How To Explain Very Rapid Chain Wear?

I was asked to do a little wrenching on an acquaintance's Kestrel 200
Sci yesterday. The first thing I did was put my Park chain checker tool
http://parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=5&item=CC%2D2 on and I
found the chain is way in need of replacement (reading = 1.0).

The owner tells me that he never lubes the chain. So that cannot help.
But he also told me that he had the chain replaced this spring and it
cannot have over 500 miles on it (he is recovering from a heart attack).
So even without lubing, I'd think this is too few miles to have wrecked
the chain.

The Kestrel is equipped with Ultegra 10-speed gear. The crank is a
triple. I have not id'ed the chain but from a look at the master link,
I'd guess it is a SRAM.

I ride only 9-speed stuff (and older) and have no experience with
10-speed stuff. My 9-speed chains last a long time. But I guess that
because the 10-speed chains are thinner, they could wear faster than
9-speed or less. But is this really true?

I wondered if the last chain was worn and had worn the cogset (or chain
rings) so that the new chain "stretched" into the worn cogs faster. But
if that were the case, I would have thought the new chain would not
shift/hold well when first installed. The owner says that was not a problem.

So what do you think is going on here?

Also, if I get a new Ultegra (or D/A) 10-speed chain for this, do they
require a special chain tool? It does not seem like they come with
master links.

Thanks for all your help.

David White wrote:
I was asked to do a little wrenching on an acquaintance's Kestrel 200
Sci yesterday. The first thing I did was put my Park chain checker tool
http://parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=5&item=CC%2D2 on and I
found the chain is way in need of replacement (reading = 1.0).

The owner tells me that he never lubes the chain. So that cannot help.
But he also told me that he had the chain replaced this spring and it
cannot have over 500 miles on it (he is recovering from a heart attack).
So even without lubing, I'd think this is too few miles to have wrecked
the chain.

The Kestrel is equipped with Ultegra 10-speed gear. The crank is a
triple. I have not id'ed the chain but from a look at the master link,
I'd guess it is a SRAM.

I ride only 9-speed stuff (and older) and have no experience with
10-speed stuff. My 9-speed chains last a long time. But I guess that
because the 10-speed chains are thinner, they could wear faster than
9-speed or less. But is this really true?

I wondered if the last chain was worn and had worn the cogset (or chain
rings) so that the new chain "stretched" into the worn cogs faster. But
if that were the case, I would have thought the new chain would not
shift/hold well when first installed. The owner says that was not a
problem.

So what do you think is going on here?

Also, if I get a new Ultegra (or D/A) 10-speed chain for this, do they
require a special chain tool? It does not seem like they come with
master links.

Thanks for all your help.

Double check it with a ruler, it could be the gauge.

"David White" wrote in message
...
I was asked to do a little wrenching on an acquaintance's Kestrel 200
Sci yesterday. The first thing I did was put my Park chain checker tool
http://parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=5&item=CC%2D2 on and I
found the chain is way in need of replacement (reading = 1.0).

The owner tells me that he never lubes the chain. So that cannot help.
But he also told me that he had the chain replaced this spring and it
cannot have over 500 miles on it (he is recovering from a heart attack).
So even without lubing, I'd think this is too few miles to have wrecked
the chain.

The Kestrel is equipped with Ultegra 10-speed gear. The crank is a
triple. I have not id'ed the chain but from a look at the master link,
I'd guess it is a SRAM.

I ride only 9-speed stuff (and older) and have no experience with
10-speed stuff. My 9-speed chains last a long time. But I guess that
because the 10-speed chains are thinner, they could wear faster than
9-speed or less. But is this really true?

I wondered if the last chain was worn and had worn the cogset (or chain
rings) so that the new chain "stretched" into the worn cogs faster. But
if that were the case, I would have thought the new chain would not
shift/hold well when first installed. The owner says that was not a
problem.

So what do you think is going on here?

Also, if I get a new Ultegra (or D/A) 10-speed chain for this, do they
require a special chain tool? It does not seem like they come with
master links.

Thanks for all your help.

How worn are the cogs on his cassette? If they are worn out then as you
suggest, that can cause premature chain wear.

Why doesn't your friend lube his chain? Is it because he want to avoid a
greasy chain?

The grease that the SRAM chains are packed in can't last more than a few
hundred miles.

I use dry wax type chain lubes and they work well for me and avoid excess
grease on my chains.

Years ago when chains sold for ~$6.00-7.00, I used to change them at 3000
miles - 4800 Km. I always kept my chains clean and well lubed using the
various chain lubes available at the time.

I saved the used chains in plastic baggies. Last Fall I bought one of the
Park chain tools to check out a problem I was having on one bike. Just for
yuks I checked out all of those old chains and none of them even failed
the .75mm side of the chain checker!

If the bike shifts fine with the SRAM chain why spend the extra vanity
money on an expensive Shimano chain?

