Crank Bent?

[jason1234]

Hey guys,
I've been riding my new Trek Fuel 70, got it about one and a half weeks ago. I was riding today and I noticed the chain was not going smooth when in 2xX gear. I checked it out, and it turned out the crank was slightly pushed over.

I took it into the bike shop and the guy used a hammer to get it back to normal, but I am not sure thats goign to be a permanent fix. I was wondering, whats up with that? What causes it? The guy said it was probably when I was pedaling hard or something. But, certainly, I hope my bike parts arent that cheap that they will break under that little of pressure.

CRANKSET: Bontrager Sport 42/32/22
FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano Alivio

I was wondering what I can do to prevent this from happening again.

Thanks guys,
Jason

[dstepper]

If someone at a bike shop used a hammer on my bike, I would find another shop. Straight or not, you now have a compromised weak crank.

[LBmtb]

You mean the chainring was bent? Unless the cranks themselves are touching the chain that shouldnt be affecting the shifting. Maybe the rings hit a rock or something. That crankset isn't anything to brag about nor is it bad enough to be bending on its own.

[~ Pakiha ~]

I hope you ment that the chainring was bent, and like LBmtb said, it shouldn't have done that on it's own. And to follow behind dstepper if I took my bike into the shop I bought it from, and they considered using a hammer part as of a routine service, eek, I'd find another shop fast.

[jason1234]

Yeah, thats what I thought. Hammering the crank was not a good thing to do. If you looked at it, the 2/3 sprocket was not straight on. It slanted over, and caused the chain to not connect completly to it while pedaling. The guy said they would have to replace it if anything happens to it later.

As far as it bending, it shouldn't do that on its own. I am not sure how it could have hit a rock or something without bending the other sprocket as well. It was weird that only the second one had any damage. The guy told me it wasn't under warrenty, sounds weird cause its only like a week and a half old.

What would you guys suggest if it gives me any more trouble.

Thanks again,
Jason

[~ Pakiha ~]

That is somthing that could have been damaged in shipping. if so it is the shops responcibility to report it and get a new one. For being a week and a half old a good shop would have seriously talked then about replacing it when you brought it in the first time. I would plan on replacing it as soon as affordable.

-Also what shop is it so I know to avoid it?

[jason1234]

Cycle Werks in Mission Viejo.

That is weak, if I were you I'd make a big deal out of it inside the store so people can see what crappy service they are giving you. Sounds like it was bent when you bought it. If you hit a rock, chances are you would have some damaged teeth on the big chain ring...if there are no chipped teeth on the ring, point that out and tell them to resolve the situation. These things don't just bend on their own. Keep bugging them until something is done about it on their end. You chose to buy your bike from them out of all the different shops around so. cal., make sure they understand that. Tell them you chose to buy it there because of the great reviews from other people regarding there customer service. If they still don't do anything, I'd let them know that they lost you as a customer and let them know how disappointed you are. Remember, shops are there for us, we are what keeps them going....

[~ Pakiha ~]

[-o< Amen Bro. Dino

[jason1234]

Originally Posted by DINO

That is weak, if I were you I'd make a big deal out of it inside the store so people can see what crappy service they are giving you. Sounds like it was bent when you bought it. If you hit a rock, chances are you would have some damaged teeth on the big chain ring...if there are no chipped teeth on the ring, point that out and tell them to resolve the situation. These things don't just bend on their own. Keep bugging them until something is done about it on their end. You chose to buy your bike from them out of all the different shops around so. cal., make sure they understand that. Tell them you chose to buy it there because of the great reviews from other people regarding there customer service. If they still don't do anything, I'd let them know that they lost you as a customer and let them know how disappointed you are. Remember, shops are there for us, we are what keeps them going....

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunatly there was no one in the store to see how crappy the service was. I looked at it again after riding, the bend is going back to where it was before, just not as intense. I'll probably end up running in there this weekend and telling them about it. My dad bought his bike there as well, so we are return customers.

Thanks again guys,
Jason

[trmcnulty]

I second just about everything said thus far...the shop should have replaced the bent ring without even thinking about it. I would take this issue up to the highest ranking person you can find in the store.

In regards to the bend, you may want to check that the screws that secure the chainrings are all there, fastened correctly, and not stripped. If any of them are, chain tension can bend the ring over time. The more chain tension the more bend you get until the chain jumps off, locks the crank, and you could end up getting hurt.

I have never been to that werks before, but I will be sure to steer clear now.

Good luck to you.

[jason1234]

So, I took it in today. I was talking to the guy about it and he said because it wasn't bent to a 45 degree angle, it wouldn't weaken the metal or something. I told him, they fixed it the same way before and within a day it was back to being bent. The guy said "I know it seems pretty ghetto, but I do it with bike rims the same way and it works." I was pretty scared when I heard that.

I told him I really don't want to have to continue to bring it in everyday and stuff. So he made me a deal, he said if anything goes wrong with it again, he will install a new crankset on there. I guess I couldn't complain about that. He said it is caused by when your going up a hill and you try and switch down gears and the chain will snap or bend the sproket.

So, what do you guys think?

Thanks again for your help,
Jason

[Von-Skipp]

I dont think its possible to bend a chain ring 45degrees!! And ya, shifiting under pressure is a bad thing, I usually speed then shift while im coasting so make its smooooooth!

[jason1234]

Originally Posted by IntenseKipp

I dont think its possible to bend a chain ring 45degrees!! And ya, shifiting under pressure is a bad thing, I usually speed then shift while im coasting so make its smooooooth!

Kipp, thats what I thought dude. You'd need to freaking hit a huge boulder or something!

[dubjay]

Originally Posted by IntenseKipp

I dont think its possible to bend a chain ring 45degrees!!

Sure it is! Just let some of your chain ring bolts fall out, especially on a singlespeed. I had to Fred Flintstone it back home.