Bolo Grubb

ok so last week I used a chain breaker tool and removed my chain for the first time ever to clean it. I had gotten instruction on how to do this at my LBS, so I was pretty confident I could perform this easy task.

Well in the process I lost one of the little bushings that goes between the plates that make up a link.

4 days later I found that little bushing and put it back on.

Today during my ride, the chain popped off and I crashed. This was my first ever crash. I was accelerating through a turn and went down hard, cracking my helmet, so I will need a new one of those.

a bit of road rash and I think my seat is toast (bent badly) and I am pretty sure my chain came apart where I had taken it apart before.

So should I get a new chain? Or pick up a link and continue to use my old chain. The chain has about 5k miles on it but no strectch as measured by me with a tape measure.

I will also be happy to read any tips you may have on using a chain tool I do want to learn from my mistakes.

If I get a new chain what is the best bang for the buck? My old chain is a Z chain ( I think that it is a ZMC chain? THere is a Z on every link).

And since I it looks like I will be asking for a new seat for x-mas or birthday, point me in the direction of any good deals that way too

ovoleg

Ouch

Heal up!!

I would opt for a new chain, best to be safe than sorry

Hipcycler

New chain.
Regardless, the thing has bad mo jo now!

High Fist Shin

Sorry to hear about your crash. Heal strong and get back out there soon.

As for the chain stretch, you can't measure it with a tape measure. There is a special tool that the LBS uses to measure chain stretch. Hear it is:



https://www.parktool.com/products/det...5&item=CC%2D2#

I had about 2k on my original chain. The stretch was a measured 1.0 or 1% stretched at which time I replaced it. With 5k on your chain, it sounds like it's over due for replacement. Sram makes nice chains and the Ultegra chains are durable and not too expensive.

Good luck,

Dante.

KeithA

Well, I guess welcome to the crash club.

You probably won't be straddling the fence on the helmet debate. Most likely, you would have felt it a lot more on the noggin if you hadn't been wearing one.

As far as a new seat, check out Performance. They might have a nice one on sale. Seats are too personal for anyone to know for sure if there's is right for you, but I really like my Fizik Arione.

Glad you fared relatively well. Better a broken seat than a broken bone.

Bolo Grubb

THe bike shop I just went too said I should have used a new pin, not the same one I pushed out to take the chain off the bike? I had not heard that before but then I had never taken a chain off before either.

And yes I do always wear a helmet when riding cause I know I am clumsy

I am think about the Fizik Arione or maybe the new E3 by performance

High Fist Shin

Correct. You should always use a new pin.

Definately get a new chain.

Dante

geneman

Get a SRAM or Wipperman with a quickconnect. Easier to take the chain off for cleaning and put it back on again.

Mark

Bolo Grubb

I think I will get a new chain, probably a SRAM chain. I assume that pins have to be the same brand as the chain?

High Fist Shin

Yes and the pins will be provided in the chain kit.

Dante.

SteveAZ

I can't comment on the replacement of the pin after removal as I've removed mine multiple times over the years and always used the same one Not recommending it, just giving my experience.

BUT, when you replaced the pin, did you detension it? By this I mean when you put the pin back in, did you flip the chain breaker over and apply pressure to the pin from the opposite side that you pressed it in from? This will detension it allowing it to pivot easily as well as ensure that the pin is flush with both sides of the link.

If you did this, disregard

Sorry to hear about your crash, lesson learned I guess but at least by posting about it you may have prevented somebody else from suffering the same fate.

Bolo Grubb

No Steve I did not do that, but the link did seem to move freely. Thanks for the tip though, as they say Knowledge is power.

UmneyDurak

I think what he ment is get an SRAM powerlink. It works with shimano chains. Makes removal of the chain easy, plus no tools required.
Something like this: https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...&slitrk=search

Paniolo

shimano makes specific replacement pins for their chains. You can use a SRAM gold powerlink on shimano 9 spd chains, but a SRAM silver (8spd) will not work on a Shimano 8 spd chain. If you are replacing the entire chain a new SRAM chain will have the powerlink included.

Lecterman

I agree, this could have been the culprit. As a friend of mine instructed me, "you have to make sure you have a little bit of a 'tit' sticking out on each side".

leadbutt

I've had the best luck with SRAM chains, both 8 & 9 speed. I like the Powerlink better than the pin, mainly for ease of removal and replacement, but also for the defined feeling that this piece is locked in tight.

As far as seats, check out koobi.com. I've had four of them and have loved each one. They feel great (esp. if you're a bigger guy) and last quite a while.

wkrider

Good tip

Bolo Grubb

I agree and do believe this was the culprit along with alot of miles on the chain. As I think back I had the pin flush on one side and stinking out a little bit on the other.

Lucky for me I get to live and learn

Thank for all the tips

sofc

Sorry to hear about the crash. I'm not looking forward to my first one (I just started riding again.)

Link to Seat

I just bought this seat but haven't tried it out yet.