Bicycle Mechanics - Chain Skip

my bike only has about 500 miles on it in the six weeks i've owned it (bought brand new). but despite routine chain maintenance, i find the chain is sometimes skipping under heavy load.

is it possible for chains to wear out that quickly?

a word about "routine maintenance":

that means weekly cleaning in place with WD-40/bristle brush, following by a thorough wipedown and dowsing with White Lightning chain lube. once/month i remove the chain and clean it in a tub of kerosene, wipe down, let dry, and again dowse with White Lightning.

any input on what could be causing this prob would be greatly appreciated.

if you're the incredible hulk with leg muscles then yes.

Is that the original chain that came with the bike? Sometimes the chains that come on bikes aren't the best to begin with. If I was you, I'd go get a Shimano IG Chain, or a Sram PC-99. Both hi-quality, and long lasting.

I've worn out a chain as fast as 1 month before (back when I owned my Giant Warp). But still... anything's possible.
:p

Originally posted by Bandit
my bike only has about 500 miles on it in the six weeks i've owned it (bought brand new). but despite routine chain maintenance, i find the chain is sometimes skipping under heavy load.

is it possible for chains to wear out that quickly?

a word about "routine maintenance":

that means weekly cleaning in place with WD-40/bristle brush, following by a thorough wipedown and dowsing with White Lightning chain lube. once/month i remove the chain and clean it in a tub of kerosene, wipe down, let dry, and again dowse with White Lightning.

any input on what could be causing this prob would be greatly appreciated. Didn't you ask this somewhere else?lots of things can cause 'chain skip'. Is the chain skipping teeth on a cog or from cog to cog?The hub could also be bad. The chain could be wore out in that mileage,due to cheap chain,conditions or other factors. Learn to measure chains,so you can judge if they are wore out. A foot of new chain measures exactly 12",c-c of pins., and should be replaced when it measures 12 1/16".waiting till it measures 121/8" as often recommended usually trashes the cassett too.

Originally posted by BigHit-Maniac
if you're the incredible hulk with leg muscles then yes.

Is that the original chain that came with the bike? Sometimes the chains that come on bikes aren't the best to begin with. If I was you, I'd go get a Shimano IG Chain, or a Sram PC-99. Both hi-quality, and long lasting.

I've worn out a chain as fast as 1 month before (back when I owned my Giant Warp). But still... anything's possible.
:p An IG chain should only be used on IG drivelines, and a PC-99 is really an option on top end 9 speed systems. Do you know what he has??

"did you ask this question already elsewhere?"

no, actually. i posted simultaneous to someone else who had a similar issue. sorry about the confusion.

regarding the drive train: shimano 105 double crank; tiagra derraileurs front and back; tiagra cassette.

regarding skipping links or cogs: both, actually. it is reluctant to shift, and it skips in both small and large increments. i think the chain is toast, not because of my leg strength, but because it was a cheapo to begin with. i've already had to have the back wheel rebuilt with name-brand spokes (curing chronic misalignment). now i've got to upgrade the chain.

that's what i get for shopping for low prices, i guess. i bought a jamis nova for cheap. should have known better.

Well, if the chain is trashed, the cassette may be too.Trashed cassett can cause skipping from cog go cog. Derailer cable tension misadjustment can also cause shipping from cog to cog Rather than guess and spend needless money, measure the chain of find a shop that will.