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View Full Version : Chain Snap UPDATE ... The most likely reason was

Tony_BLY
11-02-06, 04:04 PM
the wheel bearings in my rear wheel had collapsed. This was found when local bike shop fitted new chain.

This explains a few things to me recently:

a difficult to adjust chain i.e. wouldn't hold the adjustment for very long;

a slight squeaking noise, which sounded like it was coming from the front?!;

the fact that the chain snapped while I was riding smoothly and not after, or immediately after a gear change.

Looks like side to side movement has caused undue strain on the chain, hence my predicament after only 6,000 miles of use.

Might be one for people to watch for as your bike gets older. Mine's a 2000 curvy.

Thought I'd share the update, as you never know. Noticed that now the rear wheel has been rebuilt how much more planted my bike feels! :roll:

Regards

Tony

PS Might even revert to using engine oil on the new chain! :wink:
Iansv
11-02-06, 04:50 PM
My rear wheel bearing/s were going after 12k miles... had to have em replaced to pass the mot
Warren
11-02-06, 05:24 PM
just a question ?

when ive been checking my wheel bearings . . . ive been putting my bike on the centre stand and checking for play moving the wheel up and down, left and right.

if there is no play . . . . does that mean your wheel bearings are fine ?
or is there another way to check ?
enon
11-02-06, 05:25 PM
So the symptoms for rear wheel bearings going out are?
- a chain snapping during smooth riding, not after a gear change, hard acceleration, etc... (to late to prevent a breakdown at this point obviously)
- a difficult to adjust chain i.e. wouldn't hold the adjustment for very long;
- a slight squeaking noise, which sounded like it was coming from the front?!
- a 'less planted' feeling on the bike after 6years/12k miles

Any other tips / warnings anyone can offer on this?

Thanks for the update Tony_BLY!!!! :D
Stig
11-02-06, 05:32 PM
To check the bearings you should have the wheel off the ground. Pull and push the wheel in all directions. There should be no movement at all. Spin the wheel, any drag (check the pads are not dragging on the disk) felt is a probable sign the bearings are on the way out. The only real way to confirm this is to take the wheel off and take the bearings out and inspect for signs of wear.

Basically, if you feel no movement and the wheel rotates freely, they are fine.
Warren
11-02-06, 05:45 PM
To check the bearings you should have the wheel off the ground. Pull and push the wheel in all directions. There should be no movement at all. Spin the wheel, any drag (check the pads are not dragging on the disk) felt is a probable sign the bearings are on the way out. The only real way to confirm this is to take the wheel off and take the bearings out and inspect for signs of wear.

Basically, if you feel no movement and the wheel rotates freely, they are fine.

cool, just checking.
admin
11-02-06, 08:47 PM
This reminds me of an old story and something you might want to consider.

Many moons ago, on a trip to the IOM. A frend had a problem with a chan jumping off the sprockets. This was down to a failure of the bearing in the sprocket carrier (cushhub thing) and not the wheel itself.

You didn't specify which bearing it was. There are two in the wheel itself and as mentioned above, one in the sprocket carrier.

The reason my friend bearing had failed is because he'd forgotton to put the spacer tube into the sprocket carrier. This tube inserts into the inside of the carrier and seems to keep the bearing in place as the other end of the tube rests against the wheel.

This tube usually falls out when you pull the sprocket carrier off and it's very easy to forget it during re-assembly.

I'm just curious in this case because the mileage is far to low for a bearing failure.

When was the last time you had the rear tyre changed?

Was the tube present when the garage inspected your bike after the chain failure?

John
northwind
11-02-06, 09:53 PM
It's very low but not impossible... I'm kind of thinking "powerwasher" but that might be unfair. A manufacturing defect or some piece of accidental damage could account for premature wear.
jonboy
12-02-06, 10:06 AM
Yes I remember that Alan SV's bearing failed on his rear wheel at a very low mileage on his SV Thou, but he'd used a powerwasher and had inadvertently washed away the grease, so definitely something to think about.


.
Tony_BLY
12-02-06, 10:31 AM
The mechanic said the bearings had failed on the sprocket side of the wheel.

The last time the rear was off was when the tyres were replaced in the summer, fitted by the local bike shop. I wouldn't have thought that they would forget to replace spacers etc ... but I guess it is possible. My SV has done just short of 20,000 miles.

The rear wheel has been off several times since I bought it at 6,500 miles, 3 times when I have found punctures and once when I replaced chain and sprockets at 13,500 miles in November 2004.

Seems there's lots to consider in light of my recent problem. :?

Cheers

Tony
jonhunt
12-02-06, 05:14 PM
i only had one bike that both went rember when the front one went i thort i was ill bike goin everywhere.

rear one not to bad and i aint had a chain or a belt snap on me yet

chain alwas lubed when i can and after a wash and cleaned every 6weeks and lubed for peace of mind.