Chain Snapped

coldomc05

Hi I was at Glentress last week and i set about doing a blue run just to get my self warmed up a bit for the skills loops. I got half way up the trail and my chain snapped!!!

WTF i thought my bike's like 6 months old. I have a Specialized Rockhopper Comp with standard spec. Anyhow's I fixed then chain (luckily i remebered to pack my multi-tool) and carried on as normal. But I find my gears aren't changing when I click up or down once. Is this because the chain is 2 whole links smaller? Do I need to buy a new chain? Any advice would be great.

Thanks

nicklouse

is the gear problem in the big cogs only?

RobA

I personally would change it as the rest of the chain could have been affected.

coldomc05

nicklouse wrote:

is the gear problem in the big cogs only?

No am using the middle ring and the last 5 cogs at the rear usually. But I do find shifting to be a problem accross a range of gears on all 3 front cogs.

nicklouse

get the gears set up and make sure that the chain is not too short and that there is not a stiff link.

StefanH

You're probably having a problem now because the shorter chain has exacerbated the issue of having a wrong-sized bottom bracket.

I would put money on your having a 113mm bottom bracket and you need a 115mm (actually, it could be the other way around). Set your gears to middle-middle and check your chainline. It should be perfectly parallel to the frame. If not, you need a new BB.

For reasons known only to Specialized, they have specced the wrong size BB for Rockhoppers ('07 models, at least).

£40 gets you a Shim XT replacement.

steelo

I had trouble shifting gears and found out it was due to a bent deraillieur hanger. Have you knocked the back of the bike at all, or maybe the chain caused the deraillieur to bend when it snapped. Just a possibility but your LBS will be able to check it for you.

supersonic

My money is on a stiff link or a pin extruding on the chain. Shorter chain only usually a problem when capacity it can not physically move onto certain large combinations.

coldomc05

Thanks guys for your input.

I don't think I need a new BB as when the bike was new it shifted perfectly first time with every gear click.

I have tried messing with the barrel adjuster on the rear deraileur and at the gear lever. This only works on selected gears i.e. if your on the middle front cog then you use the 3 4 5 & 6 rear cogs, use the smallest front ring and use 1 - 4 rear and the largest front use 6 - 9 at rear.

Going to take it to my LBS to see what the problem is.

StefanH

coldomc05 wrote:

Thanks guys for your input.

I don't think I need a new BB as when the bike was new it shifted perfectly first time with every gear click.

I have tried messing with the barrel adjuster on the rear deraileur and at the gear lever. This only works on selected gears i.e. if your on the middle front cog then you use the 3 4 5 & 6 rear cogs, use the smallest front ring and use 1 - 4 rear and the largest front use 6 - 9 at rear.

Going to take it to my LBS to see what the problem is.

my chain shifted perfectly when my bike was new as well, but I still had the wrong BB. Rockhopper Pro Disc '07. I checked on the Spesh website the other week and they *still* list the BB as the wrong size as supplied with the bike.

coldomc05

StefanH wrote:

coldomc05 wrote:

Thanks guys for your input.

I don't think I need a new BB as when the bike was new it shifted perfectly first time with every gear click.

I have tried messing with the barrel adjuster on the rear deraileur and at the gear lever. This only works on selected gears i.e. if your on the middle front cog then you use the 3 4 5 & 6 rear cogs, use the smallest front ring and use 1 - 4 rear and the largest front use 6 - 9 at rear.

Going to take it to my LBS to see what the problem is.

my chain shifted perfectly when my bike was new as well, but I still had the wrong BB. Rockhopper Pro Disc '07. I checked on the Spesh website the other week and they *still* list the BB as the wrong size as supplied with the bike.

Surely if Spesh are aware of the problem then why aren't customers getting a neww BB through their warranty?

StefanH

They may not be aware of the problem. I've just emailed them about it. I hadn't before because I may be up against corporate momentum. Maybe nobody has told them about it, maybe it will cost them less to just send out new BB's than to change the spec to be correct, maybe they cut a deal for 68x118 BB's... who knows.

I'll see what their response is.

supersonic

Have you measured the chainline to see if it does not match?

neil_uk

How did you join the chain? if you used a chain tool to join it instead of one of those sram type thingies then it does sound like you made a stiff link where you joined it (happend to me before).


If the chainline check is right...... then my 2007 Trance 2 looks as though the BB is too wide! Oh no paranoid now hmmm

Sailorboy

I had the same thing happen to me! My Kona Lava Dome 4 weeks old snapped on a downhill. Not good! Took it straight back to the lbs I brought it from and got a replacement sram chain

thaibog

You get bad batches of chains ...i remember when sram chains where breaking from some suppliers in my area..Also shimano chains are prone to breaking a lot.

