chain - mine or manufacturers break?

bluechair84

Spent some time giving the bike some new parts today (mmm sunny), took the chain off to replace the mech and came across all these breaks...


The chain is only a few months old, but of course I don't have the receipt. Now, before I email the shop, how likely is the condition of this down to me do you think? I've not seen this number of cracked links before.

teulk

I have never seen a chain like that before, well not on any of my 3 bikes. I have to admit that (unless you really abuse your bike) if my chain was like that id put it down to being faulty. Even if the shop didn't take it back i would certainly contact the manufacturer and get their view on it, even if you email the picture to them - who know it could be a fault with the manufacturing process.
Im sure thought there will be someone on here who has perhaps seen this before and could advise you better.

bluechair84

My sentiments too. I've never seen a chain do this before over a dozen bike and dozens of chains... Even if the shop aren't interested maybe Sram will be.

Strange thing is, they are all on one side too - none on the reverse.

bluechair84

Spoken to the shop, sounds like they've had a few do this before. They'll send it off to manufacturer if the mechanic agrees it's not user error.

Anonymous

I've had a boatload of SRAM chains do that. I won't be buying them again.

lesz42

not used many chains myself, but seem to prefer KMC?

nicklouse

seen many chains of all makes do that.

Yes KMC as well.

cavegiant

+1 on KMC.

SRAM 990 Cross step (not standard) is a very good chain, but KMC are just as good, cheaper and last longer.

njc69

just had my second sram chain snap on me since xmas . will definately be avoiding them in the future .

thel33ter

KMC for me all the way too, only ever snapped Sram chains.

shm_uk

Dammit, wish I'd not seen this thread.

I commuterised to work today.
I'm now going to be paranoid about my SRAM chain all the way home...

Uchiga

+1 for the KMC chains though i've nought had problems with my Shimano XT chains either. Also on a side note, i've never seen a chain that dirty before on any of my bikes!

Anonymous

Uchiga wrote:

i've never seen a chain that dirty before on any of my bikes!

I'm sorry, I thought this was the MTB section.

cooldad

I am now thoroughly ashamed of my dirty dirty chain, and will discipline it tonight. Probably been having a thing with the cassette.

(whip) "Dirty dirty chain" (whip whip)

The Rookie

Max Mosely eat your heart out!

Funny but I always thought the chain whip was for something else, you live and learn.

Simon

02gf74

nicklouse wrote:

seen many chains of all makes do that.

.

I've never seen that; what do you/we think causes that?

I can imagine running a bad chain line e.g. little ring on front with little ring on back could cause that?

Uchiga

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Uchiga wrote:

i've never seen a chain that dirty before on any of my bikes!

I'm sorry, I thought this was the MTB section.

It is but some of us obviously maintian out bikes...

After every race and any seriously long ride my chain comes straight off stuck in a pot of white spirit and left there to soak. Out comes my second chain and that's slapped on after the drive chain has been cleaned with a bit of GT85 and rag. Dirty chain is cleaned in white spirit dried and wiped with some GT85 and left in a nice clean sock ready for the next swap.

Simple. Clean chain every ride, no rust and the whole drive chain lasts longer.

Deputy Dawg

Uchiga wrote:

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Uchiga wrote:

i've never seen a chain that dirty before on any of my bikes!

I'm sorry, I thought this was the MTB section.

It is but some of us obviously maintian out bikes...

After every race and any seriously long ride my chain comes straight off stuck in a pot of white spirit and left there to soak. Out comes my second chain and that's slapped on after the drive chain has been cleaned with a bit of GT85 and rag. Dirty chain is cleaned in white spirit dried and wiped with some GT85 and left in a nice clean sock ready for the next swap.

Simple. Clean chain every ride, no rust and the whole drive chain lasts longer.

Doesn't that make walking a little uncomfortable?

Anonymous

Uchiga wrote:

It is but some of us obviously maintian out bikes...

Some of us have lives to lead and better things to do than worry about chains.
But, YOU clean your chain after every ride. Congratulations. If you believe that to be the "normal" case, then you're sadly misguided.
Some of us can actually ride and keep our feet on the pedals too :roll:

02gf74

Uchiga wrote:

yeehaamcgee wrote:

After every race and any seriously long ride my chain comes straight off stuck in a pot of white spirit and left there to soak.

I did that a couple of time in the past (ot after every long ride) but it is a bad idea, not just from own experinece but trawing the web.

The solvent, be it paraffin, petrol, white spirit remove the grease from inside the rollers and ti si quite hard to get fresh grease back into there; one techique is to boil the cain in grease so the grease disolves.

The result being the cain is gritty due to no grease but grit still left beind. I used spray on motorcycle lube that soldiies and does to some extent penetrate the links but still not great.

Nowadays I give the chain a wipe with cloth then spray the lube. wheher tis ethod is any better than yours or some other I do not now without haveing 2 bkes so the same rides in identical conditions.

If you are happy wth your way, then by no means see this as a citicism but carry on.

Anonymous

You've quoted the wrong dude, dude. That makes it look like I religiously clean my bike, which, frankly is litigation. Any more talk like that, ruining my reputation, and I'll see you in court

Northwind

02GF74 wrote:

I did that a couple of time in the past (ot after every long ride) but it is a bad idea, not just from own experinece but trawing the web.

So some say, my experience is totally different but that's cool.