n00b DIY chapter 7...just HOW wrong can you get chain replacement!...

[Widge]

So WHY does the chain break 10 miles into a ride rather than just as you're leaving or arriving back?!
My Triban3 chain sprang its 'quick-link' into the verge (forever lost!) BUT a nice beardy bloke stopped his car as I was looking forlorn and offered to to load me up and drive me back home! Wow!...my faith in human nature increased tenfold. Thanks 'Klaus' wherever you are!

So I drove to my nearest (rather expensive) bike emporium for a new chain. Maybe just a new spring link? No...the resident mech informed me.....my chain was worn (I've done about 500 miles on the original Triban chain from new) so a new one would be a good thing.

Hhhhm so...........18 quid lighter I took home a new chain. Theaded it up. Popped it together with a new spring-link and discovered I had threaded it through the rear deraillleur wrongly so it was running OUTSIDE of a guide lug on the cage. Could I disassemble the spring-link?

No!

Do the jockey wheels remove easily?

Eerm...No!

So.......out with my multi-tool chain splitter and push out a rivet. Multitool chain-splitter made of cheese and instantly breaks in half!

This 10 minute job is turning into a nightmare.

Eventually I went to a different bike store. Bought a cheaper (better) chain......a pack of 2 quick-links AND a serious 'Park' chain tool and started again. After an afternoons cursing and swearing the chain is fitted and the bike ridden.....except that in the process I have put out all my careful gear adjustment tweaks!

Ggggrrr..............

Have I learnt anything? Yup...but I'm not quite sure what!

w

 

[biggs682]

oh dear , easy links are great and easy

 

[Peteaud]

Quick links come apart easy, when you know how.

You tube is your friend, on anything like this.

(To remove a quick link, squeeze both sides together and wiggle at the same time)

And make sure the chain is the same length as the old one as well

 

[Nigelnaturist]

So WHY does the chain break 10 miles into a ride rather than just as you're leaving or arriving back?!


So I drove to my nearest (rather expensive) bike emporium for a new chain. Maybe just a new spring link? No...the resident mech informed me.....my chain was worn (I've done about 500 miles on the original Triban chain from new) so a new one would be a good thing.

Doubt it was worn at only 500 miles.
Mind think I could do with a new one. Just hoping to get the 9 speed shifters, so I don't have to buy two, close together, so it can wait.