Chain snap!!

[smokeysmoo]

Yeah on the CX. Surprised as it's a KMC chain which are supposed to be pretty good quality.

They are, and they're all I use now and all I'd recommend TBH. I'd agree with others, sounds like you've had more than a fair use out of this one. Lesson learned, hand in pocket, move on

 

[Arjimlad]

ouch.. had this happen to me as I was grinding uphill in a very low gear once, it cost me a new derailleur, new cassette and a trued back wheel, as well as the chain !

 

[lejogger]

ouch.. had this happen to me as I was grinding uphill in a very low gear once, it cost me a new derailleur, new cassette and a trued back wheel, as well as the chain !

Blimey, that's a costly one... Chain off into the spokes? What happened to the derailleur?

 

[Arjimlad]

The chain snapped on one side first, got jammed in the derailleur. Before I realised what had happened, the chain then dragged the derailleur into the rear wheel before the other side of the link broke. The cage was bent totally out of shape. I was going up a steep climb putting a lot of force through the chain, and this meant more damage at the back end.

I'm a lot better at looking after my chain now !

 

[Arjimlad]

I suppose it depends upon where the breaking link is when it breaks... if it is returning to the derailleur, on the bottom, then it will be pulled up into it. Logically one would think it would be more likely to break where it is under the most tension, on the top of the travel going towards the chainring, but this is not what happened to me.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

assuming you've still got the old chain... invest in one of these (or similar)

then you'll know if and when you need a new cassette or not.

 

[lejogger]

assuming you've still got the old chain... invest in one of these (or similar)

then you'll know if and when you need a new cassette or not.

Ok... i'm filling my wiggle basket as we speak so need some advice... Is that to measure chain wear? Do I need a chain whip as well? A mate told me I did.
I'm also getting a new chain (obviously), some power links, a cassette removal tool, and I'll need some degreaser of some kind forthe rest of the drive train. Any recommendations?

 

[Arjimlad]

I use green GUNK degreaser in a chain cleaning device, when a chain is really dirty.

If you are simply cleaning the rest of the drivetrain I find a bucket of hot water with some car shampoo, and an old sponge do a very good job, followed by cloths sprayed with GT85 to really polish it all up. A toothbrush is also a useful item (but make sure you get it clean again before putting it back in her toothmug!)

 

[GrumpyGregry]

If you need to swap your cassette because the chain is more than .75 you will need

chain wear tool to tell you so
chain whip and cassette removal tool

as for degreaser; Halfords do a nice effective citrus one. Your local poundland or equiivalent will sell you a variety of brushes to keep your pride and joy sparkling clean (Though I myself use baby wipes on the road going part of the fleet)

Do not let said substance near your chain. Do not use a chain cleaning bath/device. Chains are to be maintained by the mickle method. Dem's da rules. Baby wipes can also have a part to play here too.

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

I stopped to help a chap out on Saturday...

I had no choice but to ride on Saturday, we had family commitments on Sunday, so off I set in spite of the weatherman warning of rain and high winds. 40 miles in, having battled the headwinds, hills and the glasses that you can't actually see through for water, I was cycling over Dartmoor in the general direction of home when I spotted some high-viz on the opposite side of the road coming towards me. A quick wipe of the glasses later, and I see that it's a mountain biker pushing his bike up the hill, into the wind and rain, towards me. A little bit closer and I see the snapped chain dangling forlornly from his hand.

I slowed down and asked if he needed to borrow a chain splitter. He shook his head, admitting to knowing nothing about bike mechanics and said he wouldn't know what to do. I pulled over (glad of the rest to be honest!) and in about five minutes had the broken link removed, the chain refitted and the chap on his way up the hill, but pedalling this time. As I said to him at the time, it's not the kind of weather I'd want to see anybody taking their bike for a walk in!

My tribute to the Karma Fairy paid, I set off on my way. I didn't have any punctures that day, either. Draw your own conclusions!

 

[scouserinlondon]

I've done over 3k of all weather commuting on my trek and 0.75 doesn't even fully engage on the chain wear tool. Think my chain is kmc, it has a quick link on it.

 

[HovR]

The chain snapped on one side first, got jammed in the derailleur. Before I realised what had happened, the chain then dragged the derailleur into the rear wheel before the other side of the link broke. The cage was bent totally out of shape. I was going up a steep climb putting a lot of force through the chain, and this meant more damage at the back end.

I'm a lot better at looking after my chain now !

This reminds me of when I sent the derailleur into my rear wheel. Cycling along, changing into gear one, and suddenly there is a huge clang and the rear wheel locks up. The derailleur had gone into the spokes, 2 or 3 spokes had been ripped completely out of the rim (spoke nipples and all), and the wheel was so bent that it would no longer rotate, as it would hit the seat stays. I had to carry the bike the rest of the way home.

Strangely, the derailleur was completely un-bent. It cost me a new rear wheel though.

I'm a lot better at looking after my rear derailleur now, especially the low stop!

 

[Arjimlad]

That sounds very nasty - lessons learnt !

 

[HLaB]

This reminds me of when I sent the derailleur into my rear wheel. Cycling along, changing into gear one, and suddenly there is a huge clang and the rear wheel locks up. The derailleur had gone into the spokes, 2 or 3 spokes had been ripped completely out of the rim (spoke nipples and all), and the wheel was so bent that it would no longer rotate, as it would hit the seat stays. I had to carry the bike the rest of the way home.

Strangely, the derailleur was completely un-bent. It cost me a new rear wheel though.

I'm a lot better at looking after my rear derailleur now, especially the low stop!

I ended up with the rear dérailleur jamming up on me last year somehow managed to rip the jockey cage in half the gear hanger stayed true though and wheel lasted several thousand more miles despite the hanger bouncing off it after 12,000 miles it is now on the turbo and still running!

 

[scouserinlondon]

If you need to swap your cassette because the chain is more than .75 you will need

chain wear tool to tell you so
chain whip and cassette removal tool

as for degreaser; Halfords do a nice effective citrus one. Your local poundland or equiivalent will sell you a variety of brushes to keep your pride and joy sparkling clean (Though I myself use baby wipes on the road going part of the fleet)

Do not let said substance near your chain. Do not use a chain cleaning bath/device. Chains are to be maintained by the mickle method. Dem's da rules. Baby wipes can also have a part to play here too.

Quick question. Once the chain is at or just under .75 then can you get away with just a new chain keeping the cassette.