Chas.

Peter Cole wrote:
David White wrote:
I was asked to do a little wrenching on an acquaintance's Kestrel 200
Sci yesterday. The first thing I did was put my Park chain checker
tool http://parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=5&item=CC%2D2 on
and I found the chain is way in need of replacement (reading = 1.0).

The owner tells me that he never lubes the chain. So that cannot help.
But he also told me that he had the chain replaced this spring and it
cannot have over 500 miles on it (he is recovering from a heart
attack). So even without lubing, I'd think this is too few miles to
have wrecked the chain.

The Kestrel is equipped with Ultegra 10-speed gear. The crank is a
triple. I have not id'ed the chain but from a look at the master link,
I'd guess it is a SRAM.

I ride only 9-speed stuff (and older) and have no experience with
10-speed stuff. My 9-speed chains last a long time. But I guess that
because the 10-speed chains are thinner, they could wear faster than
9-speed or less. But is this really true?

I wondered if the last chain was worn and had worn the cogset (or
chain rings) so that the new chain "stretched" into the worn cogs
faster. But if that were the case, I would have thought the new chain
would not shift/hold well when first installed. The owner says that
was not a problem.

So what do you think is going on here?

Also, if I get a new Ultegra (or D/A) 10-speed chain for this, do they
require a special chain tool? It does not seem like they come with
master links.

Thanks for all your help.

Double check it with a ruler, it could be the gauge.

Thanks Peter, I will do that. But I used the same tool just now on a
brand new Campy 9-speed chain and it checks out just fine. So this leads
me to believe that the tool is fine.

On Aug 11, 9:06*am, David White wrote:
I was asked to do a little wrenching on an acquaintance's Kestrel 200
Sci yesterday. The first thing I did was put my Park chain checker tool
http://parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=5&item=CC%2D2 on and I
found the chain is way in need of replacement (reading = 1.0).

The owner tells me that he never lubes the chain. So that cannot help.
But he also told me that he had the chain replaced this spring and it
cannot have over 500 miles on it (he is recovering from a heart attack).
So even without lubing, I'd think this is too few miles to have wrecked
the chain.

The Kestrel is equipped with Ultegra 10-speed gear. The crank is a
triple. I have not id'ed the chain but from a look at the master link,
I'd guess it is a SRAM.

I ride only 9-speed stuff (and older) and have no experience with
10-speed stuff. My 9-speed chains last a long time. But I guess that
because the 10-speed chains are thinner, they could wear faster than
9-speed or less. But is this really true?

I wondered if the last chain was worn and had worn the cogset (or chain
rings) so that the new chain "stretched" into the worn cogs faster. But
if that were the case, I would have thought the new chain would not
shift/hold well when first installed. The owner says that was not a problem.

So what do you think is going on here?

Also, if I get a new Ultegra (or D/A) 10-speed chain for this, do they
require a special chain tool? It does not seem like they come with
master links.

Thanks for all your help.

Check the rollers. The Park tool measures roller to roller, and on a
triple, you can generate enough force to deform a roller and make the
chain appear that it is worn. I used to use my triple equiped touring
bike to drag my son in a Burley trailer over some steep climbs. I
actually ended up smashing some rollers and even had one break and
fall off. This was on a nine speed SRAM chain.-- Jay Beattie.

"David White" wrote in message
...
I was asked to do a little wrenching on an acquaintance's Kestrel 200 Sci
yesterday. The first thing I did was put my Park chain checker tool
http://parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=5&item=CC%2D2 on and I found
the chain is way in need of replacement (reading = 1.0).

The owner tells me that he never lubes the chain. So that cannot help. But
he also told me that he had the chain replaced this spring and it cannot
have over 500 miles on it (he is recovering from a heart attack). So even
without lubing, I'd think this is too few miles to have wrecked the chain.


Maybe it's just a cheap, crummy chain.

Ted

* * Chas wrote:
"David White" wrote in message
...
I was asked to do a little wrenching on an acquaintance's Kestrel 200
Sci yesterday. The first thing I did was put my Park chain checker tool
http://parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=5&item=CC%2D2 on and I
found the chain is way in need of replacement (reading = 1.0).

The owner tells me that he never lubes the chain. So that cannot help.
But he also told me that he had the chain replaced this spring and it
cannot have over 500 miles on it (he is recovering from a heart attack).
So even without lubing, I'd think this is too few miles to have wrecked
the chain.

The Kestrel is equipped with Ultegra 10-speed gear. The crank is a
triple. I have not id'ed the chain but from a look at the master link,
I'd guess it is a SRAM.

I ride only 9-speed stuff (and older) and have no experience with
10-speed stuff. My 9-speed chains last a long time. But I guess that
because the 10-speed chains are thinner, they could wear faster than
9-speed or less. But is this really true?

