Chain snapped today

[thewrinklyninja]

Bugger. Just came off a RB one the way to work. Started to wind it up and BANG, chain snapped in half and of course the spare powerlink I thought I had was at home. So a walk home and drive in. Just ordered a new chain and cassette so should be back on the road tomorrow.

 

[ACW]

Just out of interest, what make of chain was it?

 

[Chamfus Flange]

Any ideas what caused the brake.



.

 

[thewrinklyninja]

Chain was a KMC Z9000 and I think the break was caused by general wear. I had a couple of skips and the odd creak but thought I was still safe. Will keep a better eye on it this time. The chain I am replacing it with is a SRAM PC-951

 

[45cotterless]

I had 2 chains break . Reason was KMC snap on links, use SRAM snaps, on 9 speed chains. The second time was dramatic. The chain got well and truly stuck up the tube and I couldn't turn the pedals ! manged to tug the chain through.
I'd always carry spare links and a Hexus ( including chain tool).

 

[LeeW]

I was riding with a mate though the netherlands when his chain broke when crossing a main road using a toucan type crossing. The chain got well and truly jammed in the cassette. After we had un-jammed it we realised the chain was shorter than before. I went back to the road and found a section of chain of about 4 links laying in the road. I'm not quite sure how the chain managed to break in two places at once.

I always carry a park tool chain tool and a few links of chain and a powerlink. I've never had a chain snap. Sod's law dictates that the day I forget the tools my chain will break.

 

[AlanW]

In nearly 30 years cycling I have never broke a chain till I went over to 10sp. Since then I have broken three chains in the last two years!

 

[thewrinklyninja]

three chain in two years sounds crazy!

 

[Beardie]

My most interesting chain break was riding into Leicester for Spokesfest 2002. I was riding a Flevo Oke-Ja, it was late and in the dark I put a 180 degree twist in the chain. Such is the length of the chain, however, that it still worked perfectly. In fact, I didn't notice until later, and didn't bother fixing it until much later.

 

[Auntie Helen]

I've had two chain breaks, the first when suddenly powering up a short sharp hill... didn't know what had happened initially. Looking behind and seeing this huge trail of chain behind me was quite amusing.

Second time was the very end of last year. Due to the bad weather I'd kept my chain much longer before changing it, assuming that the salt/snow would wreck a new chain. Anyway I was doing a 50 miler on a chain that'd done 4,500 miles (I usually change around 3,500) and had a most exciting moment when a chain part broke, lifted up a piece of chain which then caught on the front chain tube, ripped it off its mountings and into the front gear changer widget. Took me a while to work out what had happened, I thought the chain tube had just disconnected itself on its own. Although the chain didn't completely break so I didn't have the faff of re-threading it through the tubes, when I took it off I noticed cracks in about eight of the links. This encouraged me with the quality of KMC chains - it kept going way after I normally change them, despite several weak spots.

 

[PaulM]

Can 9 speed chains be reliably rivetted?

In nearly 30 years cycling I have never broke a chain till I went over to 10sp. Since then I have broken three chains in the last two years!

Some people stick with 8sp because it is much easier to rivet the links because of the thicker side plates. Indeed some claim that you cannot reliably rivet together 9 speed links but must use a connector instead. This must be a problem when replacing a recumbent's 9 sp chain, since I assume you have to buy 2 or 3 normal length chains and join them together.

How do people join 9 sp chains?

 

[GrasB]

How do people join 9 sp chains?

SRAM power links pack of 3.

 

[AlanW]

How do people join 9 sp chains?

For years I always used the snap rivet included with the chain on the MTB and never had any problems.

However I now use a "Quick Link", and touch wood, again never had a problem.

 

[3tyretrackterry]

PaulM
i maybe wrong having never bought a recumbent chain yet but surely you can buy it by the metre from the manufacturer or what about Tandem chains they are longer than normal chains arnt they. I am sure that the chain on my trike only has one power link in it so it must be possible i am running a 3X9spd hub gear and derrailleur set up
Ian (aka 3tyretrackterry)

 

[Tigerbiten]

Just had the chain on my Trice Q snap in two places today.

I'd done ~30 miles with ~20 to go to get home.
Short sharp hill and bang, no chain and no spare power links with me.
It had snapped about 10 links from one of my power links.
So I dropped it onto the smallest ring in front and took the short section out.
Set off again and a couple of miles further on on the next hill the same thing happened.
This time it snapped in the middle of a long section between the power link.

I got home by phoning work and getting picked by a horse box ......

I'm going to be carrying spare power links in the future.

Luck ..........