Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Big chain ring tooth damaged after 5000 miles?

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Big chain ring tooth damaged after 5000 miles?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-18-17, 12:39 PM
  #1  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 227
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 82 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Big chain ring tooth damaged after 5000 miles?

One of the teeth in my big chainring is damaged after about 5,000 miles of riding. Is that normal? ring-problem-1.jpg Oh, the second one from the right (relative to the circled one) is damaged as well. This chainring has a short life, right?
bikecommuter13 is offline  
Old 05-18-17, 01:15 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2,537

Bikes: yes

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1281 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times in 329 Posts
Chainrings wear down eventually, some more quickly than others depending on conditions and maintenance. I replace the chainrings on my gravel bike at least once a year, but on my road bike I can't remember the last time I changed them.

If you aren't experiencing any shifting problems it's probably fine.
ksryder is offline  
Old 05-18-17, 01:28 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 4,400

Bikes: Bianchi Infinito (Celeste, of course)

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 754 Post(s)
Liked 104 Times in 77 Posts
Looks normal.
Chainring teeth aren't identical, some of the teeth are shaped to allow better shifting.
gsa103 is offline  
Old 05-18-17, 02:11 PM
  #4  
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 227
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 82 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
When I switch from the small ring to the big, it sometimes wants to move back to the small ring. And when I am on the big ring, I hear this clicking sound and see that the chain is not perfectly seated/aligned with the ring. If the chain ring is ok, could it be the problem with the chain. This is a new chain I just put on 2 days ago.
bikecommuter13 is offline  
Old 05-18-17, 02:25 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Llano Estacado
Posts: 3,702

Bikes: old clunker

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 684 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 105 Times in 83 Posts
Try turning the little barrel adjuster thing on your front shifter.
AnkleWork is offline  
Old 05-18-17, 03:18 PM
  #6  
- Soli Deo Gloria -
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779

Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix

Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times in 469 Posts
What is visible in the photo indicates that the bike sees pretty rough service. At least two broken teeth in that photo. Those must have been 5000 hard miles.

Always do the easy and cheap thing first. Maybe just clean, lub and adjust. When was the last time that was done?
TimothyH is offline  
Old 05-18-17, 03:20 PM
  #7  
Occam's Rotor
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times in 1,164 Posts
If it is obviously damaged, try Dremelling it back into shape. I did this with one that got mashed by a flying rock. If it isn't obviously damaged, and the chain shifts and tracks smoothly (after making the above-recommended adjustments), just ignore it.

If the chain has worn out the chainring, you will never get it to track smoothly.

Try this test:

https://cyclingtips.com/2016/09/how-...-chain-wear-2/

I wear out Ultegra 11-speed rings pretty rapidly.

Last edited by Cyclist0108; 05-18-17 at 03:24 PM.
Cyclist0108 is offline  
Old 05-18-17, 03:20 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
demoncyclist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Medway, MA
Posts: 2,727

Bikes: 2011 Lynskey Sportive, 1988 Cannondale SM400

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Looks like normal tooth shaping for better shifting to me. The other issue you are having is derailleur /shifter/cable tension related.
demoncyclist is offline  
Old 05-18-17, 03:30 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
dsbrantjr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319

Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times in 723 Posts
Check the "damaged" teeth and see if they are arranged symmetrically around the chain ring and associated with the shift ramps and pins. If so they are truncated to aid in shifting. The wear in the gullets of the teeth is unusual. Do you shift under load a lot?
dsbrantjr is offline  
Old 05-19-17, 01:51 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
maddog34's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 2,975

Bikes: !982 Trek 930R Custom, Diamondback ascent with SERIOUS updates, Fuji Team Pro CF and a '09 Comencal Meta 5.5

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Liked 739 Times in 534 Posts
Originally Posted by gsa103
Looks normal.
Chainring teeth aren't identical, some of the teeth are shaped to allow better shifting.
no... that is not "Normal"... look at the one a couple teeth forward... it's also broken off... from WEAR weakening the teeth... that ring is shot, and it will ruin any new chain installed, in short order. there is lots of visible side wear on several of the teeth in the pic, too. AND, the tooth 5 teeth forward is pointed, just about to fail, too.

and it would be a safe bet to say the small ring is worn even worse.

Last edited by maddog34; 05-19-17 at 01:56 AM.
maddog34 is offline  
Old 05-19-17, 01:58 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 887
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 241 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
The damage is not from the chain.

You could damage the chain ring when you rode over a bump in a road.
Something like this.
Barabaika is offline  
Old 05-19-17, 03:37 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
maddog34's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 2,975

Bikes: !982 Trek 930R Custom, Diamondback ascent with SERIOUS updates, Fuji Team Pro CF and a '09 Comencal Meta 5.5

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Liked 739 Times in 534 Posts
Originally Posted by Barabaika
The damage is not from the chain.

You could damage the chain ring when you rode over a bump in a road.
Something like this.
it's worn out.... then, some of the teeth broke since there was no longer enough material to support the load.
maddog34 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
12strings
Bicycle Mechanics
17
01-04-18 02:04 PM
billyymc
Road Cycling
7
08-03-13 07:10 PM
spectastic
Bicycle Mechanics
11
10-18-12 10:31 PM
jim p
Bicycle Mechanics
24
07-12-12 11:32 AM
jlatus
Bicycle Mechanics
4
10-03-11 06:42 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.