Do chains have a shelf life?

mfdc

I've had a Shimano chain sitting in the back of a cupboard since I built my Ti bike in January of last year. I don't know why I didn't use it at the time, but I'd since forgotten about it. Anyway about 2 weeks ago my commuter's chain had stretched sufficiently that it needed replacing, and it suddenly occured to me that this chain was still in there. So I whacked it on and away we went.

Had just left work tonight to come home when the chain snapped. Annoying in it's own right, but I got it fixed and carried on. After about 10 minutes I noticed a clicking noise every few revolutions - assumed it was the new quicklink being stiff or something, but took it easy just in case.

I've just gone to check the quicklink, and can immediately see the problem. The chain is broken a second time - on one of the links the outside plate is broken off and hanging down, every time it goes through the rear der there's the click. I'm amazed that the inner plate held enough to get me home! Worse, a quick once over of the chain and I can see 2 more cracks in entirely seperate links.

This chain is basically brand new, out of the factory and into a cupboard indoors for the last two years. In two weeks I've put maybe 500km on it. I've run chains for many thousands of kms (and destroyed cassettes in the process ) and not had them snap. Do chains "go off" so to speak...? Should I have used this back in 2010, or is it just a dodgy chain from a bad batch maybe?

Morgan

Sounds like you're using a stale chain. There's usually a best-before date printed on the packaging (also stamped on the individual links).

greenmat

Morgan wrote: »

Sounds like you're using a stale chain. There's usually a best-before date printed on the packaging (also stamped on the individual links).

Brill.

mfdc

Yeah I guess it's a ridiculous thought... I just can't believe that a fresh chain could feck up so badly (5 cracks total, just took it off) when the only other chain snaps I've had have been on chains that have done 4000+km. And those I even repaired and kept using for a few days with no problems! Struggling to come up with an explanation

Cecil Mor

I'd get onto whomever supplied the chain.
If there is no positive responce than try Shimano themselves.

Document the damage with decent clear images.
If it is essentially new than it should be evident that it has not done great milage regardless of age.

Such issues, if it was from a Bad Batch, should already be documented within their customer services/Quality Dept.
If you have the original packaging then all the better as there would probably be a date of manufacture and batch numbers.

tommmy1979

Are you chuck norris ?

bcmf

There was an issue with a bad batch of Shimano chains (I think specifically 105) where they just kept snapping at the links. Believe me I feel your pain after I was plagued by 2 shimano 105 chains just snapping without warning.I eventually changed to Wipperman/Mavic chain and that solved that roblem

mbiking123

When a chain wears down and need replacing, some say you are supposed to replace the whole drivetrain, chainrings etc etc. Something to do with drivetrain matching each other as they wear. Here is one way to get around it (not that I do it)

To solve this problem in the future buy a second chain. I swap out my chain about every 3 months, chains are cheap, entire drivetrains not so much! By rotating chains your cassette and chainrings don't wear to that one chain only. You can get much longer life out of your drivetrain by doing this

http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/workshop/61462-worn-out-chain-do-i-need-replace-chain-rings-casette.html

Possibly you have problems with the chainrings etc

victorcarrera

New chains are normally covered in grease or wax and packed in an airtight bag to keep the air off them so they won't rust. Were all the broken outer plates on the same side? If so it might have been due to the way you stored it and it reacted with whatever it was in contact with on that side.

bcmf

mfdc wrote: »

one of the links the outside plate is broken off and hanging down...... and I can see 2 more cracks in entirely seperate links.

This chain is basically brand new, out of the factory ...a dodgy chain from a bad batch maybe?

Exactly what happened me. And once on the start of the climb of Mt Leinster which was about 2 and a half years ago. Try and google Shimano chain bad batch or something like that.

bcmf

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=47470&sid=47757e822647301b2c52483a3378dae8

and from within that thread
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=22858

mfdc

bcmf wrote: »

There was an issue with a bad batch of Shimano chains (I think specifically 105) where they just kept snapping at the links.

This might well be it - looking at it now all of the cracks are essentially the same, a ~120 degree section of the plate at the pin has broken away on each of the broken links. Since they're all the same failure mode and there was a dodgy batch of Shimano chains doing the rounds a couple years ago, it's probably one of them.

edit:

bcmf wrote:

and from within that thread
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=22858

Yep that picture is it exactly, 5 of them in various places. That settles that I guess!

ednwireland

my mavic for about chain sat on the shelf for about 8 months no probs

blorg

bcmf wrote: »

There was an issue with a bad batch of Shimano chains (I think specifically 105) where they just kept snapping at the links. Believe me I feel your pain after I was plagued by 2 shimano 105 chains just snapping without warning.I eventually changed to Wipperman/Mavic chain and that solved that roblem

The issue was with a batch of Shimano, SRAM, and KMC chains (simultaneously, as they are all made by KMC.) It involved cracked plates and was about 2 years ago. Sounds like what you had. I would not expect a chain in storage to ' go bad' over a 2 year period.

triggermortis

Chains do need to be stored correctly - flat and greased - but those pictures look to me like a faulty chain to start with