Ultegra rear mech snapped on me

mr.b-campag

Out for a ride earlier, just got to the crest of a hill that I'd rode up at moderate power when I heard a horrible snapping noise and saw my Ultegra 6800 rear mech now on top of my cassette. On closer inspection the mech had simply snapped right off close to where it was attached to the frame. The mech was 2.5 years old and hadn't seen a massive amount of use (hardly used at all the first year, and then averaged about ten hours a week until now), it was professionally installed on the bike it came with (and not tinkered with subsequently) and has always worked flawlessly. I was in a middling gear on the mech so no possibility of it somehow having hit the spokes if the limit screws weren't right (not that I'd touched them or had reason to think I should). I spoke to the mechanic in Decathlon (where I bought it from) and he said it was the first Ultegra he'd seen this happen to, but not the first he'd heard of. Unfortunately it is out of warranty but feels to me like it potentially falls under the Sale of Goods Act. Would be interested to hear what people think, and who I should contact to try and get some compensation and a replacement.

Thanks for reading.

B

cougie

Something caught in it ? If it's lasted you 2.5 years I don't see how it wasn't for for purpose ?

MiddleRinger

Did the derailleur itself snap? Or the derailleur hanger?

Do you think you could post up a photo so we could see exactly where it broke. I doubt it'd be covered under the Sale of Goods Act as you've had it for over two years and it served it's purpose fine, they'd probably put it down to general wear and tear if you tried. It's pretty much a consumable these days.

On the plus side you didn't fall off or smash up your frame when it happened. As for a replacement a new Ultegra mech is dirt cheap and easy to install.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-ultegra-6800-rear-derailleur

:-)

StillGoing

Odd as the weakest point is supposed to be the hanger, not the derailleur. Have you been looking after it or simply left it to get covered in crud and slowly corrode? Has the bolt securing it to the hanger snapped or the body of the derailleur? It certainly wouldn't be covered by the sale of goods act.

grenw

Only time I've ever seen that sort of thing it was the hanger that snapped and was because of the chain. A side plate had come away and had jammed in the cage. Uphill climb on the mtb was only going to end one way.

redvision

Shouldn't happen and shimano claim it can't happen, as mech hanger would/should always break first.

I suspect they will want the derailleur back to inspect but can you post some pics on here first?

cgfw201

sounds like a snapped hanger to me? they are designed to break.

darkhairedlord

should of stuck to campag

mr.b-campag

should have stuck to campag

tell me about it! I'll post some pics tonight. I'm not that hopeful of getting a replacement tbh, but the money is not the issue: this is dangerous and, as I said, the mechanic says he is aware of this as an issue on Ultegra mechs.

To confirm it was the main body of the mech above where it attached to the hanger that snapped straight through, not the hanger. The mech was cleaned and well maintained; this should not have happened, but it did. I'm really happy it didn't cause me to come off and I'd like it to serve as a warning to others. If it is 'reasonable' to assume that a rear mech can only handle (roughly) 750hrs when well maintained (which I most definitely don't agree with, but at least I could use it to inform my purchasing and replacement decisions) then Shimano should state this to stop someone getting hurt.

svetty

FFS.......

joey54321

Mr.B-Campag wrote:

should have stuck to campag

tell me about it! I'll post some pics tonight. I'm not that hopeful of getting a replacement tbh, but the money is not the issue: this is dangerous and, as I said, the mechanic says he is aware of this as an issue on Ultegra mechs.

To confirm it was the main body of the mech above where it attached to the hanger that snapped straight through, not the hanger. The mech was cleaned and well maintained; this should not have happened, but it did. I'm really happy it didn't cause me to come off and I'd like it to serve as a warning to others. If it is 'reasonable' to assume that a rear mech can only handle (roughly) 750hrs when well maintained (which I most definitely don't agree with, but at least I could use it to inform my purchasing and replacement decisions) then Shimano should state this to stop someone getting hurt.

