How noisy is a chain drive pedal supposed to be?

Philaiy9

Junior Member
I just got a brand new DW 5000 single chain from Sweetwater and what struck me right away was how noisy it is. There's a fairly pronounced click whenever the chain holes reconnect with the sprocket on the travel backwards, which I don't remember at all when I tried out the same pedal at Sam Ash. And I don't have it with me but I also don't recall my 90s DW 5000 doing this. But luckily laying a paper towel piece on top of the sprocket takes away about 90% of the clicking noise and the pedal plays great--it just seems funny to have to do this for a pro level pedal. Is that kind of noise normal for (single) chain pedals?
 
I just got a DW5000 AD4 (accelerator cam) a few days ago and it is very quiet (until that mammoth beater hits the head). But the model I have is the double chain. I actually contemplated the single chain….it seemed to be marketed as a “throw back” to yesteryear 5000 models and that intrigued me…but i bought the double chain
 
I just got a DW5000 AD4 (accelerator cam) a few days ago and it is very quiet (until that mammoth beater hits the head). But the model I have is the double chain. I actually contemplated the single chain….it seemed to be marketed as a “throw back” to yesteryear 5000 models and that intrigued me…but i bought the double chain
Yeah - Accelerator cam doesn’t have teeth. The single sprocket uses teeth. Is it possible the sprocket isn’t in line with the chain? The Allen wrench can loosen the sprocket so you can move it side-to-side. Is your sprocket a little shifted?
 
Yeah - Accelerator cam doesn’t have teeth. The single sprocket uses teeth. Is it possible the sprocket isn’t in line with the chain? The Allen wrench can loosen the sprocket so you can move it side-to-side. Is your sprocket a little shifted?

I did not know that, Bo. Great info

Philaiy9…sweetwater is usually very responsive on their service….I’d send it back if you can’t easily fix this
 
I just got a brand new DW 5000 single chain from Sweetwater and what struck me right away was how noisy it is. There's a fairly pronounced click whenever the chain holes reconnect with the sprocket on the travel backwards, which I don't remember at all when I tried out the same pedal at Sam Ash. And I don't have it with me but I also don't recall my 90s DW 5000 doing this. But luckily laying a paper towel piece on top of the sprocket takes away about 90% of the clicking noise and the pedal plays great--it just seems funny to have to do this for a pro level pedal. Is that kind of noise normal for (single) chain pedals?
Can you post a few fairly close up pictures of the sprocket & chain from overhead, left side and right side?

Sweetwater will definitely take care of it if something is wrong. Try to troubleshoot it first before returning it.
 
Yeah - Accelerator cam doesn’t have teeth. The single sprocket uses teeth. Is it possible the sprocket isn’t in line with the chain? The Allen wrench can loosen the sprocket so you can move it side-to-side. Is your sprocket a little shifted?
Can you post a few fairly close up pictures of the sprocket & chain from overhead, left side and right side?

Sweetwater will definitely take care of it if something is wrong. Try to troubleshoot it first before returning it.
You might be on to something, it looks like the chain is pulling further to one side where it meets the footboard. I guess that means the alignment is off right?

It looks they put Loctite in the Allen screws as the beater holder and sprocket are impossible to loosen as is. Might be better just to send back.
 

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You might be on to something, it looks like the chain is pulling further to one side where it meets the footboard. I guess that means the alignment is off right?

It looks they put Loctite in the Allen screws as the beater holder and sprocket are impossible to loosen as is. Might be better just to send back.
You can definitely break the Loctite. Everybody who’s ever owned a DW5000 has done this. Consider this part of learning how to set up and maintain your pedal. You’re gonna have to do it sooner or later. I’ve gotten very adept at dismantling these pedals and putting them back together - like a soldier and his rifle.
 
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I just got a DW5000 AD4 (accelerator cam) a few days ago and it is very quiet (until that mammoth beater hits the head). But the model I have is the double chain. I actually contemplated the single chain….it seemed to be marketed as a “throw back” to yesteryear 5000 models and that intrigued me…but i bought the double chain
I played both against each other for about an hour at Sam Ash. They both felt great but surprisingly different from each other. I don't think you could go wrong with either.
 
You can definitely break the Loctite. Everybody who’s ever owned a DW5000 has done this. Consider this part of learning how to set up and maintain your pedal. You’re gonna have to do it sooner or later. I’ve gotten very adept at dismantling these pedals and putting them back together - like a soldier and his rifle.

I can, but I don't want to make the item less returnable if moving the sprocket isn't the fix for the issue. I think the metal piece attached to the footboard that holds the chain might be a little bent
 
I would also add that sometimes it depends on where you foot is sitting on the pedal, or more accurately your heel

If you're directly behind the pedal in a straight line, it shouldn't be a problem. But if you're like me, and you sit angled off to the left, and your heel is actually an inch or two to the left of the DW heel plate, then you're gonna hear more chatter because things aren't lining up correctly.
 
I would also add that sometimes it depends on where you foot is sitting on the pedal, or more accurately your heel

If you're directly behind the pedal in a straight line, it shouldn't be a problem. But if you're like me, and you sit angled off to the left, and your heel is actually an inch or two to the left of the DW heel plate, then you're gonna hear more chatter because things aren't lining up correctly.
That makes sense. I picked up on this just testing the action with my hand though
 
You can definitely break the Loctite. Everybody who’s ever owned a DW5000 has done this. Consider this part of learning how to set up and maintain your pedal. You’re gonna have to do it sooner or later. I’ve gotten very adept at dismantling these pedals and putting them back together - like a soldier and his rifle.
"This is my pedal, there are many like it but this one's...."
 
I just got a brand new DW 5000 single chain from Sweetwater and what struck me right away was how noisy it is. There's a fairly pronounced click whenever the chain holes reconnect with the sprocket on the travel backwards, which I don't remember at all when I tried out the same pedal at Sam Ash. And I don't have it with me but I also don't recall my 90s DW 5000 doing this. But luckily laying a paper towel piece on top of the sprocket takes away about 90% of the clicking noise and the pedal plays great--it just seems funny to have to do this for a pro level pedal. Is that kind of noise normal for (single) chain pedals?
Just send it back return it as defective to Sweetwater. They'll ship you a new one. Won't cost you any extra and you'll have a noiseless pedal. Don't fool around with trying to fix it.
 
Imagine a bike chain, they are not silent. This will not be no matter what you do
I think you're right to an extent, but I've played many chain drive (single and double chain) pedals that aren't this noisy. Might as well try exchanging it to see if that fixes the issue.
 
I think you're right to an extent, but I've played many chain drive (single and double chain) pedals that aren't this noisy. Might as well try exchanging it to see if that fixes the issue.
If the cam doesn’t have teeth then they are pretty quiet
 
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