Brand new garbage chain

[AlBaker]

I bought an Electra cruiser a few months ago. Trek imports them so I expected a bit better quality than box store bikes. From day one the 7-speed derailleur has been a bit 'crunchy' when changing gears, and sometimes I hear a click as the chain seems to have a link not engage with a cog tooth. They said not to clean and lube the chain for 200 miles, so I didn't, thinking it might wear in. It didn't, and I have not been able to tune it to make gear changes quieter and smoother.

Today, with 340 miles on it I put a Park CC-2 chain checker on it. the reading was .5, okay, but several inches further along it read .80, totally shot. Going around the chain it continued with good and bad sections. I just happened to have a new Shimano chain on hand so I put that on, and the difference is incredible. It's smooth and quiet like it ought to be.

I had already dealt with wheel bearings that were so tight they were grinding. I haven't been able to notify Trek about these issues. I'm just disappointed that even bike shop quality bikes suffer from inferior parts and assembly. It got me wondering how a machine can make a chain with good and bad sections the whole length. Perhaps the machine was worn out.

 

[steveindenmark]

Was it new or a demonstration model?

 

[teeonethousand]

I bought a new Giant Revolt from local LBS about a year ago. The gear change was never smooth and I had it back there a couple of times for tweaking. After about 700 miles it was back again as the chain was lumpy and they declared the chain knackered so I fitted a new Shimano one (bought from same lbs).

Night and day...been brilliant ever since.

LBS said not unusual to wear chain in that mileage...which I found hard to believe and lo and behold the replacement chain is now on over 2K and fine.

Lesson learned..factory fit parts not necessarily good quality.

 

[88robb]

That's a classic bad chain from the factory. It's frustrating, but manufacturing defects like inconsistent links do happen. Definitely contact Trek about it. Glad a simple chain swap fixed the issue.

 

[silva]

Since it was from day 1 usage, it isn't wear related.
Pens are cut and side plates stamped, only rollers are machined to diameter, and despite there is an ANSI standard for chain specs, bicycle #40, 5/16" roller diameter, but different brands/models chose different, on the upside, bigger diameters, normal is 7.63-7.65 mm, but SRAM was found to make models close to 7.70 and also a 7.90 model - same brand - different models (groupset).
Maybe the rollers of the problem chain were a mix of different brands/models, some leftovers from previous production run other model.

Aside comment: salesmen label all wear "normal", said out of experience.
It's only after you start to try things out, that you discover the reason proving that the normal was abnormal.
Trying things out saved me quite some bucks and from reoccuring misery, and still does so.

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

I have seen this on brand new bikes as well. In fact, I work with a guy who loves checking brand new Shimano chains on the new bikes we build at our shop, or newly installed chains which aren’t shifting smoothly on a bike he’s servicing. It’s amazing how many measure as 50% ( or more! ) worn right out of the box. The problems seems more prevalent on the lower end stuff, but we do see it on the occasional new 105 or better equipped road bikes.

I think Shimano’s comfortable perch on the top of the component supplier pile has caused them to get a bit complacent.

and don’t get me started on “Cues”.