Brand new chainset had loose bolts

chatlow

Just getting some thoughts to see if anything can be done in this situation. I have just bought a SRAM Rival 11 speed chainset to replace mine. Minimal instructions as usual but I managed to fit it fine and it's seemed okay for my first 30 min ride.

My next ride, I double checked it was on tight still (which it was), before setting off. A mile into my ride, something felt wrong going uphill. I checked and found that 3 of the 5 chainring bolts were no longer there, the small ring looked loose. Gutted because I think that going up hill and putting some pressure on the ring that was loose has bent it very slightly too.

I got home carefully in the big ring and also found that the remaining non-hidden bolt was also loose.

I contacted the retailer (a hugely popular online one) and they have emailed back just to say that all bike bolts should be checked thoroughly before riding a bike. They have since come back again (after I asked for a manager to call me) and said the same thing but as a good will, they would offer 15% off another chainset.

In hindsight I wish I had obviously checked all bolts (I am usually a bit OCD about this anyway), but given it was brand new and I have bought half a dozen chainsets in the past, I've always expected/presumed the retailer checks the product before selling to the consumer.

Do you think anything can be done in this situation?

Positive and negative feedback welcome :-)

shiznit76

I would have thought that as the item was faulty then they are to blame and need to reimburse you fully. Chainring bolts shouldn't just fall out

Vino'sGhost

I think if you chose to assemble or maintain your bike yourself, its incumbent on you to check things over and not assume. Like you say, youre normally ocd about this. a quick inspection would have highlighted the issue, it might not even have been a new chainset but now the chance to identify that and return the product has gone.

Of course many might say its not your fault would expect to be tight, should have instructions bleet bleet blame blame.

Im surprised it wasnt tight though.

Cant you just put some new chainring bolts in there and have done with it? replacing the chainset with a 15% discount seems like insult to injury.

chatlow

thanks both. The small ring has bent slightly which is making it harder to fit replacement bolts. Will be possible I am sure, but still waiting on a reply from the retailer.

Will see what they come back with, if anything

Ben6899

You'll be able to bend the chain ring back into shape quite easily. Vice, adjustable spanner, mallet.

Check against a flat surface or with a dial gauge.

keef66

Must admit I've fitted a few chainsets, both new and second hand, and never checked the tightness of the chainring bolts first. Never had one come loose either. In fact getting the bloody things undone after a couple of years can be an issue. I copperslip all mine now.

I think if you buy a chainset with the chainrings already fitted, you should have a realistic expectation that the bolts have been correctly tightened, no? Or if they are in the habit of assembling the things only finger-tight at the factory (why??) there should be a bloody great warning sticker to that effect.

I think your large online retailer should at the very least replace the bent ring and supply a new set of bolts.

Vino'sGhost

keef66 wrote:

Must admit I've fitted a few chainsets, both new and second hand, and never checked the tightness of the chainring bolts first. Never had one come loose either. In fact getting the bloody things undone after a couple of years can be an issue. I copperslip all mine now.

I think if you buy a chainset with the chainrings already fitted, you should have a realistic expectation that the bolts have been correctly tightened, no? Or if they are in the habit of assembling the things only finger-tight at the factory (why??) there should be a bloody great warning sticker to that effect.

I think your large online retailer should at the very least replace the bent ring and supply a new set of bolts.

Id tend to agree, i suspect this might have been an exchange thats been recycled.

akh

I've build up bikes before and I can't say I've ever checked chainring bolts on a brand new chainset. Best practice maybe, but I think it's reasonable to assume the factory installed bolts would be acceptably tight. Did the chainset come with an instruction manual, does that advise you check?

If you feel the item is faulty, paid more than £100, and bought it on a credit card, you might be able to claim the money back with it this way:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopp ... purchases/

akh

Having said that, you can buy individual inner rings cheaply enough. Might be easier...