Grab yourself a connex wipperman..strongest chain i ever owned

coldomc05

thaibog wrote:

You get bad batches of chains ...i remember when sram chains where breaking from some suppliers in my area..Also shimano chains are prone to breaking a lot.

Grab yourself a connex wipperman..strongest chain i ever owned

Has anyone used this chain before? Thinking of buying it.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 5360020543

neil_uk

I've just bought that chain a few days ago! I got the cheesy blingy gold version but apart from that it's the same. As I've only done about 50 miles on it I can't comment on long term durability - but I can say that providing it lasts, it's the best chain I have ever bought!!

I always used SRAM 991 chains which have been my favourite for years.... Until I bought my Giant trance which has a raceface chainset. As soon as it was fitted it clicked like hell round all the front rings and continuously chainsucked after every change. I have rode it a few miles thinking it might bed in but I had enough and took it off. I laid it on the floor against the old original shimano chain and oddly the SRAM chain was 5mm longer than the old shimano!?!?!? eh??? Anyway that will explain why it was jamming on the teeth on the chainset!

Anyway, I still use SRAM pc991 chains on my other bikes, but I'll never fit one on my raceface equiped trance.

Since fitting the new KMC the shifts are super smooth and silent, and also, as it's slightly narrower than the SRAM I can finally use both extremes of the cassette without the usual small bit of chain rub from the inside of the front mech - this chain is fantastic!!

Neil.

StefanH

coldomc05 wrote:

thaibog wrote:

You get bad batches of chains ...i remember when sram chains where breaking from some suppliers in my area..Also shimano chains are prone to breaking a lot.

Grab yourself a connex wipperman..strongest chain i ever owned

Has anyone used this chain before? Thinking of buying it.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 5360020543

An excellent chain which is extremely hard-wearing. Coupled with Middleburn chainrings and you have an excellent drivetrain

The gold version isn't just for bling purposes, it is Ti nitrided. Essentially, it is coated with a thin but extremely hard material. The only things harder are carbo-nitrided parts (see some of the stuff on www.poshbikes.com), granite and diamond

thaibog

I actually owned the KMC ti-ni coated one before the sram pair that i snapped great chain..it lasted me 6 months of winter..and i rode all the time in chiltern mud..was light and bling also.

When it died it failed in many places.though
But in comparison this connex wipperman teflon coated baby with middleburn slickshift hardcoat chainrings is in another league..and the same price..

check my pinkbike album for the different chain/ chainring setups

StefanH

thaibog wrote:

I actually owned the KMC ti-ni coated one before the sram pair that i snapped great chain..it lasted me 6 months of winter..and i rode all the time in chiltern mud..was light and bling also.

When it died it failed in many places.though
But in comparison this connex wipperman teflon coated baby with middleburn slickshift hardcoat chainrings is in another league..and the same price..

check my pinkbike album for the different chain/ chainring setups

Have you found the teflon coating to wear off at all? I looked at the Wipperman chains before opting for the KMC (which gives very good shifting with the Middleburn rings). I might get a Wipperman when I replace my KMC. Must upgrade my cassette too.

woodywmb

WELL coldomc05 what was the problem? It couldn't have been chain length if you've only taken out two links and are pedalling in middle front. It's unlikely to be a stiff link if the bike's six months old unless the chain has seized with rust. The cassette should still be in reasonable enough nick to handle the easier changes coming off the middle chainring. I think your front mech is out of line. Someone suggested that your whole drivetrain could do with a rebuild. Seems like good advice. But do put us out of our misery - what WAS up?

coldomc05

Woodywmb wrote:

WELL coldomc05 what was the problem? It couldn't have been chain length if you've only taken out two links and are pedalling in middle front. It's unlikely to be a stiff link if the bike's six months old unless the chain has seized with rust. The cassette should still be in reasonable enough nick to handle the easier changes coming off the middle chainring. I think your front mech is out of line. Someone suggested that your whole drivetrain could do with a rebuild. Seems like good advice. But do put us out of our misery - what WAS up?

Haven't yet put it into LBS. But Its booked in for 31st of July. I spoke to a guy in the shop and he said it probably the gear cables stretching and my barrel adjuster needs tweaking cause my rear mech is fine and front one works fine also. Anyone am hoping everything will be fine after its service. Cheers for the good advice.