Joecool85

I broke 2 teeth on my rincon on the large front gear. They aren't totally gone, but half height or so. Is this a problem? Where can I get a new gear?

santiago

By the large one I'm assuming you mean the large 3rd gear. If so, then yes, I really recommend that you replace it. Someone in my mountain bike club had some worn teeth on his big front gear and on a long downhill on a gravel road put it on. He was probably rolling pretty quick when the whole drivetrain locked up because the chain skipped off. He came down pretty hard and got hurt.

You can pick up a large 3rd gear from pretty much anywhere. Check out MEC.ca if you're in Canada.

I also recommend you get a bashguard to prevent the broken/worn out teeth. Most bashguards replace the big ring, but I found a bashguard from MEC that sits over the big ring. I bought and installed that one. It's quite possible I posted pictures here so do a search. Here's the link to the bashguard: bashguard link

Chone

I bended some teeth on my largest ring too, I got sick of it and I'm getting a bashguard when I send my bike to the bikeshop to get a cable replaced and my derailleur tuned.

I can't use it because like santiago said my drivetrain will lock when going at high speeds on the large chainring, it sucks but not nearly as much as injuring your hand and not being able to ride for who knows how long.

Joecool85

I'm in maine, but I think I can order it online. That bashguard looks nice. Is it just plastic? You said you installed it, is it really rugged?

Joecool85

This is what we are looking at. Upon further inspection, there are two identically worn/broken teeth behind the crank on the right. So four total. How do you replace this? It seems those four "bolts" have no heads and aren't allen type either...they seem totally round.

Joecool85

It looks like 2 of my teeth on the 1st gear are partly broken as well. Does this mean time for a new crank set? If so, is there a good cheap one somewhere? Is it possible to swap one out of say....a grand tetan?

Karldar

I was gonna tell you to have a cold beer. That's what I did when I broke my teeth. Then, I realized you were talking about chainring teeth. I'd replace them if you notice issues with shifting, chainsuck, or the chain jumping off the 'rings. Try riding it around, at manageable speeds, in a safe area and shift chainrings...or not. I use my big ring as my bashguard so feel free not to pay any attention to my advice.

mx_599

just take it off

Help Im A Noob

you might need fake teeth then braces. oh ohhh bikes
buy a smash gaurd.

Joecool85

Looks like I'm gonna pick up a smash guard and call it a day for now. Eventually I might replace the gears, but not yet as I don't have the cash and it seems to ride fine. Whats 4 teeth out of 44 anyway?

santiago

The MEC bashguard I linked to is made out of Aluminum. I did need to do some aligning for it and needed some spacers. From this older post, I wrote that this is what I what had to do:

It's more than a simple bolt on, there are tiny things that have to be done to accommodate:
1 - I needed to get longer bolt to accommodate the bashguard and the existing chain rings.
2 - I needed to put spacers (washers) between my largest ring and the bashguard. The fit was not flush because of how the largest ring has various indendations and it caused flex when I tightened the bolts. Two little washers on each bolt solved that problem. The spacers also give enough room for the front derailleur cage to move far enough.
3 - My front derailleur had to be raised in order to clear the the bashguard. when moving you also have to make sure that the alignment is correct. It took trial and error to get it just right so I had no problems shifting down and up the 3 rings.

Joecool85

Well, its good to hear that its made out of aluminum as opposed to plastic.