I have a 03 Record group that I just used to build up my orbea. The shifting is excellent but the derailleur sounds like it is not adjusted correctly. It sounds like my shimano sounds when it needs cable tension. I have adjusted and adjusted and even taken it to the shop where they told me it needs to break in. My shop mainly deals in shimano so I am wondering if this is breakin or something else. Anyone else have this problem?

Different chain lubes can make quite a difference in chain noise. Cleanliness can have an impact as well. Where are you on this?

it sounds like it is just not adjusted correctly. Not so much a buzz but it sounds like shimano sounds just before it ghost shifts.

There is no break-in period for a derailleur. Unless the derailleur is out of alignment, the only adjustments that would have a noise impact are the cable tension and "B" screw (now located out of sight).

Is the chain brand new, and possibly stiff with factory grease? If so, give it some homebrew lube or a shot of any spray lube and see if it helps.

If you have a Wipperman chain, expect more noise than with campy.

I have a 03 Record group that I just used to build up my orbea. The shifting is excellent but the derailleur sounds like it is not adjusted correctly. It sounds like my shimano sounds when it needs cable tension. I have adjusted and adjusted and even taken it to the shop where they told me it needs to break in. My shop mainly deals in shimano so I am wondering if this is breakin or something else. Anyone else have this problem?

IIRC there is an upper and lower jockey pulley, did you reverse these during your build?

Is your cassette properly installed with the correct spacers in the correct locations? As you get toward the large end of the cassette with the spiders the spacers look similar, but slightly different. Check Branford or Campy for an illustration.

Hub alignment? Is your hub properly installed and pulled all the way back into the dropouts? Are your dropouts properly aligned?

Worn chain or cassette?

Chainline? Is it reasonably straight? Does the noise only occur at the extremes?

Maybe an MP3 player and headphones.

I had not thought to try that. Might be the problem.

I cannot seem to find any info on how to assemble the cassette. The strange thing is that it is pretty bad in all gears, that is the only thing that made me think that it might be break in. Anyone got a link to cassette info?

What is the b screw? Is that like the high low screws?

This screw used to be located in the back of the derailleur (still is on shimano). It rotates the deralleur to avoid contact with the largest cog. Shouldn't have an effect on anything but the largest cogs. All campy instructions are on their website.

http://www.campagnolo.com/techinfo.php?did=f

You do have the chain properly routed? I've seen folks route the chain over the outside of the guide tab on the upper jockey pulley. Makes plenty of noise.

It never hurts to check derailleur alignment, although anythingn real serious should be visible by eye.

The chain line appears to be fine. I will check out the b screw and see if that helps. The derailleur is sitting pretty close to the cogs so hopefully that will help.

Chain is properly routed. :-) I have done that on shimano before.

If so, check and recheck you limit adjusters especially in the small cog.(adjust them so when you are in the smallest cog there is not the sound of a shift about to happen)....Also eyeball the chain & derail to make sure the chain is in the center of the pulleys... Once this is done shift up to the fourth cog from the smallest adjust tension w/ barrel adjuster so the ghost shifting sound silences. Then go up to the largest rear cog and set the limit screw again accordingly.

If it just makes noise in one gear, a couple of turns either way w/ the barrel adjuster usually does the trick.


Also, as mentioned before a good lube quiets stuff down alot as well.

Well I have messed with it and messed with it and even with a perfect chain line and perfect shifting it still makes noise. I have adjusted the distance to the cassette as well and it does not make a difference.

I may have found something though. I was about to order another chain, figuring mine was screwed up, and discovered that the c10 chain does not seem to come with a "powerlink" type of link. The guy I got my drivetrain from has a campy "powerlink" in there. I am windering if this is throwing off the spacing just enough to make a ton of noise but still not afftect shifting.

What do you all think? Am I reaching here or could that be it?

Well I have messed with it and messed with it and even with a perfect chain line and perfect shifting it still makes noise. I have adjusted the distance to the cassette as well and it does not make a difference.

I may have found something though. I was about to order another chain, figuring mine was screwed up, and discovered that the c10 chain does not seem to come with a "powerlink" type of link. The guy I got my drivetrain from has a campy "powerlink" in there. I am windering if this is throwing off the spacing just enough to make a ton of noise but still not afftect shifting.

What do you all think? Am I reaching here or could that be it?

It's probably not the link. It would just make racket momentarily each cycle of the chain as it passed through the gears. Does your chain have "C-10" stamped on the links?
I had a similar prob. but the cassette had loosened up a bit. IYour prob. is almost certainly der. adj. or a cable problem. I'd start with a cable/housing replacement if the chain is indeed c-10.

addendum: and make sure the der. is snugged up to the frame.

Well, onto the next thing I guess. The shop I go to mainly deals with mtn bikes, I might just have to drop mine off at the local "road" shop.

The chain is a C10. It seems like the spacing is just off and it is hitting the derailleur pullies unevenly.

Does the top pulley wheel slide easy left to right as it rotates? Mine was stuck solid on a new derailleur last year. Took me almost a week to figure it out. I couldn't get the system adjusted to work properly in both chain rings.

They spin fine and have enough side to side play to feel right. I am stumped.

I just replaced the jockey wheels on my campy 9 RD (uses the same as record 10) and I am now getting noise - not a metal-on-metal noise, like when you think it's going to shift, but a sort of plasticky, sticky noise. If this is your noise it seems it's down to the jockey wheels themselves and the new 'quiet' material they are made from.

Like you I've spent ages fannying around trying to get rid of that noise.... perhaps I should try riding with headphones after all;)

I just replaced the jockey wheels on my campy 9 RD (uses the same as record 10) and I am now getting noise - not a metal-on-metal noise, like when you think it's going to shift, but a sort of plasticky, sticky noise. If this is your noise it seems it's down to the jockey wheels themselves and the new 'quiet' material they are made from.

Like you I've spent ages fannying around trying to get rid of that noise.... perhaps I should try riding with headphones after all;)


That is the same sound I am getting. It is like it is about to ghost shift but it shifts perfectly.

Well I have messed with it and messed with it and even with a perfect chain line and perfect shifting it still makes noise. I have adjusted the distance to the cassette as well and it does not make a difference.

I may have found something though. I was about to order another chain, figuring mine was screwed up, and discovered that the c10 chain does not seem to come with a "powerlink" type of link. The guy I got my drivetrain from has a campy "powerlink" in there. I am windering if this is throwing off the spacing just enough to make a ton of noise but still not afftect shifting.

What do you all think? Am I reaching here or could that be it?

For what it's worth my Campy Record der/Campy ten chain worked flawlessly when it was new, it still does. Once I installed a Wipperman link upside down and it made noise, I corrected it and the noise went away. I know you don't have a Wipperman chain, but the link might be the problem. There is no "break-in" period for the Campy der, mine was whisper quite from day one. You might check the Park Tool Company site, I think you can email a live person with questions.....make sure the chain has a good coat of lube..I use a homebrew 3-1....also-stiff link?