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/search/?ter ... 0chainring

**Please be aware I know very little about SRAM chainsets. I'm not saying those chainrings are suitable, they're just a guide price**

Replacement chainring bolts (Truvativ are a SRAM brand, the same ones are on the SRAM website):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Truvativ-Chain ... B01N8WXQY5

They install with allen keys front and back, much better than the ones that use those stupid chainring bolt tools, and the black will match the chainset.

barongreenback

The legal test is always what is reasonable. I think that buying a (presumably reasonably pricey) chains implies that the bolts will be done up to the correct torque at the factory unless explicitly stated otherwise. If you want to really pursue this, threaten small claims court. Gut feel is that they will settle instead. But be prepared to follow through on your threat though - have just done this with a scumbag airline trying to get out of paying compensation for a delayed flight. Paid up when they knew I was serious. I think you have a decent chance of success if you can be bothered with the hassle.

redvision

I wouldn't let this go OP. If they are saying you must check the torque of the chainset bolts before installation and use then it must be the same for every component. Which for most it isn't. So don't let it go.

I doubt you will get your money back but you may get the replacement ring and bolts or maybe even a full exchange.
Just remind them how dangerous the chainset they supplied was, and how loyal you are to their shop (If you buy lots from them that is).

cougie

Back in the 80s I lost a few chainring bolts. Not had a problem for decades though. But it's three bolts. You've already spent more time on it than its worth.

Vino'sGhost

cougie wrote:

Back in the 80s I lost a few chainring bolts. Not had a problem for decades though. But it's three bolts. You've already spent more time on it than its worth.

THIS

First.Aspect

If this was a complete bike with assembly instructions that did not include these bolts, you might have a point. Similarly, if a retailer had installed it for you.

But for spare parts, would the retailer be expected to remove the item from the box and adjust the bolts? With a torque wrench? Would it need to be a SRAM approved one? Who would be at fault if there was damage or if this wasn't done correctly? How long would the chain ring bolt tightening be guaranteed for?

I think you have been slightly unlucky, but I would side with the retailer here.

Chalk it down to experience and move on.

keef66

Nobody is suggesting the retailer should have checked the bolts. Unless it was a returned item, in which case maybe they should have before returning it to stock. If it was a brand new packaged item then the manufacturer was clearly at fault.

If you buy a component for a car, an alternator or a starter motor say, would you be expected to check that the thing had been correctly assembled before fitting it? No; you'd just whip it out of the box and fit it to the car. And if it fell apart within a week you'd be making a warranty claim.

Can't see how a pre-assembled chainset should be any different.

barongreenback

First Aspect wrote:

If this was a complete bike with assembly instructions that did not include these bolts, you might have a point. Similarly, if a retailer had installed it for you.

But for spare parts, would the retailer be expected to remove the item from the box and adjust the bolts? With a torque wrench? Would it need to be a SRAM approved one? Who would be at fault if there was damage or if this wasn't done correctly? How long would the chain ring bolt tightening be guaranteed for?

I think you have been slightly unlucky, but I would side with the retailer here.

Chalk it down to experience and move on.

The retailer would not be expected to check the torque but by selling a complete chainset, they are legally responsible for replacement within a reasonable period even if it's a manufacturing issue. Plenty of unscrupulous retailers try to force people to go back to the manufacturer when it should be dealt with by the seller.

If the large online retailer to which the OP refers is the behemoth known as Wiggle, I have found them to be slippery unless it's their own brand stuff. To the extent that I will no longer shop with them. Endless rounds of twitter, calls to unlisted numbers etc. to get them to do the right thing.

First.Aspect

Well the rings are designed to be removable so it is not a manufacturing defect.

I think this comes down to reasonable expectations. Last two times I bought a chain set I checked the bolts. Last time I had a loose chain ring bolt it made progressively more annoying and worrying noises well before even one fell out.

Let me ask you this, if you bolted on a new set of brakes, which came with cartridge pads installed, would you check to make sure they were tight before descending a steep hill?

Same principle.

timothyw

Brake cartridges don't need to be tight to not fall out - they need to have been put on the right way though.

Frankly I would expect at the least some free chainring bolts (and that would probably be enough to satisfy me - I imagine replacing the bolts will straighten out the chainrings) - 15% off a new chainset is pretty laughable as an offer.

I seem to recall this happening to me too a few years back, think it might have been a truvativ chainset so perhaps a common thing with sram/truvativ? I could be misrembering. It certainly didn't happen within two rides. Either way I would normally check the chainring bolts, and check they are greased (as drilling them out is fairly easy but also not the most cost effective way to perform bike maintenance....)

