3 chipped teeth on new Shimano 105 big chainwheel

berns

Im was building a new road bike, got a new groupset of Shimano 105 from a dealer. I had all parts assembled by a LBS. While the bike was still mounted on the rack where it was being assembled, the mechanic showed me that there were 3 chipped teeth tips on the big chainwheel. two of which are side by side and the other chipped teeth opposite the two. I am 100% the mechanic DID NOT drop the chainwheel that may have caused the teeth to bend. He got it straight from the box as packed by the dealer. He then just used his hands to turn the chainwheel and the tips came off.

Apparently, the Shimano 105 does not come in groupsets when they are imported from Singapore, they are regrouped and packed by either distributor (COMET Cycle Center) and/or dealer (UNISON-Binondo). The most likely cause of the defect is either factory defect or mishandling by distributor and/or dealer during repacking of the items.

The dealer is claiming that Shimano does not have warranty while it is so clear in Shimano website that the 105 has 2 years warranty. The distributor is washing their hands saying I should talk to the dealer.

I am quite sure the teeth were already defective before installation. But I want to have more opinion. Does anyone have a technical explanation on what may have caused the teeth tips of this new big chainwheel to come off?

cougie

And you're quite sure they aren't designed like that - to aid shifting ?

ColinJ

cougie wrote:

And you're quite sure they aren't designed like that - to aid shifting ?

I agree - take a look at this (it's more obvious on the silver ring).

Monty Dog

It's a common mis-conception - the teeth are deliberately shaped that way to aid shifting. Don't reckon much to the mechanic if he didn't know what they were.

topdude

I am quite sure the teeth were already defective before installation. But I want to have more opinion. Does anyone have a technical explanation on what may have caused the teeth tips of this new big chainwheel to come off?

Photos needed :?

Berk Bonebonce

berns wrote:

the mechanic showed me that there were 3 chipped teeth tips on the big chainwheel. two of which are side by side and the other chipped teeth opposite the two. ?

Did the mechanic also say that he had used 'elbow grease' in the assembly?

ColinJ

topdude wrote:

I am quite sure the teeth were already defective before installation. But I want to have more opinion. Does anyone have a technical explanation on what may have caused the teeth tips of this new big chainwheel to come off?

Photos needed :?

Follow the link in my previous post and I'm pretty certain you'll see the mistake he's made!

berns

hi all,

i'm sure it is not the design of Shimano that aids shifting.

please refer to the following pictures...





Does anyone have a technical explanation on what may have caused the teeth tips of this new big chainwheel to come off?

berns

hi all,

i'm sure it is not the design of Shimano that aids shifting.

please refer to the following pictures...





Does anyone have a technical explanation on what may have caused the teeth tips of this new big chainwheel to come off?

keef66

OK you're right; they aren't the differently profiled teeth to aid shifting!

If you believe your mechanic's account of what happened, possibilities are:

a) it's been dropped onto something hard
b) it's been bashed with something hard. Twice.
c) it's a manufacturing defect.

Under the sale of goods act your complaint is with whoever you bought it from. Whatever the reason for the missing bits, It's clearly not of merchantable quality so I'd have thought you're due a refund or a replacement

Buckled_Rims

I agree, this has been damaged. The first picture shows a "V" indent that looks like it's been dropped before any hardening of the cogs.

As per Keef66's advice, sale of goods act.

topdude

Good photos, clearly shows the teeth are damaged.
The advice above is good however if it was mine i would be inclined to tidy the teeth up with a fine file and forget about it. They are not going to cause any problems running or shifting.

softlad

Buckled_Rims wrote:

The first picture shows a "V" indent that looks like it's been dropped before any hardening of the cogs.

the bare aluminium surface is visible, so it is unlikely to have taken place before the hardening and anodising process - most likely after....

Buckled_Rims wrote:

As per Keef66's advice, sale of goods act.

I don't think the OP is from the UK, so I doubt if the sale of goods act is relevant.

keef66

Agreed; the alu showing through the finish suggests damage after manufacture, but it still could be the result of a manufacturing fault.

Just re-read the OP and realised I don't recognise "distributor (COMET Cycle Center) and/or dealer (UNISON-Binondo)" so I suspect you're right about Johnny Foreigner and the non-applicability of the sale of goods act.

keef66

Binondo appears to be in the Philippines!

Is there any chance this is a counterfeit item possibly from China? Bloody things are apparently endemic out there.

That might explain the non-existent warranty. You might try contacting Shimano and ask them how to tell a real one from a dodgy one. Stickers saying SHINAMO have been reported!

cougie

If it were me - I think I'd just tidy up the teeth with a file - as the poster above says - it won't affect anything and I'm not sure how you'll resolve the 'who damaged it' issue. Its a case of he says/she says.

keef66

But if it's a dodgy counterfeit one made of Chinese cheese????

Ben6899

keef66 wrote:

But if it's a dodgy counterfeit one made of Chinese cheese????

Led Rester?

Bar Shaker

First the facts...

Its a matter between you and who you paid for the cog, no one else. Its not a warranty matter as it hasn't been used and then failed.

It has been supplied to you in a damaged condition and you are perfectly within your rights to refuse it and demand that it is replaced with a perfect one.

Now for the guesswork...

Whoever fitted it has dropped the bike, perhaps more than once and has damaged the teeth.

berns

Buckled_Rims wrote:

I agree, this has been damaged. The first picture shows a "V" indent that looks like it's been dropped before any hardening of the cogs.

As per Keef66's advice, sale of goods act.

hi, what does "hardening of the cogs" mean? sorry, i'm really new to this

kettrinboy

i think he means "Hard Anodised", a hard coating applied to aluminium alloy to make it more durable, it wont stand up to being hit with something hard or dropped on a hard floor though.

berns

keef66 wrote:

Binondo appears to be in the Philippines!

Is there any chance this is a counterfeit item possibly from China? Bloody things are apparently endemic out there.

That might explain the non-existent warranty. You might try contacting Shimano and ask them how to tell a real one from a dodgy one. Stickers saying SHINAMO have been reported!

hi! you are right. Binondo is indeed in the Philippines. But I got it from a certified dealer. every consumer here is protected under the Consumer Protection Act. The dealer is indeed responsible to replace the item and claim the warranty in behalf of the consumer without additional cost to the consumer...

kettrinboy

berns wrote:

Buckled_Rims wrote:

I agree, this has been damaged. The first picture shows a "V" indent that looks like it's been dropped before any hardening of the cogs.

As per Keef66's advice, sale of goods act.

hi, what does "hardening of the cogs" mean? sorry, i'm really new to this

i think he means "hard anodised" a coating applied to alumunium alloys to make them more durable, it wont stand up to being hit with a hard object or being dropped on a hard floor though.