Forum menu
The entire drive train is worn out on my bike but the chain ring looks the most worn out on this 1 x 10 setup and that is the component I'm most worried about.
I know that if I replace anything I'm going to have to replace the whole lot. The cassette still shifts okay though.
What will happen if I continue to ride with a worn out chain ring ? The teeth look very worn out. Will it suddenly fail catastrophically mid ride ? Will the chain start to come off frequently ? So far it has not come off until my last ride (which was a huge distance) it came off once in 34 miles.
I found that the narrow teeth get sharp - not pointy, but razor-edged. The chain falls off a lot.
You'll start getting engagement issues where the chain doesn't mesh with the teeth correctly under power.
This can lead to skipping /popping of the chain as it forces it to mesh under power.
The chain will also be getting trashed by a worn chainring. The worn teeth force more stretch into each chain link, wearing out the rest of the drivetrain faster.
Nothing catastrophic will happen, sometimes the popping chain can jam, and break teeth but takes a lot of force on very worn rings.
If the chainrings are worn, and you replace the chain that the new chain will wear quickly which will then rapidly ruin the cassette.
I recently upgraded my old mtb to 10sp (from 8sp), with new chain and cassette. I never really looked at the chainrings, but found there were annoying noised coming from the crank under load. Turns out the chainrings (well actually the middle one from a triple) was totally shot.
On n/w rings, I find the chain falls off a lot when they're worn. The only ones that seem to last an acceptable time, are the steel Shimano ones.
Tractor noises and the chain falls off.
If you catch the chain in time you will only be changing the chain and chainring. The cassette might be fine. The days of durable chainrings disappeared when n/w appeared.
Will the failure be really sudden and severe when it's completely worn out ?
For example, can you go from a previous ride where the chain only fell off once in 34 miles, to the next ride where it might suddenly start falling off constantly ?
I'm just wondering if I need to replace it before my next ride basically, even though it worked okay on the last ride.
I just change when I can within reason. Ride tomorrow if that's what you have planned.
I run a chainguide as well so haven't had the chain falling off. What did finally happen was the chain jammed on the ring. Had trouble getting it back off.
Forgot to keep an eye on it so I guess it's best to change the ring and chain at the same time.....
First I knew of the chainring being worn was when the chain dropped a couple if times one ride. Same the next ride. And the next.
It shouldn't fail catastrophically, but eventually you'll get pretty fed up of having to stop and put the chain back on.
The chain will also be getting trashed by a worn chainring. The worn teeth force more stretch into each chain link, wearing out the rest of the drivetrain faster.
Chain links don't stretch. The rollers and pins wear and become slack, that's what causes the lengthening of a chain.
And IMHO worn chainrings, cassettes or chains have little to do with wearing out the other components. Riding wears things out, simple as that. Good maintenance and lubrication will minimise it also.
Narrow wide chainrings tend to be alloy and wear quicker. Being narrow wide, replacing them doesn't seem to be an issue with a worn chain. Worn chain and a new cassette, or new chain and a worn cassette however will skip. Worn and worn or new and new is fine. Obviously until a point when totally worn and it just isn't having it any more, but I get several thousand miles out of one chain and cassette before that point.
And yeah, main thing with a narrow wide chainring is it starts dropping the chain.
Thanks for the info - as long as it isn't going to suddenly fail catastrophically then I won't rush at replacing the drive train. I'd do it sooner but I've not got all the tools and am still awaiting a new torque wrench that I've ordered. At the moment it's only dropped the chain once and that was on a *long* 34 mile ride so as long as it doesn't suddenly go to dropping off every < 10 miles then I can put up with it until I get round to replacing the lot.
If you really need to, you can pick up new narrow wide chainrings from eBay China £6 posted to the UK.
the quality is fine, equal to superstar.
i have them in loads of sizes so I can play around with gear ratios of a few of my bikes.
anyway, my point is that you can pick one up and stick it on just to put your mind at ease.
yes, you should probably change the chain at the same but it will keep you running for very little outlay.