Rear Derailleur Snapped

GampDub

Hi Guys,

Last August I bought a bike through the 'Bike to Work Scheme', I'd never had an expensive bike before (usually only ever had second hand bike or cheap enough ones). I took full advantage of the scheme and got my the most expensive bike the scheme allowed that suited my needs (cycle to work daily and allow me to go for decent cycles to keep fit at the weekend) so I got myself a Specialized tricross sport.

In a bid to ensure I keep the bike in good nick and knowing that I can be pretty usless/dangerous with a spanner I sent it back to the shop I bought it in 3 weeks for a full service. It came back good as new.

Then Friday I left work as normal and started cycling, no immediate problems but about 100 yards up the road the gears clicked (like it had skipped a gear) I slowed saw everything looked in order and cycled on about another 20 yard and everything exploded, by chain snapped and the rear derailleur completly snapped away from the bike and wrapped in the spokes.

I'm no expert on bikes but I'm pretty sure after 6 months or not too intense use and 3 weeks after a service something like this on a bike that cost as much as this. I'm really p*ssed off about this and epecially p*ssed off that I am gonna be out of pocket to have this all fixed up?

In your guys opinions how much will repairs like this cost to fix?

Do I have a leg to stand on if I suggest that repairs should be done for free by the shop given that there is no reasonable explaination as to why this happened? In my opinion it basically faulty goods!!!

Sorry for the long winded mail... would really like to know what people think I should do here before I go back to the shop?

victorcarrera

GampDub wrote: »

Then Friday I left work as normal and started cycling, no immediate problems but about 100 yards up the road the gears clicked (like it had skipped a gear) I slowed saw everything looked in order and cycled on about another 20 yard and everything exploded, by chain snapped and the rear derailleur completly snapped away from the bike and wrapped in the spokes.

From what you describe, my guess is that when the chain snapped the end with the loose rivet snagged in the derailer and your pedaling action pulled it up over the cassette.
It is possible the chain was not jouined properly.
Either way I would say it should be repaired under warranty as it is less than 12 months since you purchased.

levitronix

Thats exactly what happened , same thing happen me .. the chain breaks and twists catches in the derailleur cage when you pedal you pull it forward and ripe it off

When it happened to me i broke chain, rear derailleur, derailleur hanger and the derailleur went into the back wheel.

You could try bring it back to the shop where you bought it but this kinda thing happens when your really unlucky

buffalo

I had a similar problem with my bike from Wiggle about five months after purchase. They were very helpful, replaced all the parts free of charge and without any hassle. Literally, I reported "these bits are broken", and they replied, "what address do you want the replacements sent to?"

So try the shop first, with a friendly manner. If they refuse, you could get angry, but I'm not sure what rights you have. AFAIK if it was genuinely faulty, then they should replace and repair free of charge.

roc_racer

yep - sounds like one of the plates on the chain snagged the derailleur cage and pulled it off.

Do you know if the shop broke and removed the chain for the service ? If they did, its possible they didnt rejoin it properly. If not, then you may just be unlucky...

kona

Chains dont just snap to be fair however there are reasons that contribute to a failure:

-Side loading the chain by crossing the gears(not keeping chainline straight)

-Pin removed but not replaced properly.

-Shimano chains MUST have a new pin inserted, if you reinsert the old one you stretch the hole in the link, which causes a fatigue crack.

- Poor maintenance (no lube)

- Manufacturing fault(Id imagine your looking at 2-3% of all chains)

Unlucky thing to happen, usually you can see exactley what happend by looking at the chain.

My guess from your description is that the "click" was the link being pulled apart and the pin coming out, you looked at the gears but not the chain, then continued for a bit then the pin and link totally gave way.

If the pin was removed and not inserted right, you will see the hole in the link is pushed out.

GampDub

Cheers for all the info guys... I must examine the chain later on when I get home.

I am unsure if the shop did anything with the chain during the service (bar maybe oil it) but I will be sure to ask them.

Does seem though that this is just an unlucky occurance, ah well!!!

GampDub

Well got the bike fixed, guy in the shop seems to think it was down to a couple of things.

1. He said my chain was stretched to almost 100% its original size? He seemed to be of the opinion that this was common enough and that chains should be replaced every 1200k. Would you guys agree with that? Any ideas on how to prevent/check this going forward myself?

2. He doesn't believe that the chain snapping was enough to cause the derailler to snap completly, he reckons that if the bike might have been hit/kicked in some way - I can't see how this happened unless someone did it unbeknowns to me!!!

Long and short of it is he doesn't think I'm covered by warranty so its cost me €150 to fix and replace everything!!! :mad:

levitronix

Did you do that kinda milage on it ? 1200km ?? i ve never worn out a chain on 1200km you should get him to cage the old chain infront of you with a chain wear indicator.

