NoRacer

Googled: Keywords = " chain suck "

damocles1

Sorry! Rider error...

Seriously, if you shift into your biggest sprocket while under load, there is a lot of stress being place on the derailleur and chain. Any problems that may exist in the drivetrain, however small, will be amplified. This was the case of a bike that that probably wasn't adjusted properly and was shifted while under an, admittedly, large load. The chain probably overshifted and got caught up. Forward momentum did the rest...

SkiNut

This appears to be the case. The chain pin is pushed out and apparently caught the RD, and pulled it around into the frame, and broke the rear carbon stay. It's still hard to tell what happened, though. The RD did not rip away from the frame like it's designed to either. The manger of the bike shop didn't think that an issue with the chain would cause this to happen.

Either way, it sounds like Trek is not going to cover this, and perhaps they are correct. However, it leaves a bad taste with me that they would just walk away with the bike within the one year period.

SkiNut

Really....Is there a need for this? We are all examining this type of a mechanical failure, and hopefully learning something. The bike has been maintained properly, has only 260 miles on it, never shifted under hard loads, and when the failure occured, I was simply riding up a hill in 2nd gear. I had my last bike for 20 years, repacked the bearings every year, and replaced the worn parts as need. Never had a problem!

wroomwroomoops

LOLZ!

damocles1

The BS flag just went all the way to the top of the pole.

First, you said you were "cranking up a hill", which seems to indicate that you were riding hard. Now, you were simply "riding up a hill"...which is it?

If you were, in fact, just riding along, the chain may have failed, but would not have caused so much damage. And that's a proven fact. If you were in "2nd gear" and the chain got caught, the rear wheel would have simply stopped and locked up. The r/d had to be moving for it to get caught up in the stay. Odds are, you shifted up, under load into whatever your top cog was, the r/d overshifted (not set-up/adjusted properly) and the chain broke.
Please do not blame Trek, as much as they are the giant succubus of the industry, for your LBS not having a clue or your own operator error.

SkiNut

For anyone who is interested. Here's a pic of the damage. Best I can tell a failure in the chain caught the RD and wrapped it around.

trek1

Wow I would be raising hell with my LBS if they sere responsible for performed check ups. I just can't see that happening in the first year of ownership, that is why you buy it new and not used off Ebay. I know the LBS or Trek can't back up every situation or issue but that looks clearly like mechanical failure that caused permanent frame damage. As long as everything was stock and not tampered with something should be covered or done to make the repair affordable.

miamijim

User error. You shifted that baby into the spokes.

C.S.I. Jim says:

1. chain is on large cog indicationg a shift into the large cog.
2. lower pulley wheel is missing indicating a shift into the spokes
3. If you take a picture of the body of the derailleur from an angle showing the lettering I'll pretty much gaurantee it has scrap marks on it. Scrap marks indicate prior damage.
4. owner states "I was cranking up a hill' thus implicating himself in shifting into the spokes.

Sorry....

SkiNut

Did you notice the pin sticking out of the chain? Look towards the top of the large cog. I didn't shift at the time of the incident, or a even few rotations before. I'm sure when the RD let go, it moved the chain. The RD was operating properly. Now chain damage cause by me earlier? That's a more likely probability. I'll look for scrape marks on the RD, but I've never dropped the bike.

It seems the concensus here is that Trek should not be responsible, and I was looking for a few unbiased views, before I told the LBS to go ahead and get the replacement frame. Thanks to every one that replied! Hopefully everyone who reads this will take a little extra care to examine their chain for problems on a regular basis, and check their RD.

2manybikes

They also say there is no such thing as 2manybikes.

cuda2k

First off, do not immediately jump to the conclusion that it is 'rider error' and exclaim 'You did it.' without supporing evidence.

Secondly, how'd he shift into the spokes with the spoke protector still on the bike? Certainly looks like a case of chain pin faults catching the derailleur. With less than 300mi on the bike, sure isn't much distance for something like that to happen out on the road. And not much time for the user to jack with the limits to be at fault.

My suggestion is to write out and detail everything done with and to the bike from date of purchase. If you can document the milage somehow prior to failure, all the better. With less than 300mi on the thing there's probably plenty of parts on the bike that will display very low milage. Document any work you had the shop do, and of course anything you did. If you worked on the bike, then I'd sure state how much experience you have working on derailleurs to support your ability to make such changes correctly.

Portis

Wow, that is some horrible investigative work. First of all there is a dork disc on the bike so shifting into the spokes? I also see the pin which sticking out of the chain. That is likely the source of the problem although that picture is nowhere near enough evidence to conclude.

SkiNut

TREK COMES THROUGH!!!

Trek is going to supply a new frame, and I'm going to pay for the other parts, and the installation. Quite frankly, I think that they are being perfectly fair, and have to say I'm pleased with this resolution! Thanks again for helping me look at this with an unbiased view.

wroomwroomoops

I am very happy for you.

Now, consider selling the bike and getting yourself something made of steel. In the long run, you'll be a happy man.

Portis

Good for you. Nobody here knows whose "fault" this was but it certainly is good to see Trek stand behind their warranty. It is reassuring when you are plopping down big money on a bike to know that the manufacturer will likely back you up if things go South.

miamijim

I'll throw you a big 'W' to you on this one. I've been around enough and have seen enough to know what happened.

I'm very curious as to how something else happened.....

SkiNut

Was it how I got a ride home from a cute girl?

Carusoswi

So, since you couldn't have said it better, you decided it best to just insult the OP.

Caruso

wroomwroomoops

Couldn't have said it better or more clearly...

By the way, the OP is really a nice guy, and definitely NOT stupid.

FarHorizon

To the OP: Congrats on Trek standing up for you. I don't know whether the damage was actually your fault, Trek's, your LBS's or all of the above, but overall, I think you came out smelling like a rose. If you like the carbon ride, keep with it. Carbon isn't as durable as steel (most nothing else is), but how many times do you expect to have a catastrophic failure like this?

I, personally, am wary of narrow chains (think 9 or 10 speed models) and of ALL Shimano chains. I like Wiperman chains and am particularly fond of their stainless steel ones. I prefer to spend some $$ upgrading my chains so that I don't have to worry about chain failure. I can't say that what I do is a surefire prophylactic, but I've never (yet) had a chain failure.

Glad to hear you weren't seriously injured & I hope you got the cute girl's #!

SkiNut

Thanks for the chain info, I'll look into that upgrade...this issue seems to be pretty rare. The chains for the ten speed are a little thinner, and I was a little concern when I bought this. But it's nice going fron 6 to 10. You're rarely looking for the gear in between. The 20+ year old cromoly frame has served me well, and a felt it was time to retire it. The new Trek is a bit faster up the hills!