how do you know when a chain ring is too worn?
#1
Thread Starter
30mi/day commuter
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 797
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
how do you know when a chain ring is too worn?
How do I know when a chain ring is too worn?
Some chain rings dont have square teeth to begin with and how do i know when normal rings are too worn?
2 pictures of a cassette/chain ring.

The cassette actually has a few teeth broken off which I assume makes it garbage, it skips i assume thats why

Its a Ritchey.

Same ring with a close up but the other is better focus
Some chain rings dont have square teeth to begin with and how do i know when normal rings are too worn?
2 pictures of a cassette/chain ring.

The cassette actually has a few teeth broken off which I assume makes it garbage, it skips i assume thats why

Its a Ritchey.

Same ring with a close up but the other is better focus
Last edited by chico1st; 03-20-10 at 07:40 PM.
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Skipping is a real good reason to think the chainring is worn to the replacement point and your picture of the crank seems to show many of the teeth are worn to a sharp point or noticably "hooked" so the rings are indeed ready for the dumpster. A cassette with truly broken teeth on one or more cogs is also DOA. When you replace them, be sure to buy a new chain also.
Out of curiosity, how many miles are on these items?
Out of curiosity, how many miles are on these items?
#4
Thread Starter
30mi/day commuter
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 797
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
the freewheel (not a cassette)
but the teeth are not broken off
Out of curiosity, how many miles are on these items?
but the 5-sp free wheel got about 8000 km last year easily... maybe 10 000 km and it was used when i got it
Last edited by chico1st; 03-20-10 at 08:20 PM.
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Helsinki, Finland
Sometimes there are shifting aids on front rings, but they don't quite look the same as the sharkfin pattern you have at least on the big ring. But there's certainly nothing wrong with the crank, just the rings.
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,237
Likes: 75
From: Fallbrook,Calif./Palau del Vidre, France
Bikes: Klein QP, Fuji touring, Surly Cross Check, BCH City bike
It's in the teeth , look for rounded edges.. I just had to replace my rear cluster. Before it was changed, I had a constant problem with the chain falling off the smallest cog and getting jammed between the quick release and the cluster...
__________________
Pray for the Dead and Fight like Hell for the Living

^ Since January 1, 2012
Pray for the Dead and Fight like Hell for the Living
^ Since January 1, 2012
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 0
From: NY state
Bikes: See Signature...
OP: time for a new freewheel and the two largest chainrings. If you can find out what the BCD (bolt center diameter) is, you can easily find new chain rings for it! The smallest ring looks fine, to me, but It probably wouldn't cost much more to replace that, too. The crank looks fine, just needs new chainrings.
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,563
Likes: 736
From: Melbourne, Oz
Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231
Most of the time you just replace your chain and cassette/freewheel... if you do that and get a sort of whirry, throbby vibration with the same frequency as your chain speed under heavy load, your rings are shot too.
Another way to check is to see how far you can pull a fresh chain off the ring.
Another way to check is to see how far you can pull a fresh chain off the ring.
#9
The space coyote lied.



Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 48,902
Likes: 11,093
From: dusk 'til dawn.
Bikes: everywhere
Big and middle rings are wasted. Granny ring's still good to go.
The freewheel cogs look OK, I'd probably look for a replacement though, since you say you're missing teeth.
The freewheel cogs look OK, I'd probably look for a replacement though, since you say you're missing teeth.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
CoogansBluff
General Cycling Discussion
41
04-01-19 07:17 AM
LlamaBikes
Bicycle Mechanics
5
10-29-15 10:29 AM
Dustintendo
Bicycle Mechanics
11
05-25-10 04:56 PM






