Rear derailler snapped on 7 month old bike - warranty?

cookeeemonster

So this happened on way home today...coming to a stop at a mini roundabout...crash bang WTF?!?!



Took out a spoke too

So I bought the bike in August, it's a bianchi via nirone Sora. Evans said they need to inspect it to make sure it hasn't been crashed (it hasn't) and that it hasn't been vandalised!?!?!?

What do people think? Is this a relatively straightforward warranty issue? Anyone have experience with Evans or bianchi warranty claims?

MattyDeez

Definitely a warranty job! Thats sheered off!

cougie

More likely that the gear was out of alignment and you've shifted it into the wheel ? The bike looks like its done some miles ?

TakeTurns

It's not a straightforward warranty issue...

By looking at it, I can immediately tell what has happened. The chain has jumped off the cassette while you were shifting upwards, along with it, the derailleur has gone into the spokes.

It's either because the derailleur hanger was bent which may have been from a crash, hard knock or a kick. It could also have been that someone played with the H and L adjustments on the mech and that it was badly aligned. Sometimes...it's just better to leave the 'dork disc' on, it prevents issues like this from occurring. That's why you have no chance of claiming anything from Bianchi.

You're really going to struggle with this one. It's not a manufacture fault. If Evans fix it for free (ex parts) you'll be lucky. Other than that, if you've had it serviced recently, you could try to claim that the issue should have been picked up/fixed beforehand.

ShutUpLegs

cougie wrote:

More likely that the gear was out of alignment and you've shifted it into the wheel ? The bike looks like its done some miles ?

May be worth cleaning it before taking it in.

cookeeemonster

It definately wasn't bent, and this happened at he end of an 18 mile journey so something should have happened before this if there was a problem?

Guess ill just have to wait and see. It's done a couple thousand miles but this shouldn't have happened surely? the chain has never jumped off the cassette before, though I have adjusted the front derailler high limit screw to stop he chain coming off there

slowbike

It does look like it over shifted - you can see the chain between cassette and wheel. I take it you were changing gear when it happened.?
Surprised the hanger didn't break first though. Or doesn't it have a sacrificial hanger?
Luckily the kit isn't overly expensive but fitting may cost a bit. The wheel will need a repair too...

jscl

I had this issue on my Dogma a few weeks ago. Was hammering a recently added chain and new cassette and sheared the thing right off at high speed. Scary stuff.



Not a warranty job. Just an issue with how the gearing was lined up.

cookeeemonster

Damn...more freaking money I gotta spend!!! Does it never end?!?!?

slowbike

CookeeeMonster wrote:

Damn...more freaking money I gotta spend!!! Does it never end?!?!?

No ....

cookeeemonster

Thanks for all your replies by the way, at least it's prepared me for the worst

marcusjb

TakeTurns wrote:

You're really going to struggle with this one. It's not a manufacture fault. If Evans fix it for free (ex parts) you'll be lucky. Other than that, if you've had it serviced recently, you could try to claim that the issue should have been picked up/fixed beforehand.

I think that just about sums it up. I am afraid that doesn't look like a warranty claim unless it has been serviced very very recently.

You are unlucky to have snapped the rear mech rather than the replaceable hanger. But, on the flip side, you're pretty lucky to have taken out only 1 spoke. I have seen the aftermath of someone putting their mech into their wheel and knocking half a dozen spokes out.

lef

if you havent adjusted the limiter screws then in my view it is a clear warranty issue. My understanding is the retailer must prove it isnt a manufacturer fault (or an assembly issue) and not for you to prove you havent crashed it / adjusted yourself. I had a slightly similar issue with Evans a couple of years ago. After a load of hassle in store, a quick call to head office and I had a phone call from an apologetic store manager within half an hour. Stand your ground and I'm sure they'll sort it.

neal1984

lef wrote:

if you havent adjusted the limiter screws then in my view it is a clear warranty issue. My understanding is the retailer must prove it isnt a manufacturer fault (or an assembly issue) and not for you to prove you havent crashed it / adjusted yourself. I had a slightly similar issue with Evans a couple of years ago. After a load of hassle in store, a quick call to head office and I had a phone call from an apologetic store manager within half an hour. Stand your ground and I'm sure they'll sort it.

My thoughts exactly. I'm sure they have to prove no manufacturing fault was present which would be more hassle for them than just replacing it and seeing you on your way!

Mikey41

lef wrote:

My understanding is the retailer must prove it isnt a manufacturer fault (or an assembly issue) and not for you to prove you havent crashed it / adjusted yourself.

Within 6 months old, it would be for the retailer to prove it isn't a defect. At 7 months old, it is for the customer to prove it is a manufacturing defect. If Evans want to take it that far.

Clean the bike up before you take it in, let them look at it and see what they say.

SwainsL

If the rear mech was that badly adjusted or the mech hanger was bent; you would've experienced this issue well before now.

cougie

Probably a combination - shifting into a low gear and maybe flexing the wheel a bit more than usual. It could be that the wheel was out of true and a wonky spoke connected with it.

It's easy to fix yourself though. Allen keys spoke tool, chain tool and the right spoke and new mech.

me-109

Doubt you'll get anywhere with a warranty claim. Evans will need to see the bike, take pictures and send these (and potentially the mech) to the bike manufacturer/distributor for them to assess. Since this is a component, not the frame, then they would need to make that judgement and/or engage with the manufacturer to obtain (or recharge) the part to them. The manufacturer may want the part back to determine how it failed in case they have a manufacturing issue. After seven months the shop will not bear any directly 'liability' for replacement. Under the scenario presented they would most likely claim 'operator error' or road surface causing chain slap, which resulted in the chain or jockey wheel assembly coming into contact with the spokes.

zx6man

and if you have to buy a new mech, spend a few more pennies and get a 105 :-)

fevmeister

Thats a mess!