I wondered if the last chain was worn and had worn the cogset (or chain
rings) so that the new chain "stretched" into the worn cogs faster. But
if that were the case, I would have thought the new chain would not
shift/hold well when first installed. The owner says that was not a
problem.
So what do you think is going on here?

Also, if I get a new Ultegra (or D/A) 10-speed chain for this, do they
require a special chain tool? It does not seem like they come with
master links.

Thanks for all your help.

How worn are the cogs on his cassette? If they are worn out then as you
suggest, that can cause premature chain wear.

Why doesn't your friend lube his chain? Is it because he want to avoid a
greasy chain?

The grease that the SRAM chains are packed in can't last more than a few
hundred miles.

I use dry wax type chain lubes and they work well for me and avoid excess
grease on my chains.

Years ago when chains sold for ~$6.00-7.00, I used to change them at 3000
miles - 4800 Km. I always kept my chains clean and well lubed using the
various chain lubes available at the time.

I saved the used chains in plastic baggies. Last Fall I bought one of the
Park chain tools to check out a problem I was having on one bike. Just for
yuks I checked out all of those old chains and none of them even failed
the .75mm side of the chain checker!

If the bike shifts fine with the SRAM chain why spend the extra vanity
money on an expensive Shimano chain?

Chas.



Well, I cannot really tell how worn the cogset is, Chas. I am just
theorizing about things that MIGHT have caused this problem (if it is
indeed a problem - I would consider it a problem on my Campy 9-speed stuff).

I cannot tell you for sure why he doesn't lube the chain. Ignorance or
laziness is my best guess. I also was hearing squeaking from the jockey
wheels so I said I would not ride any more with him until he let me lube
the chain and jockeys. So he brought it over.

I drip on Boeshield but have recently been considering other lubes. I
agree that the original packing grease is lousy for a chain lube but
this does not appear to be on the chain. I would guess that the local
shop de-greased the chain prior to install. If so, I am sure they would
have lubed the chain before the bike went out the door.

I have had my Park tool for a long time now and it seems to be
consistent - although I have never personally let a chain go as far as
this one has. So I doubt that the tool is a problem. I have just checked
a brand new Campy 9-speed chain and it read fine.

Thanks

Jay Beattie wrote:
On Aug 11, 9:06 am, David White wrote:
I was asked to do a little wrenching on an acquaintance's Kestrel 200
Sci yesterday. The first thing I did was put my Park chain checker tool
http://parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=5&item=CC%2D2 on and I
found the chain is way in need of replacement (reading = 1.0).

The owner tells me that he never lubes the chain. So that cannot help.
But he also told me that he had the chain replaced this spring and it
cannot have over 500 miles on it (he is recovering from a heart attack).
So even without lubing, I'd think this is too few miles to have wrecked
the chain.

The Kestrel is equipped with Ultegra 10-speed gear. The crank is a
triple. I have not id'ed the chain but from a look at the master link,
I'd guess it is a SRAM.

I ride only 9-speed stuff (and older) and have no experience with
10-speed stuff. My 9-speed chains last a long time. But I guess that
because the 10-speed chains are thinner, they could wear faster than
9-speed or less. But is this really true?

I wondered if the last chain was worn and had worn the cogset (or chain
rings) so that the new chain "stretched" into the worn cogs faster. But
if that were the case, I would have thought the new chain would not
shift/hold well when first installed. The owner says that was not a problem.

So what do you think is going on here?

Also, if I get a new Ultegra (or D/A) 10-speed chain for this, do they
require a special chain tool? It does not seem like they come with
master links.

Thanks for all your help.

Check the rollers. The Park tool measures roller to roller, and on a
triple, you can generate enough force to deform a roller and make the
chain appear that it is worn. I used to use my triple equiped touring
bike to drag my son in a Burley trailer over some steep climbs. I
actually ended up smashing some rollers and even had one break and
fall off. This was on a nine speed SRAM chain.-- Jay Beattie.

Thanks Jay. This is an interesting idea. We live on an island in Puget
Sound and there is alot of climbing involved - some of it pretty steep.

In article ,
David White wrote:

So what do you think is going on here?

I think that the mechanic at the bike shop forgot to replace the old
chain.

On Aug 11, 2:37*pm, "Ted Mittelstaedt" wrote:
"David White" wrote in message

...

I was asked to do a little wrenching on an acquaintance's Kestrel 200 Sci
yesterday. The first thing I did was put my Park chain checker tool
http://parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=5&item=CC%2D2 on and I found
the chain is way in need of replacement (reading = 1.0).

The owner tells me that he never lubes the chain. So that cannot help. But
he also told me that he had the chain replaced this spring and it cannot
have over 500 miles on it (he is recovering from a heart attack). So even
without lubing, I'd think this is too few miles to have wrecked the chain.

Maybe it's just a cheap, crummy chain.

Ted

I don't think a new chain was installed