Evening chaps,
I am running 1 x 10 on my hardtail with the following set up:
XT clutch mech
XT shifters
XT cassette
Sram PC1031 chain
Deore cranks w/ absolute black 32t NW chainring
I am familiar with drivetrains but not particularly with gears... Ridden singlespeed for years.
All shifts well and doesn't skip, all components effectively new.
Problem comes simply with noise. It's not smooth to run through the jockey wheels and mesh onto cassette. Everything is lined up and all good, chain is clean and lubed etc. Noise does reduce if tension from mech reduced, i.e clutch off and slight pressure forwards onto the lower end of the cage.
Anyway, had a closer look tonight and it's almost as if chain is too wide for the cassette. The outer plates touch the cassette teeth of the larger sprocket it is next to, i.e the next gear up the block. There is some slight rubbing to the outer plates from this. Odd as it should all be compatible? I don't have another chain to try. Doesn't seem to catch on all the teeth, seems they have different profiles and only rubs on every third tooth.
Anyone got any ideas?
Had the same issue, but with XT chain and XT cassette, (I use mix of Shimano and SRAM on all bikes now and works fine) check your chainline, your chainring may be too far in and dragging the chain into the cassette.
Get used to the noise, with narrow wides it is noisier due to the larger contact area between links and teeth
All 10sp mountain bike chains are compatible with all 10sp setups.
Had a similar issue myself.
Finally after buying new chainrings I realised my chain was routed through the rear mech incorrectly. I would check that the chain isn't rubbing on the little tab half way down the cage.
A friend of mine spotted it and called me a berk for it...only to realise his new bike had the same issue, as did his current set up. The folded tabs are not on the older mechs so it might be worth a look.
Finally after buying new chainrings I realised my chain was routed through the rear mech incorrectly.
Seen this all too many times. It's quite common that when fitting a new chain, people don't route it correctly through the rear derailleur, and it causes a lot of noise and wear issues unless resolved straight away.