Still, chainsets aren't cheap, it's reasonable to expect them to come properly greased and tightened.

Matthewfalle

How about returning that chainset as faulty then ordering a new one with the refunded money from the original and the discount?

First.Aspect

TimothyW wrote:

Brake cartridges don't need to be tight to not fall out - they need to have been put on the right way though.

Frankly I would expect at the least some free chainring bolts (and that would probably be enough to satisfy me - I imagine replacing the bolts will straighten out the chainrings) - 15% off a new chainset is pretty laughable as an offer.

I seem to recall this happening to me too a few years back, think it might have been a truvativ chainset so perhaps a common thing with sram/truvativ? I could be misrembering. It certainly didn't happen within two rides. Either way I would normally check the chainring bolts, and check they are greased (as drilling them out is fairly easy but also not the most cost effective way to perform bike maintenance....)

Still, chainsets aren't cheap, it's reasonable to expect them to come properly greased and tightened.

I was thinking about the things the pads sit in actually. I guess cartridge isn't the right word, but I don't know what they are called... anyhow.... As I see it, you made an assumption, not entirely unreasonable, but wrong nonetheless. The vendor hasn't done anything wrong themselves, and the goods aren't defective. So why should they offer you anything at all? That's how I'd see it going if push came to shove.

The vendor has however offered you a good will gesture of 15% off a chainset. For them having a happy customer is better in the long run. Since it is what you would prefer and cheaper for them, why not ask for some chainring bolts?

Alternatively you could take MFs advice and try fraud.

timothyw

I'm not the original poster.

Matthewfalle

First Aspect wrote:

TimothyW wrote:

Brake cartridges don't need to be tight to not fall out - they need to have been put on the right way though.

Frankly I would expect at the least some free chainring bolts (and that would probably be enough to satisfy me - I imagine replacing the bolts will straighten out the chainrings) - 15% off a new chainset is pretty laughable as an offer.

I seem to recall this happening to me too a few years back, think it might have been a truvativ chainset so perhaps a common thing with sram/truvativ? I could be misrembering. It certainly didn't happen within two rides. Either way I would normally check the chainring bolts, and check they are greased (as drilling them out is fairly easy but also not the most cost effective way to perform bike maintenance....)

Still, chainsets aren't cheap, it's reasonable to expect them to come properly greased and tightened.

I was thinking about the things the pads sit in actually. I guess cartridge isn't the right word, but I don't know what they are called... anyhow.... As I see it, you made an assumption, not entirely unreasonable, but wrong nonetheless. The vendor hasn't done anything wrong themselves, and the goods aren't defective. So why should they offer you anything at all? That's how I'd see it going if push came to shove.

The vendor has however offered you a good will gesture of 15% off a chainset. For them having a happy customer is better in the long run. Since it is what you would prefer and cheaper for them, why not ask for some chainring bolts?

Alternatively you could take MFs advice and try fraud.

well its not fraud really.

you have explained its faulty (in your eyes) and they know you feel this way.

you return it as faulty (in your eyes).

if they accept it back it is their perogative.

they issue refund, you buy new chainset with discount.

so long as you are transparent about it all no problem.

you won't be able to do anything without anyone knowing because there will be notes all over the system attached to the order.

chatlow

Glad I am not the only one who hasn't checked chainring bolt torque before fitting a new crank and expect that they would be tight from factory.

Anyway, I didn't hear back from customer services since Tues (no, not Wiggle btw - the other one). I asked them to call me 3 times - instead they have escalated to a team lead in the warranty dept. In a nutshell, he said that he agrees with his colleague and that I could send back to them and they can discuss with the manufacturer and thinks hugely unlikely I will get anywhere. They avoided all my other questions.

As for 'just replace the 3 bolts' and don't waste anymore time- initially the issue was that the small ring had bent having cycled with only 2 bolts up a hill, but I've managed to fix this now.

As tempting as it is to argue back and forth with them, I will just reply asking for replacement SRAM bolts or at least get 15% off.

Will learn my lesson and check these things before fitting in future. Recommend you all do the same as I've never had this happen to me in the past. As someone else pointed out, it's usually the other way around and they are too snug and stupidly hard to remove unless you copper slip the thread.

Thanks for the input guys, appreciate it. Happy new year!