed.

-Shimano Deore rear derailer (RD-M591).

-Sram 11-32 9-speed cassette.

-Sram PC 951 chain.

-Shimano FD-2300 front derailer 

-Clipper GS 46x30 crank with a 107mm BB

-Also, I did have the derailer hanger aligned before I started the build.

Just wondering if anything jumps out as being weird or incompatible! Any advice is greatly appreciated! 

-Jesse in Atlanta, GA

   

[Bill Lindsay]

There's nothing fundamentally wrong with your mix of parts.  If your bike was going into my stand I'd probably start with therapy session questions about what you mean by "just doesn't seem smooth and happy" or "clunky".  The first question would be whether you are talking about riding the bike in-gear the drivetrain doesn't seem smooth?  -OR- do you mean when you execute a shift it seems clunky?  -OR- do you mean both?  You don't even mention your shifters, so I assume you are totally happy with "shifting" and are unhappy about "riding".  Assuming that's the case, the first objective measurement would be front and rear chain line.  What are they?  and Are they both where you planned them to be?  Or are you a "what's chain line?" mechanic?  Assuming chain line is perfecto, and it's all a riding problem I'd dive into whether it's unhappy in every gear or only some of the gears.  Assuming it's all the gears and assuming I rode your bike and concurred that it's rough and unhappy, then I'd start swapping stuff depending on my instincts from the test ride and from evaluating it in my work stand.  I'd start swapping things I can swap for free.  I'd fire in a rear wheel from one of my bikes that has a "liquid" drivetrain.  Do you like my rear wheel a lot better than your own?  Then go buy a copy of my cassette.  Is it just as bad?  Then it's not the cassette.  It's not the rear derailleur if it's a riding problem and your hanger is correct.  So that narrows it down to the chain or the chainrings.  And on you go...

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Joe Bernard]

As Bill says it looks fine from here. Possibilities I can come up with off the top of my head: 1. It's a mix of new/used parts and the chain is kinda grumbly over cogs and chainrings of a different age. 2. Your FD is designed for a 39-52 chainring combo, your front shifting may seem slightly difficult moving the chain through the 16-tooth gap you're trying to cover. 3. I've found SRAM chains to be noisier than some other brands. A clean-and-lube should quiet it down a bit. 

That's all I got! 🙋‍♂️

Joe Bernard 

Clearlake CA 

[Jesse Marshburn]

Thanks very much, Bill! 

For the therapy session, I guess it seems clunky settling into the right gear. Just seems to take more fiddling with the Silver 1 shifter than it should to settle into gear. Once I get it settled into gear, it seems pretty happy. 

I'm familiar with the concept of chain line, but didn't have a specific number in mind during the build and I haven't actually measured it, so I guess that tells you something about the type of mechanic I am! I'll get some measurements and check on that for sure.

Good call on swapping out the rear wheel...I'll do that with the wheel on my 60 Cheviot and see if anything's different.

Also good to know that nothing seems off with the mix of parts.

Really appreciate your input!

[Jesse Marshburn]

Thanks so much, Joe! I'll certainly consider the 3 possibilities that you described!

Now off to the shed!

[Jesse Marshburn]

Hi All, 

Just wanted to (finally) close the link...I mean, loop on this thread in case anyone is considering running this drivetrain on their new, beautiful lugged Roadini!

In my switch to the Clipper GS 46x30 crank, I had to add a couple of chain links to the chain as I was moving to a larger big ring. I tried to add the extra links by connecting them with a chain tool, rather than using a quick link. My installation of the additional links with a chain tool was not correct as the connecting pin did not install cleanly (it actually appeared to install correctly at the time, just may have worked itself loose with use?)...this is what was causing the excessive noise and clunkiness in the drivetrain. I noticed the damaged pin/link when I shifted through the gears while the bike was in the work stand and replaced it with a quick link...problem solved! The drivetrain now runs like a charm! The Q-factor is definitely not as tight as Ronnie Romance would like it, but I've really enjoyed the gearing and I think the crank looks great on the Roadini!

I now understand that you cannot add links to newer chains without using a quick link...is this true? Or was I simply being a subpar mechanic once again?

Cheers!

Jesse in ATL, GA