Big chain ring tooth damaged after 5000 miles?
#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?
#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.
If you aren't experiencing any shifting problems it's probably fine.
#3
Senior Member
Looks normal.
Chainring teeth aren't identical, some of the teeth are shaped to allow better shifting.
Chainring teeth aren't identical, some of the teeth are shaped to allow better shifting.
#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.
#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?
Always do the easy and cheap thing first. Maybe just clean, lub and adjust. When was the last time that was done?
#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.
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.
#8
Senior Member
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.
#9
Senior Member
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?
#10
Senior Member
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
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.