Mavic (Wipperman?) 10 speed chain issues

jomoj
jomoj Posts: 777
edited April 2011 in Workshop
I recently converted a bike to 10 speed and bought the seemingly bargain priced Mavic chain from CRC. Unfortunately it just didn't seem to work with my 105 11-28 cassette, tending to catch on the larger sprockets and just be generally clunky up and down. I replaced it with a KMC chain and the difference is marked, smoother shifting and no more clattering shifts.

Measuring the 2 chains side by side, the KMC is a fraction of a mm narrower so I assume that's what causes the problems. Perhaps it would be fine on a close ratio cassette but it doesn't seem to like the wider sprocket to sprocket jumps.

Has anyone else experienced this? It seems a bit odd to sell the chain as compatable with all 10 speed systems when it doesn't seem to be.

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Chain is probably the slightly wider Campagnolo 6.6mm 10-speed width rather than the Shimano 6.5mm. You can also experience problems with the Connex chain-link if fitted upside down
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • da goose
    da goose Posts: 284
    Mavic chains I have used with shimano were ace, loads and loads of wear, very well proofed from weather (esp winter roads).
    Does need a deft hand setting up and a tad more finicky depending on use.
    Always go with kmc now.
  • laguna
    laguna Posts: 24
    Using a Mavic chain on a 10 speed 11-36 cassette with no problems at all.
  • jomoj
    jomoj Posts: 777
    Weird. Did it need a break in period or was it fine out of the bag? And which brand of cassette? I've been fettling index gears since thumbshifters were in vogue but I just couldn't get this combination to work. By contrast the kmc chain gives a lovely change and may sway me from my previous SRAM allegiance.
  • laguna
    laguna Posts: 24
    Sram cassette, Deore shadow mech and Ultegra shifters with a 39-53 chainset (real mish mash) shifts perfectly, easy to set up and I too have been fettling since thumby days. It was fine first trip out, done about 300 miles now and still great.
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    I think I may have been having similar issues with a Mavic chain. Had one on my bike that was fine, but the second one I bought has never shifted particularly well. I suspected sticky cables and bent dérailleur hanger, but have now ruled those out. I've just replaced the chain on my best bike and transferred the SRAM chain on that to the bike that had the Mavic chain on. I'll find out tomorrow if the shifting problems were down to the Mavic chain....
    More problems but still living....
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    First ride with SRAM 1050 chain yesterday and shifting is definitely better than with the Mavic chain.
    More problems but still living....
  • jomoj
    jomoj Posts: 777
    laguna wrote:
    Sram cassette, Deore shadow mech and Ultegra shifters with a 39-53 chainset (real mish mash) shifts perfectly, easy to set up and I too have been fettling since thumby days. It was fine first trip out, done about 300 miles now and still great.

    Wonder if SRAM cassettes are slightly more compatible...? Anyway, I tried the mavic chain on my 9 speed bike and it was fine so I'll keep it for a spare

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