Cost-effective sprockets / chain set ?

[gentlegreen]

My bottom gears are slipping after less than 1 year / 2,000 miles - in spite of me actually cleaning everything in between oiling.

I need a 28/38/48 front thingy and wide range cassette.

Last time I got it all-in for under £50 - low end Shimano ...

 

[Cid]

Have you tried changing the cables and adjusting the derailleurs?

 

[gentlegreen]

Replaced the changers and cables.

The chain is jumping off the teeth when under pressure.

 

[Herbsman.]

get a new chain and cassette, leave the front sprockets unless theyre visibly worn

 

[gentlegreen]

Thanks.

That sounds like a decent first step.

... but it will fail eventually and I really would like something I can count on ... I'm inclined to get one in any case ...

 

[Open Sauce]

Thanks.

That sounds like a decent first step.

... but it will fail eventually and I really would like something I can count on ... I'm inclined to get one in any case ...

Front sprockets will outlast several chains and cassettes. Seriously no need.

 

[gentlegreen]

Last time I tried it, the only front cog the chain would stay on was the small one the duff changer had never let me reach

 

[gentlegreen]

so then ... what should I expect to pay for a new set of bits ?

 

[weepiper]

7/8/9 speed?

 

[gentlegreen]

8 speed. / 28/38/48

It can be as clunky as it likes, so long as it lasts

 

[weepiper]

Evans are doing a Shimano 8 speed cassette for £23 and a matching chain for £9 which is pretty cheap for what they are.

 

[gentlegreen]

That's what I bought last time.

I suppose averaged over a year's riding it isn't bad. Annoyingly the £9.99 set of sprockets is no longer available so I would have to buy a whole front thingy complete.

I don't know what I do wrong. It was fine for ages and then suddenly started feeling crap.
I suppose it could have been down to me not washing the salt off quickly enough over the winter.
Or perhaps me cleaning the chain with WD40 on a rag once or twice ? (before re-oiling)

1 Shimano Alivio Set 3 104/64 PCD 4 Arm Chainrings 28/38/48T - Steel Inner Middle & Outer £9.99
1 Shimano HG50 8 Speed Cassette - 11-32 £14.99
1 Shimano CN-HG40 Chain with Connecting Link 116 Link 6 / 7 / 8 Speed £9.99

 

[weepiper]

a new chain and cassette once a year is pretty average really for a commuting bike. Some bikes we see through the shop need it every 6 months. Road salt is very bad for drivetrains, it does wear everything faster. It is definitely worth trying just the chain and cassette before you change the front chainset too - they will usually last the life of 2 or 3 chain/cassettes as someone else said above. Unless the teeth are visibly worn (hook-shaped rather than symmetrical) it should be ok.

 

[gentlegreen]

Given seperate Shimano front cogs cost stupid money, can you see anything wrong with the Shimano M191 chainset with non-detachable cogs ? I hate throwing a perfectly good lump of metal away each time.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products...ainguard-ec019267?query=Shimano M191 Chainset.

Looks like SJS have the edge though - £50 all-in.

Since the chain has only just started slipping, I will try putting off replacing the chainset.

 

[gentlegreen]

Oh well.

Order gone off - also ordered a can of "muc_off" with built-in chain cleaner thingy and a can of dry lube to see if they make a difference.

At least this replacement cheapo chainset has a guard so I don't have to get oil on my calf when out on a run.

 

[weepiper]

sorry didn't see it before - nothing wrong with those chainsets beyond heaviness, we sell them as the standard commuter bike replacement

 

[gentlegreen]

sorry didn't see it before - nothing wrong with those chainsets beyond heaviness, we sell them as the standard commuter bike replacement

Thanks.

Good to hear I'm not that unusual, wear-wise.
I'll have replaced pretty well my whole bike over the past year.

.. and I have plans to buy a fancy new Specialized seat....

 

[gentlegreen]

Arse !

I'd swapped the cassette before I took the chainwheel off so I didn't realise it was incompatible with my bottom bracket.

The smallest sprocket fouls the frame and if I was to space it far enough, there wouldn't be enough shaft left for the chainwheel to sit on it properly - and what are those bits sticking out for ?

 

[weepiper]

you'll need a longer BB then. Those should take a 122.5 axle, check your frame shell width which will be either 68 or 73mm and get a BB to suit. Those sticky out bits are to try to stop the chain getting jammed between the chainset and frame if the chain drops off shifting to the granny ring

 

[gentlegreen]

Thanks

I suppose the bottom bracket would have needed replacing sooner rather than later.

It gives me the chance to order a proper chain wrench while I'm at it - instead of the old chain screwed to a piece of 3x3 ...

 

[gentlegreen]

Arse again

It looks like I need a very expensive tool to do the job ?

 

[weepiper]

to take the BB out? It should just be a remover which'll cost about 8 quid and you then use a big adjustable spanner to turn

 

[gentlegreen]

So mine's a 68mm ?

 

[gentlegreen]

And definitely a Shimano ?

 

[weepiper]

yes and yes

 

[gentlegreen]

I'm starting to feel guilty now - I wish I had a friendly LBS and not a "Specialized Concept Boutique" several miles away ...

 

[gentlegreen]

Thanks

I would buy you lunch if you lived nearer

 

[weepiper]

no bother