As discussed it mostly like wasn't actually the mechs 'fault', something will have got stuck or jammed it up and it snapping is no more dangerous than the hanger snapping, either way, it's going to cause a problem. I wouldn't blame Shimano for the issue, which is also why I highly doubt you'll get anything from them.

mamil314

I don't think you'd get anywhere with claims, having in mind that, earlier, you rode with gear cable snapped - it might have gotten damaged then.

darkhairedlord

my money's on a poorly fitted pin on the chain allowing a plate to open up and go the wrong side of the pulley cage plate.
Either that or simply a stone or twig has got between the chain and the pulley. either way, it's pretty standard fare.

mr.b-campag

having in mind that, earlier, you rode with gear cable snapped - it might have gotten damaged then.

Not sure where I said that? (And if I did, it was a mistake). I'm slightly surprised most people think something in the mech (and I didn't see anything in there) could cause the mech to fail in this particular manner, but I'm no engineer.

Agreed I'm unlikely to get much back from Shimano on this, but just thought I'd put it out there.

I'll post the pics later.

mamil314

Right here bro
viewtopic.php?f=40004&t=13085039

amrushton

darkhairedlord wrote:

Either that or simply a stone or twig has got between the chain and the pulley. either way, it's pretty standard fare.

Happened to me with a Chorus rear mech. Wear and tear/accidental damage whatever. All I know is it happens at the exact point you are furthest away from any help. i made my bike a single speed that day.

joey54321

mamil314 wrote:

Right here bro
viewtopic.php?f=40004&t=13085039

Lol, busted!

peat

Mr.B-Campag wrote:

I'm slightly surprised most people think something in the mech (and I didn't see anything in there) could cause the mech to fail in this particular manner, but I'm no engineer.

If you were an engineer, you'd know that stuff breaks in weird and wonderful ways ALL the time.

mr.b-campag

The internet is a funny place:

mamil314 wrote:
Right here bro
viewtopic.php?f=40004&t=13085039

Lol, busted!

Good sleuthing I guess, but I don't have some particular agenda. The cable split inside the shifter quite a while back so it didn't even occur to me that it is relevant here. Whatever makes your day I guess :roll:

Thank you to those who have given sensible responses.

joey54321

Mr.B-Campag wrote:

The internet is a funny place:


Good sleuthing I guess, but I don't have some particular agenda. The cable split inside the shifter quite a while back so it didn't even occur to me that it is relevant here. Whatever makes your day I guess :roll:

Thank you to those who have given sensible responses.

You're welcome.

davidof

Could be a manufacturing issue, can you post pictures of the break?

mr.b-campag

Took some pics last night, then realised I need to upload them somewhere. Will try and get them up today.

darkhairedlord

Mr.B-Campag wrote:

Took some pics last night, then realised I need to upload them somewhere. Will try and get them up today.

cougie

One of those manufacturing defects that take two and a half years to show up ? Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

darkhairedlord

cougie wrote:

One of those manufacturing defects that take two and a half years to show up ? Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

c'mon he said he photographed it yesterday, i'm sure it'll show up soon!

mr.b-campag

hopefully that works. shoes are for sale btw.

mr.b-campag

ok maybe just the url?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/157102859@N03/

milemuncher1

I’ve had a mech contact the spokes before now, because of a bent hanger, the damage having been inflicted by some clumsy twunt on a train, or whilst the bike has been parked up somewhere ( by my reckoning). I’ve seen pillocks on trains with great big clunky mountain bikes, shoving them up against road bikes, and I’ve seen heavy bikes, swinging into road bikes, because the people putting the bikes into the racks seem not to be able to read the simple instructions. I’ve also seen people shoving big heavy cases in between bikes, in train racks before. If I actually see it happen I do go and have a word with them.

mr.b-campag

Thanks Milemuncher (on behalf of cyclists everywhere). I was riding in the middle of the block, so not the issue here unless that happened at an earlier date to weaken things (which it hadn't to the best of my knowledge).

Mad_Malx

I think I'd agree that was a manufacturing defect rather than fair wear & tear.
I doubt your supplier or Shimano are going to take my word for it though.

photonic69

Hmmm. That is one snapped derailleur all right! That alloy should never have broken before the hanger snapped or bent. Would be impossible to tell from a photo what the cause is. Might be corrosion around the hinge or a very sharp impact or manufacturing fault.

Send it back to Shimano. Buy a new one while you wait. If they say you can claim then get some money back. If not you have bought yourself a new hanger. Same result -you can keep on riding.