Broken Chain

Hey everybody,
Today I got a broken chain going from 1st to 2nd gear. It was a little freaky but, I was able to coast to the shoulder. I just got the bike out of the shop and had a new chain put on it. What do you think would cause this? I feel like its my shops fault.
Thanks.

 

I would think they didn't do something right. I would definitly take it back, surely they have some sort of warranty on there work.
Good luck.

 

Right after it happened I called my shop and the guy there is super cool and they're going to pick it up tomorrow. The world cup was on two t.v.'s while they were working on it so I'm sure that distracted them from some important detail.
Thanks

 

Master link! I bet it wasn't secured with the locking clip. Let us know what they say.

 

That's what I was thinking. Just like on a bicycle.

 

Me too

 

Grrr... they could have cost you your leg Pbr_street_gang! Imagine the damage that could have happened at speed (highly possible living in L.A.)! I'd be very ticked off at them, post their name on our shop review board, I want to be sure to avoid them. Attention to detail keeps people alive and healthy and every business needs to heed that little point. I understand that the game was on and good on them for caring but your well being is by far more important than the bloody match! I would also suggest you insist upon a pressed master link, not a clip-on, they are by far a stronger link and much less likey to break.

 

Well said Robert. I have driven in L.A. traffic and it ain't pretty I-5 coming down from the north was not bad until I got to L.A. Then it was toooughhh!
I had forgotten about the pressed on master links also! I had always done my own chain maintenance and repair and used the clipon type. The more I think about it the more I like it. It would be best for him to ask for that.

 

Alot of bad news can happen when a chain brakes... when they wedge in the counter sprocket it isn't that funny either.

Another thing that can actually snap a chain is if it were over tightened. Perhaps on an older bike with the suspension being more active you need a hair more slack - don't really know as I've never had a chain drive maxim.

On the two sportbikes I've only needed about an inch of slack - but then again the rear suspension doens't move that far either... I have seen an overly tight chain do some nasty things to suspensions - watching a bike pogo because it was being pulled back up by the chain!!!

Find out the root cause - they should be very interested in resolving this!

 

Yhea, LA is crazy so I'm glade I didn't have anything bad happen. I've already been rear ended once and everyweekend you see guys doing wheelies in traffic. So me and one of the guys went and got my bike and of course at some point in the process I lost my keys and of course I didn't have time to make spares. So they're going to get a new chain on it and some keys made and then I'm getting my bike the hell out of there. Thanks for the ideas about pressed links I'm going to see that they do that and double check the tension and slack. Thanks again and I'll let you all know what the final verdict was with the chain break.

 

Just a word on checking chain slack. The measurement given by Yamaha should be on the swingarm sticker, or possibly the headstock sticker. 1" to 1 1/2" is normal. You take the measurement halfway between the sockets. The catch is, you only take the measurement pushing the chain one way, ie don't pull down on the chain to start, measure from rest to pushed full up. If you first pull the chain then push up, your measurement will be larger than actual and will cause a tight chain. Also checking proper axle alignment is a must. Measure from the center of the swingarm pivots to the center of the axle on each side.

Hope this helps.

Nachoman

 

I learned my lesson on chains early in life. A friend had a old 80cc trail bike and we were dying to ride it (we were about 10 or 11 at the time). Well the master link retainer to the chain was broke and living out in the country with our parents at work there was no way to get one for a day or two. So in our infinite wisdom we thought we would use a small piece on wire. He rode it around for a while and then let me. I was accelerating pretty hard when the engine went screaming and something hit my back so hard I thought I was going to die. I looked back to see that chain sailing through the air, maybe 50 feet or more. On the back of my tee shirt there was a nice imprint the the greasy chain and a good welt on my back. We put it up for the day and when a masterlink was finally obtained we also fab up a chain guard as to not repeat the flogging I received.

 

Yeouch Brick! Your lucky it didn't fly a little higher and brain you! Cheap lesson all things considered, glad you lived to tell us the story!

 

Years ago i was riding behind a hotted up honda 750/4 , and he pizzeled it , snapped the chain , chain hit me in shoulder , and also broke his crankcase [could see in the gearbox] , i was probably 100feet away [memory fade] .... lucky i saw it commin