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So anyway, why do chains snap? Shimano HG93, KMC both in the last 2 months! Today cycled into work and my shifters seemed stiff shifting up and the mechs wouldn't shift down. On teh way back home same problem, chain jumping around and then got stuck between the front chainrings and snapped. It's a new chain, cassette, and chain ring. Relatively new front and rear mech, all XT. What is going wrong? Is it the lube in the shifters freezing, dirt and grit in the cables? HELP!!!
changing and pedaling wrecks them
What do you suggest? Singlespeed and leaving it in the garage?
I had loads of issues with Shimano chains. No problems so far with KMC but am giving SRAM a go as it's the same price.
What about the setup, any advice? Shifters and Mechs fine on Sunday afternoon, today not working at all...
Never snapped a chain in ten years. Have had one powerlink go, but thats it.
Snapping chains is nearly always down to worn out chains and / or not easing off to change gear IMO
We don't break em on the tandem so they should be up to solo use fine
Nore have I before this current setup which kinda makes me think something is wrong.
Santa Cruz Chameleon (Small)
XT Shifters, Chainring, Front/Rear Mech and Cassette, KMC chain.
It is the short cage mech which does restrict the available range. I used GT85 to shift any water on moving parts at the weekend after a ride out, would this freeze inside the shifters?
Try a Wipperman. I've had only good experience of them.
Both the Shimano and KMC were new. In the case of the Shimano teh correct link pin was not used, in teh KMC it got stuck between the large and middle chainrings.
chains snap normally from shifting under load. the life of chains is reduced from side loading.
do you try and use bottom of cassette in granny, middle in middle ring and top in big ring? assuming a triple.
dunno about mechs unless if it grime/ freezing water in the cables?
you are keeping them lubed right? dont mean to be patronising, but it seems odd breaking chains so often. ive yet to break one in 4 years of riding, but i've had a powerlink go as well. carrying a spare is easy enough though and it more than makes up for very occasional failure in how easy it makes taking the chain off.
Snapped loads of Shimano chains, Sram are loads better.
Because of the short cage mech the chain length restricts the available range. I tend to use mainly the middle for the bottom to middle on the cassette, and the top of the cassette in the big ring. Like I said this is not idea and I'm likely to change the mech for a longer cage thus allowing for longer chain with less lateral pressure in changing. However I clean and lube the chain once a week, if anything I would say their was too much lube on it. I just can't figure out the shifters, I cleaned them on Sunday afternoon and they were fine. Bikes stored in the shed and I do wonder if the GT85 froze??? Getting to be an expensive hobby this!!!
I guess I'm just fed up with the ongoing cost and uncertainty as to whether it's set up right. Have a look and see if there's anything obvious.
[img][url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5172428909_593d035a51.jp g" target="_blank">
Snapping chains is nearly always down to worn out chains and / or not easing off to change gear IMO
or badly joined in the first place.
I'd say it's very difficult to say chains break due to one or 2 single causes. Defective chains, poor joins possibly shifting under too much load-but chains are designed to shift under some load. I've never found wear to be an issue.
OP if your chain is jamming between chainrings then something is wrong there. If your gears are stiff then something there too. Impossible to say what without seeing it and nothing is jumpng out at me.
youre not overly heavy and stamping on a massive gear are you?
Well I couldn't comment on being overly heavy or not. What would cause a chain to jam between rings when shifting from the middle to the outer?
A short cage mech won't be able to cope with the full range of gears you have there with triple front rings. I can only think that this might be an issue somehow, especially in terms of shifters/mechs working one day and then not the next.
I hate Shimano chains. I was always breaking the damn things. So I decided to spend a little extra and went for a KMC. This one...
[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25422 ]http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25422[/url]
Tough as nails. No problems since. Looks bling also 🙂
I see another chap has posted that his cables froze today, can't help thinking this may have been part of the problem.
Changing up from middle to outer and due to the friction the chain did not change up smoothly and dropped between!
A short cage mech won't be able to cope with the full range of gears you have there with triple front rings. I can only think that this might be an issue somehow, especially in terms of shifters/mechs working one day and then not the next.
The cassette is a 11/32 and the chainring is a 22/32/44. The XT mech is supposed to handle the range but with the chain long enough for big/big it is too loose for small/small. So I think that a longer cage mech may be the answer, oh and sealed cables!
Get some Middleburn Cable Oilers...
[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=3318 ]http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=3318[/url]
Job done!
I don't think it id supposed to have the range. The front and rear spreads are fine but your total range is 33t. You have 23 + 22 = 45 for which you need a long cage.
How do they work then?
This one: M771 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20698
Or this one: M773 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=52299 (9 speed though)
I think it's this one: M772 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20700