Broken chain

[bricksmasher]

Hi all

Quick question

Been using my bike for a week or so after it didn't get much use, it was randomly switching gears and wouldn't change gear properly, I added some lubricant to the chain etc and it stopped switching gears but if I tried to change gears it wouldn't work, so had to ride in one gear.

Took to one the lbs's after phoning about and he looked at it, bought is back out 5 mins later and said adjusted te rear mech and all was good.

Was off on my 25mile , got 2 mins in and the chain snapped off, so not best pleased

They didn't charge me for "fixing" my bike and everyone else I've rang is booked up typically

What's best in this situation? I'm thinking just booking in somewhere else, getting a new chain fitted and then getting a service done, and hope the issue is sorted?

Cheers
Mark

 

[smokeysmoo]

It's not the shops fault your chain snapped though is it? Should they have checked it? Maybe, but then if they'd told you that you needed a new chain would you have believed them?

I do all my own fettling so I'd just buy a new chain and fit it, but if you're not confident to do it then just take it back to the shop you used and ask them to do it.

After all they did fix your gears for free

 

[Nigelnaturist]

^^^^+1

 

[bricksmasher]

Honestly mate, I don know if it's there fault or not that's more or less why im posting

I know nothing about fixing/bikes really I just enjoy cycling I guess I thought I'd been using my bike daily for a week and just before I'd stopped using it last it had a service done so thought was weird how just after they adjusted it, it snapped, but probably just my misfortune

I'd have believed them if they said it needed replacing for sure , I'm not clued up enough to argue an to be fair don't know how old he chain was. I just don't want to buy a new chain and get fitted for the same to happen again , that's be my luck lol

 

[smokeysmoo]

I just don't want to buy a new chain and get fitted for the same to happen again , that's be my luck lol

A new chain isn't going to snap, in fact I've only ever snapped one chain in all my years of cycling, and that was my own fault for reusing a joining pin that turned out to be non-reusable

As you don't know how old the chain was anyway, (2nd hand bike?), then it makes sense to stick a new one on it for peace of mind. Ask the shop to fit a KMC or Sram chain and not a Shimano one, trust me on that.

Beware though, a new chain may skip on the rear cassette, (gears). Reason being that the chain, chainrings, and cassette gears wear together, so if the old chain was allowed to get too worn, (which I suggest it was by the fact it's snapped), then you may more new parts. That said the shop can advise you on this, and if they can't be totally sure there's no harm in having a chain put on and seeing how you go.

 

[bricksmasher]

Thanks for the advice, they literally just contacted me via Facebook so I will take it back to them.

I don't mind spending money on it, if it gets sorted. The bike was second hand and I had a different groupset put on it, as someone disassembled my original groupset once when I was at work

I honestly can't remember if the chain was. Replaced then or not, I know the rear mech was but that was a year or so back from memory.

 

[Old Plodder]

Just as info.....

A new chain should have a rivet at 12" (305mm)centres, if your chain has rivets at more than an extra one eighth of an inch (310mm), it has stretched & will be wearing out your chainrings & rear cogs.

 

[fossyant]

Its not the shops fault. Chains can snap without warning. Happens especially if you are lax with maintenance which is what has happened here. You will possibly need a new cassette too.

 

[bricksmasher]

Thanks guys

Appreciate the details,

Shop took my bike back in and are going to fit a new chain, cassette and a service, just under £90 so could be worse.

I will read up on maintenance, it didn't get used for a while as I mentioned, an thinking about things now I had it serviced when I first got it and it was great to ride, then as I mentioned someone stole its entire groupset, so had another put on it. Then I hadn't used it for a while!
Cheers again guys, still got lots I learning to so my end lol


Mark