Monty Dog

For a warranty issue you'd have to demonstrate it was down to defective materials or assembly - as you've had the bike for 7 months and if it hasn't been serviced by Evans....

Their likely response is in terms of poor maintenance / user error - jamming the shifter hard over with a poorly adjusted rear mech results in the mech hitting the spokes with these consequences

ScreaminWargasm

When you get it sorted, let us all know how you got on with trying to get it covered under warranty.

As already suggested though, clean it up before taking it in as it doesn't look like its been cared for in that pic.

Good luck though.

cookeeemonster

ScreaminWargasm wrote:

When you get it sorted, let us all know how you got on with trying to get it covered under warranty.

As already suggested though, clean it up before taking it in as it doesn't look like its been cared for in that pic.

Good luck though.

was taken after an 18 mile ride in the rain

cookeeemonster

so basically, no it isn't covered by warranty - my fault 100%...

...due to it been mostly covered in crap the last couple of weeks from the weather, I hadn't noticed the slightly rusty cassette or the slightly dry chain...and so no, it didnt look like it had been cared for even though I apply wet lube every 2 weeks after cleaning...but obviously, I'm not putting enough on or doing it right

so basically I was told that this would've caused shifting problems that would've put extra (unnecessary) stress on the derailler and which caused the snap.

Dont know if this is totally true but I couldn't argue about the lack of lube on the chain...what a d*ck I am!!!

Back to school for me...

So anyway...gotta pay for new derailler, rear mech and labour. They wanted me to get a new chain to replace the 2 week old one but I said no...and they also tried to get me to buy a new wheel until I made them take a proper look at it and now they say it'll be ok to repair.

Also they recommended a new cassette, and told me I should replace the cassette every time I replace a chain - I thought it was every 2 or 3 chains? What do you think? They're gonna clean and lube it all up before I get it back friday and I didnt want to pay even more for something I might not need but...????

slowbike

rust like that doesn't appear after just 18 miles ...

I wouldn't think a slightly rusty chain or cassette would cause the derallieur to overshift....

Problem is if the chain has worn then it will quickly wear the cassette - so putting a new chain on a worn cassette will wear the new chain out quickly - but it does depend how worn the cassette is ...

cookeeemonster

Slowbike wrote:

rust like that doesn't appear after just 18 miles ...

I wouldn't think a slightly rusty chain or cassette would cause the derallieur to overshift....

Problem is if the chain has worn then it will quickly wear the cassette - so putting a new chain on a worn cassette will wear the new chain out quickly - but it does depend how worn the cassette is ...

no you're right - but it has happened over the last couple of weeks as it wasn't rusty when I put the new chain on. It's not covered in rust or anything, but enough to be noticable when you clean the crap off and look properly...which I havent the last couple of weeks

slowbike

then it's likely to be surface rust and I wouldn't worry about it - other than a good clean & lube ...

The rust is probably a result of being left outside a lot?

ScreaminWargasm

I'm no expert but I can't see how a dirty or rusty chain / cassette could cause the rear derailleur to over shoot into the spokes. It must have taken a knock or something and as a result when you've gone into a large rear cog, its got caught.

If I was riding daily in the crappy English weather we have had recently, I'd be cleaning and re lubing as much as I could to prevent any additional wear.

Typical Evans service trying to sell you a new wheel though!

philwint

CookeeeMonster wrote:

So anyway...gotta pay for new derailler, rear mech and labour. They wanted me to get a new chain to replace the 2 week old one but I said no...and they also tried to get me to buy a new wheel until I made them take a proper look at it and now they say it'll be ok to repair.

Also they recommended a new cassette, and told me I should replace the cassette every time I replace a chain - I thought it was every 2 or 3 chains? What do you think? They're gonna clean and lube it all up before I get it back friday and I didnt want to pay even more for something I might not need but...????

Why not bite the bullet and learn to do this stuff yourself (it's very basic)

Buy a new rear mech @ around £30 e.g http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-105-5701-10-speed-rear-derailleur/

Fit it.

remove your chain and cassette and give 'em a good clean.

Ok replacing the spoke might be too much for a noob - but it really isn't that hard. But probably let the bike shop do it.

In my opinion the act of engaging with the mechanical side, getting a feel for how it all works, and importantly - learning to set everything up. Will probably prevent something similar happening again.

A bike isn't a fit and forget machine, you need to be continually tinkering with it to keep it running optimally, so the sooner you start the better.

On you lubeing routine - I suspect we are all different, but my chain/cassette gets a wipe down with a rag after every ride, then a re-lube and second wipe down. Then when i can be bothered - say evey month or so I might get the de-greaser out and give it a thorough going over.

cookeeemonster

Slowbike wrote:

then it's likely to be surface rust and I wouldn't worry about it - other than a good clean & lube ...

The rust is probably a result of being left outside a lot?

not so much but I do ride all weather but dont clean it before I put it in the shed...so in future I might try a thicker wet lube or just clean it once a week rather than once a fortnight if its been raining

iPete

What philwint said, perfect opportunity to learn some basic maintenance...