Answered Should my Shimano clutch be on or off?

[Beekeeper]

I have an admission to make. In 2 years of owning my bike I’ve never turned my clutch on once. I read somewhere that the shifter feels a bit stiffer with it on so I never bothered with it for that reason.

I’ve never had a issue with the chain slapping anything.

so should I put the clutch on or not?

 

[Mcharza]

Put it on. And when you want to remove the real wheel, then put it off

 

[Beekeeper]

Put it on. And when you want to remove the real wheel, then put it off

what are the advantages of it on?

 

[Mcharza]

What does the clutch do? ... The clutch on Shimano derailleurs adds tension to the chain, reducing chain bounce in rough terrain, therefore minimizing “chain slap” against the frame, and keeping as much chain wrapped snuggly around the chainring as possible to prevent it from dropping off the ring.

How to Service Your Shimano Derailleur Clutch

There are several moving parts inside the clutch that require consistent grease to function properly, and as we wash our bikes or ride through water that grease slowly migrates from its intended position. Learn how to keep your MTB derailleur clutch running smoothly.

www.singletracks.com

 

[Gyre]

what are the advantages of it on?

He just told you.

 

[Gary]

Never run a derailleur with the clutch off on an emtb
it not only helps with chain retention and reduces chainslap. it also helps stop chainsuck. and chainsuck on a chainring that keeps on driving after you've stopped pedalling and can't be backpedalled can do a shit load more dammage than chainsuck on a normal bike.

 

[steve_sordy]

It's a friction damper that stops the lower strand of chain from whipping up and down quite so much. If you look at pictures of bikes without a clutch when in action, you often will see the lower strand in a figure "S" shape. Where that "S" actually is can move as you progress down the trail, which is when the chain comes off. Chain devices were invented to stop the chain from coming off. Narrow-wide toothed chainrings and clutch mechs pretty much stopped chain ejection.

@Gary 's excellent point about additional problems with emtbs had never occurred to me, probably because I've never had a chain come off on my emtb (or my last mtb for that matter).