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Chain stuck between chainring and frame

Bicycles Asked by andii1997 on May 11, 2021

My chain fell out while switching the gears and now it is stuck between the chainring and the frame. (I’m not a native speaker nor a bicycle expert, the terms may be wrong)

I tried to unscrew the bolts on the crank arm to remove the crank arm and the chain ring, but it didn’t move after removing the bolt. How do I remove it or is there even a better option to get the chain out there?

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Update: I managed to wiggle the chain free with some force and it looked like the limit of the derailleur was not set correctly. In the picture you see like it looked before adjusting.
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3 Answers

I've managed that before more often than I'd like to admit.

Normally you can wiggle the chain free, though it does take some force and may damage paint. Pull some slack in the chain by moving the derailleur forwards, or it will pull back on the chain you are trying to free up.

You've tried removing the middle and outer chainrings, but I think not the little chainring which is the one pinching the chain against the frame. This has four bolts of its own holding it on, accessible on the inboard side of the small ring. You can remove these one at a time while the crank is still fitted. It should give enough play to release the chain. I would try this first but if you can't rotate the crank to access enough of the bolts then it might not work.

So that gives option 2, removing the crank. To remove the whole crank needs a tool called a cotterless crank puller, cranks won't come off on their own just by taking the bolt out. Very searchable online for instructions. With the right tool available you'd probably just do this first anyway.

Remember to do all the bolts up tightly again. It's a good opportunity to clean them and add a little grease to all the threads.

If the chain likes to fall off the inner chain ring it needs looking at. maybe a tooth is bent, or the chainring is worn, or the limit screw on the derailleur is not set properly.

Correct answer by Swifty on May 11, 2021

Happened to me a couple times. It depends on your frame and the gap between the bottom bracket and the chainring, but usually it can be fixed without removing the whole crank arm and chainring.

What I usually do is pull the chain downwards from below and the rear part of the frame and gradually try to make my way forwards until the chain gets freed. It sometimes require to play a bit with the cranks, slightly turning them to use the leverage they provide to move the chain.

Because the chain often gets obstructed by chainring bolts and some lateral pressure applies (chain gets bent sideways), the process is tedious and difficult.

The bottom line is that you will need latex gloves or a good wash and that you should certainly be prepared to do it again if your front derailleur is not adjusted well.

Answered by Standaa - Monica side on May 11, 2021

I kept having this problem after I changed to a new crank set. The new crank had a larger gap between the smallest chainring and the bottom bracket. I fixed the problem using a plastic wheelbarrow bushing that I cut to fit between the crank and the frame. It works great to keep the chain out of that little space.

Answered by Aaron Bell on May 11, 2021

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