Anyway derailleurs do snap when the chain twists when its broke, but for the furture buy yourself a chain wear indicator and then you ll know when its worn

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5784

GampDub

Well I suppose I would have done that kind of milleage... I live about 5miles from my job so 10 miles a day 5 times a week over six months is in or around 1200 miles! Plus some extra milleage I would do at the weekends.

I think I will invest in one of those and suppose will have to put the whole episode down to lessons learned.

Would anyone have any suggestions for books/websites that provide a bike repair for dummies guide!!! I think I need to know more about my bike and how to fix it/check for problems myself in future so I can prevent this kind of thing from happening more often thus saving me hassle and money!!!???

Quigs Snr

The Park Tool website has some good tips in the repairs and how-to sections.

SubLuminal

€150 seems very expensive to replace a rear derailuer and a chain?

Parts - €50 + 30 mins work, tops?

GampDub

Haven't got the docket on me but I did ask before hand how much it would cost and was told €25 for new chain and €49 for a new derailler... There was one spoke that needed mending slightly too + labour!!!

SubLuminal

GampDub wrote: »

€25 for new chain and €49 for a new derailler... There was one spoke that needed mending slightly too + labour!!!

!!!
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19461 €19 for a derailler

and

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25427 - €7 for a chain..

.. I've not used these parts but they've got 5 star ratings from people who have.

I suppose if all's done and dusted now just enjoy the fact your bike is up and running again, but maybe in future consider shopping about a bit - also even learning to do a few bits yourself, its not super hard. You might need a few tools you don't have and you might've needed a new gear cable but still, 150 for a new derailler and chain seems a lot to me. But I might be wrong, anyone else got opinions? Maybe i'm talking out my posterior here afterall?

penexpers

SubLuminal wrote: »

!!!
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19461 €19 for a derailler

and

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25427 - €7 for a chain..

.. I've not used these parts but they've got 5 star ratings from people who have.

In fairness, we don't know what parts were quoted for. According to the spec, the Tricross sport has a Deore LX rear derailleur which is GBP40 from a quick internet search. In any case, the tiagra one you linked to probably wouldn't work with a 32T cassette (or at least it's not recommended). And you might have some difficulty making a 7 speed chain work on a 9 speed setup (though admittedly I have never tried).

As for the labour, it's quite possible that the wheel may have needed truing after the derailleur got caught in the spokes or maybe some spokes needed to be replaced which would add to the time and add to the cost of the repair.

GampDub

Cheers for the responses lads, I have no qualms over the cost of the repairs. I'm just happy to have my bike back on the road... I think I've learned a couple of valuable lessons!

Main one being that I need to learn more about my bike and how to look after it myself...!!!

cdaly_

Also head down to http://www.rothar.ie where they'll either work on your bike for you, provide workshop space and tools for you to DIY or will teach you how to do your own maintenance.

SubLuminal

penexpers wrote: »

In fairness, we don't know what parts were quoted for. According to the spec, the Tricross sport has a Deore LX rear derailleur which is GBP40 from a quick internet search. In any case, the tiagra one you linked to probably wouldn't work with a 32T cassette (or at least it's not recommended). And you might have some difficulty making a 7 speed chain work on a 9 speed setup (though admittedly I have never tried).

As for the labour, it's quite possible that the wheel may have needed truing after the derailleur got caught in the spokes or maybe some spokes needed to be replaced which would add to the time and add to the cost of the repair.

Fair play, good points to consider for sure

SubLuminal

cdaly_ wrote: »

Also head down to http://www.rothar.ie where they'll either work on your bike for you, provide workshop space and tools for you to DIY or will teach you how to do your own maintenance.

Rothar is a brilliant place. V.friendly and you'll learn loads about bikes. They run a course every now and then, its €30 for 4 hours and they teach you a lot about how to fix/maintain your own bike. Very good value for money. Free tea & coffee too..

Diarmuid

GampDub wrote: »

Cheers for the responses lads, I have no qualms over the cost of the repairs. I'm just happy to have my bike back on the road... I think I've learned a couple of valuable lessons!

Main one being that I need to learn more about my bike and how to look after it myself...!!!

Good start here and here

victorcarrera

Replacing a chain after just 1,200 commuting miles or km seems very little to me even if you abused and neglected it.
5,000km at least is normal and I have over 13,000km on one and still going.
Did you ask if the chain broke at the link where it had been joined?
It might be too late now but I would take the chain to another shop for assessment. It should be obvious if it was the soft link as the rivet will have a unique mark on it.

GampDub

Just e-mailed rothar.ie to find out when their next workshop is on!!! Will be availing of this for sure.

blorg

victorcarrera wrote: »

5,000km at least is normal and I have over 13,000km on one and still going.

1,200 is well believable if it wasn't looked after. I have certainly got over 5,000 but are you sure the 13,000km one has not stretched?

GampDub

Cycling home last night and I got a puncture... someone is having a good laugh at my expense!!!