I keep getting a mech “pulling” problem in watery muddy conditions, the conditions don’t have to be that bad for this to happen.

As I pedal in middle front ring the mech cage rotates anti-clockwise, so the bottom jockey moves forwards, the chain slackens up and drive train either locks up completely or the chain will suddenly pull through.

I thought this was down to friction in the top jockey, but I have installed new sealed jockeys and still get the problem, the chain and rear sprockets are newish.

This has happened on my last 2 bikes (Stumpy FSRs) as well as this one (Epic FSR), other people I ride with don’t have this problem in similar conditions. Any ideas? I saw another guy on an Epic with the same problem at Kielder (i had this problem at Kielder but also in much less severe conditions), so wondering if this is a something like a chainline issue?

‘Trying to imagine it?

Is it the bottom run of chain that’s ‘slack’ when this happens?
Have you tried swapping back wheels to make sure its not a freewheel issue?

Hi Stuey

Yes, ths bottom line goes slack.
Happens with Hope, DT and Shimano freehubs.

This ‘feels’ like chainsuck – but swapping chains and rings is a pita. – you could try checking the middle ring and chain for any snags or twists to file or straighten.

Have you ever clouted your mech?

I smacked my mech hard enough to break a jockey wheel but managed to get it straight enough to run it without any issues however after recently renewing the cassette, chain and chainring I started to get similar problems to what you’re describing

I eventually bought a new mech and hanger and the problem disappeared so I assume something wasn’t quite straight somewhere.

This is on a 2010 stumpy by the way.

Stiff link?

solved this problem,

even though my middle ring wasn’t that worn, I bought a Middleburn slickshift middle ring, had a trouble free day at FoD Enduro, happy days