CHAINS!!!! AARRRGH!!! Has this ever happened to you?

Discussion in 'The Workshop' started by ChariotsOfTires, Apr 17, 2008.

  1. faded1004

    faded1004 New Member

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    arg, just wanted to post... my first chain (i have been biking for a few months only), which is a sram 991, broke for the third time now. i want to give sram another try before i move to shimano. i want to try out the hollow pin version which i think is a 1 step better?

    good for me, it broke at right at the end of my summit climb, fixed the chain and single speeded it down and back to the car...

    my habits:

    always try to change not under load
    dry lube and wax lube before rides
    clean every 3 rides
     
  2. Kritter

    Kritter Member

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    Im 260lbs and hammer the shit out of my bike with a sram chain...never had a problem and just ordered another. It had to be a bad lot of chains.

    and like has been said...lube your chain and clean your chain every ride.
     
  3. Edog

    Edog Member

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    I have run SRAM chains for a long time without any issues, but they were 970's. I replaced the chains on both my bike in Jan with new 950's. They have repeatedly snapped on both bikes, I think one had 4 quick links in it at 1 point.
    I just went back to 970's so I hope thats the end of that!
     
  4. Kritter

    Kritter Member

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    i lube daily and im still ordering a chain, rings, and cassette because its time.
     
  5. jbiron

    jbiron New Member

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    In over 30 years of riding I've never broken a chain, shimano, wipperman, sram, or kmc. Just clean and relube when they're dirty and change 'em according to the chain checker.
     
  6. Kritter

    Kritter Member

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    Must have jinxed myself...I was out on a ride today and broke the chain on a flat paved street. Chain was from the path so I doubt it was a bad lot if the initial post was from In cycle and this one from the Path at far apart times. The chain had less then 30 miles on it and is cleaned and lubed between the 3 rides. On top of that...new cassette and chain rings were installed at the same time.

    Any kind of warranty on these SRAM chains? It was a 951 I think. I put an XT on so hopefully that doesnt break. My biggest fear is my SS since I get out of the saddle whereas my geared bike I never get out of the saddle.
     
  7. downhiller91

    downhiller91 New Member

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    iv had that same problem but it was with a shimano...
    i later figured out there was a bent tooth on my second chain ring that kept snaping the chains
     
  8. crispy

    crispy Wannabe

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    I have had problems with shimano chains

    Brand new Shimano Chain and BOOM it breaks so I just shorten the chain up by taking that link and a few surrounding ones and BOOM same thing again. In the middle of one of those 12 hrs of temecula races. Atleast it was near the begining of the lap so i didnt have to walk back too far.

    And the lap prior to that I had a different shimano chain and I a similar problem. I was at the end of the lap when it started acting up so I just ran up the hills and coasted down the other side.

    Since then I have been a sram chain buyer and have not had a single problem yet.


    A chain that does not need lube?

    I don't think there are any chains right now for any application from any manufacturer that do not require lube. They are working on some designs to hopefully reduce or remove the need for lubrications, but I don't think a no lube chain exists.
     
  9. Pho'dUp

    Pho'dUp Spam Musubi MasherSS

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    If you're having problems breaking chains, going to a hollow pin is DEFINITELY not the answer. I've seen a few buds have these grenade on them.

    Are crossing the chain up a lot under loads?

    I've used SRAM and Shimano both and found both to work well. Only breakage issues I've had that weren't complete human error was due to poor Singlespeed chainline or old flexy steel frames causing the chains to pull apart laterally.
     
  10. Kritter

    Kritter Member

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    No cross chaining in my situation...I am pretty much middle middle all day long and thats as straight as she gets.
     
  11. DHS

    DHS New Member

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    you guys do know that there are 4 different ways to install a chain?

    and shimano only recommends 1 of those.

    i've been running sachs/sram chains for 12years now. sure i've tried shimano on and off. but that pin method sucks. and even now shimanos' new dura-ace chain for 09 has a power link.

    i've snapped a couple of chains, but if you go back and look how they've snapped. you can usually see what was the issue. mostly happens when a chain is stretched. or for you single speed guys. i've seen only half the chain stretched before.

    also a cassette can last through 1-5 chains, it just matters if you know when to change them.
     
  12. DISCO

    DISCO Banned

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    No.

    I have broken quite a few but have had great luck on this bike. I would take a closer look at components I.E. I have blown half a dozen free hub bodies and cracked two XT cassette spiders but for some reason not many chains? Might just be that Shimano is better than SRAM but I wouldn't know because I only ride the former. Is there a common parts selection to watch for here:?:.

    Maybe bad pulleys, loose Rder or hanger, cassette not tight or bent chain rings.
     

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