Chain and Cogs: Don’t wait too long!
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huskerdont.
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June 16, 2013 at 1:26 pm #913580
Dirt
ParticipantThis is one of those “Let my life serve as an example” sort of posts.
I’m usually pretty good about keeping an eye on chain wear so that I don’t have to do a wholesale drivetrain “upgrade” but failed miserably this time. I hadn’t messed with the chain on the fat fixie for wayyyyyy tooo long. I went to put a new chain on last night and when I went for a shakedown ride, all I heard was crunching and grinding out of a perfectly clean and partially new drivetrain. What should have been a $20 fix ended up costing me $150.
Background: As your ride, your chain stretches and wears. If you don’t clean your chain often, that process happens quicker. If you ride with a chain that is stretched and worn, the cogs (gears in the back) and the chainrings (gears in the front) wear to match the longer, worn out chain. When you finally do get around to replacing your chain, the bike will no longer pedal or shift correctly. Any time you put pressure on the pedals, the gears will pop and grind.
The “solution”: If you’ve waited too long the only solution is to change the chain, chainrings and cogs all at once. That gets expensive. One reason you see seemingly nice, lower-end bikes on Craigslist at a good deal is that someone paid $500 for a new bike two years ago, ignored the chain and just heard from their mechanic that is going to cost $300 to replace chain, cogs and chainrings. Buyer beware!
How do I avoid this?: There are many companies that make tools that measure how much your chain has worn. They’re simple to use and quite reliable. Use them frequently… especially if you ride when it is wet or don’t clean your chain often. When the gauge says that your chain should be replaced… or is getting close to needing to be replaced, buy a new chain and do it!!! The fix is easy to do. It is a great job for someone wanting to start doing their own repairs.Links:
Chain wear gauge: http://www.parktool.com/product/chain-wear-indicator-CC-3-2
Chain wear video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pUgHM8HU2Q
Everything you ever wanted to know about chains and much, much more from Sheldon Brown (MHRIP): http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.htmlHope that is somewhat helpful.
Hugs and Kisses,
Pete
June 16, 2013 at 2:24 pm #973020Jason B
Participant^^^^^
Good call on checking the chain. Finally broke down and bought Park’s CC-2 chain wear tool. Found my chain was way past worn, and this was after only 1,000 miles (too many training hills, getting ready for Garrett). For fun I brought the tool to work and found that three of four guys I ride with had worn chains. We saved a few cassettes that day.June 16, 2013 at 3:47 pm #973021ShawnoftheDread
ParticipantSomewhat related, getting my hybrid ready for the week today I noticed I had broken a spoke sometime last week. After pulling the freewheel, I saw that wasn’t all I broke. Two teeth missing from the third sprocket:
The thing is, I don’t recall anything happening that could explain it.
June 16, 2013 at 10:15 pm #973032TwoWheelsDC
Participant@ShawnoftheDread 55286 wrote:
The thing is, I don’t recall anything happening that could explain it.
Massive guadz.
June 16, 2013 at 10:55 pm #973035mstone
Participant@ShawnoftheDread 55286 wrote:
Somewhat related, getting my hybrid ready for the week today I noticed I had broken a spoke sometime last week. After pulling the freewheel, I saw that wasn’t all I broke. Two teeth missing from the third sprocket:
The thing is, I don’t recall anything happening that could explain it.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3119[/ATTACH]
June 16, 2013 at 11:47 pm #973037Dirt
ParticipantShawn, those cogs look really worn too. most look quite shark-finned, which is not really what they’re supposed to look like.
June 17, 2013 at 12:11 am #973040jnva
ParticipantHey dirt, how does this look:
[ATTACH]3121[/ATTACH]
June 17, 2013 at 1:17 am #973044mstone
Participantpointy; I’m guessing that the teeth on the two bigger rings originally looked more like the ones on the little ring?
June 17, 2013 at 1:18 am #973046Dirt
ParticipantHard to tell from a photo. My guess is that the chainrings are quite worn. I’d suggest getting a chain wear measuring tool. That will tell you a lot. You can also have your local shop look at it too.
June 17, 2013 at 1:29 am #973048ronwalf
Participant@jnva 55308 wrote:
Hey dirt, how does this look
I wouldn’t be happy with the visible gap between the chain and cog.
June 17, 2013 at 2:33 am #973055Rod Smith
Participant@ronwalf 55317 wrote:
I wouldn’t be happy with the visible gap between the chain and cog.
Yes, looking at how the chain lines up with the chainring teeth is a great illustration of how it all goes bad. Each roller hanging on a little closer to the edge. Your next drivetrain repair will include replacing everything.
June 17, 2013 at 2:47 pm #973103eminva
ParticipantThanks, Pete!
One question: I have heard it said that you should replace your cassette whenever you replace your chain. I have also heard that if you replace your chain before it gets too bad you can extend the life of your cassette and don’t need to replace it with every new chain. Is there any accepted wisdom on this point, or do reasonable minds disagree?
Thanks.
Liz
June 17, 2013 at 3:00 pm #973106ShawnoftheDread
Participant@eminva 55376 wrote:
Is there any accepted wisdom on this point, or do reasonable minds disagree?
Thanks.
Liz
Now where are we going to find reasonable minds on this forum?
June 17, 2013 at 3:02 pm #973107ShawnoftheDread
Participant@jnva 55308 wrote:
Hey dirt, how does this look:
[ATTACH]3121[/ATTACH]
My chain also hangs off the chainrings like this (even when it was new in the fall) and the rings are the kind that are permanently attached to the cranks. I’m assuming my only option if full crank replacement.
June 17, 2013 at 3:24 pm #973109jnva
Participant@ShawnoftheDread 55380 wrote:
My chain also hangs off the chainrings like this (even when it was new in the fall) and the rings are the kind that are permanently attached to the cranks. I’m assuming my only option if full crank replacement.
Yeah, I was going to try drilling out those stupid rivets. I don’t understand why it was built like this! I guess maybe it was cheaper to put together. I don’t see any reason why I should have to replace the cranks.
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