breaking chains

Lapierre t 400

Yesterday I fitted a brand new shimano xtr and I went out today for about 3 hrs.
Going up a hill said chain snapped


my question is:Is it normal that a chain should snap after 2 hrs of riding

stu8975

Yes if you haven't reconnected it properly with a new pin. 1. use a missing link to reconnect. 2. use KMC chains . Every Shimano chain I've had XT/XTR has snapped on me at some point....3 years of KMC, not 1 issue.

Lapierre t 400

I used a sram magic link to connect it.
sounds like kmc from now on

dennisn

FWIW I don't think you can just assume that the Shimano chain itself was the cause of your problem. Just because someone chimes in with "I had a Shimano chain break once"
doesn't prove or disprove anything. I have used all brands of chains and all brands of
master links without problems for years. Because it was a new chain and just installed(by you) I'm going to cast my vote for "operator / installer error". It is remotely possible that you came accross a "bad" chain but my money bets not.

paramart

i must have had 2 bad shimano chains on the trot then, both snapped one fitted by me the other by a lbs, sram for the last 4 yrs not a problem, the second one snapped 3 times and never on the link supplied to join it or the replacement pins used to repair it,

Northwind

If it was fitted with a powerlink and snapped somewhere else, obviously it's not fitting error. it could be operator error but most chains are pretty resistant even to that.

bobgfish

I've seen three snapped chains in the last 2 months. They has all been fitted recently. Some didn't last very long at all. Different bikes and different people. One common thing. All Shimano.

Lapierre t 400

I still think 2 hours on an XTR chain isn't much especially at their price and that the link that snapped was nowhere near the 3 links I took out.
That said,I seem to eat chains:3 sram 951s in a year,2 XT chains in 6 months and an XTR in 2 hrs.

02gf74

interesting, I've been through oodles of Shimano chains and cannot remember having a problem with any (although I did have one come apart late last year).

I've recently become a convert to KMC chains since they seem to be better vsaluye, come in a nice gold collur and use quick-link so no faffing about with break away pins. not covered enough miles on themn to know if they fare better .... but 2 hours on a XTR is piss poor.

cooldad

Lapierre t 400 wrote:

I still think 2 hours on an XTR chain isn't much especially at their price and that the link that snapped was nowhere near the 3 links I took out.
That said,I seem to eat chains:3 sram 951s in a year,2 XT chains in 6 months and an XTR in 2 hrs.

Either you are unbelievably strong, or doing something wrong. Over 40 years of riding I've never snapped a chain.

edhornby

KMC for me every time (and I'm sticking with 9speed for as long as I can on my mountain bike)

Hoopdriver

I second what Coodad says. Something is funny there. I too have ridden more than 40 years without ever snapping a chain.

Lapierre t 400

I must be unbelievably stong
This is the last time I buy a Shimano chain ,the next will be a KMC.

ricardo_smooth

I broke a KMC chain (shock horror!) but still will buy a KMC again, i just think we are quick to blame the manufacturer half the time and not just take it as bad luck/user abuse.

Lapierre t 400

i hardly think 2 hrs of riding is user abuse
Anyway matter is now fixed

bobgfish

I personally think there is a bad batch of Shinano chains about. I've used 9 speed MTB ones for years and never had an issue. I've seen loads of the 10 speeds and had one go on my road bike. It had cracked links in three places around the chain. I managed to break it with my hands. I told all the riding buddies and a week later someone had the same thing. I've seen another one break this week. I'm checking my shimano chains once a week now. In all cases the chains had only done 1000Km and been on a bike for under a month.

ricardo_smooth

Lapierre t 400 wrote:

i hardly think 2 hrs of riding is user abuse
Anyway matter is now fixed

not talking about yours as that's clearly not....but just in general

dennisn

Hoopdriver wrote:

I second what Coodad says. Something is funny there. I too have ridden more than 40 years without ever snapping a chain.

I'll chime in again and 3rd. that thought. Who are these people who keep snapping chains? And what are they doing wrong? :? :?

Northwind

Buying faulty Shimano chains from the sound of it

I've snapped a chain, wasn't changing gear, wasn't fitted wrong (KMC with a powerlink so not really any fitting required), wasn't worn out (I replaced the broken link and it did another couple of months). I was pedalling quite hard up a hill and pop. Broken a few chains over the years but that's the only 9 speed one. Sometimes stuff snaps. Some stuff snaps more than others.