peculiar chain problem

Last time I was out my chain started skipping a bit. I thought it needed
lubing as it is not that old, but upon inspection I found something odd.

It is a Wipperman 9-speed stainless chain. The half-links either side of
the connector are both binding. I lubed the heck out of them, and worked
them back and forth but they remain stiff.

Drive train is triple 9-speed Campy. This is not a new setup, I have
ridden a few years on this bike, and worn out at least one chain prior
to this one (same kind) and I did not see any similar problems. There's
probably 5-600 miles on this chain, and I clean it as needed.

Any ideas anyone?

"A.N. Other" wrote in message
...
Last time I was out my chain started skipping a bit. I thought it needed
lubing as it is not that old, but upon inspection I found something odd.

It is a Wipperman 9-speed stainless chain. The half-links either side of
the connector are both binding. I lubed the heck out of them, and worked
them back and forth but they remain stiff.

Drive train is triple 9-speed Campy. This is not a new setup, I have
ridden a few years on this bike, and worn out at least one chain prior to
this one (same kind) and I did not see any similar problems. There's
probably 5-600 miles on this chain, and I clean it as needed.

Any ideas anyone?

10 speed master link on a 9 speed chain.

Tom Kunich wrote:
"A.N. Other" wrote in message
...
Last time I was out my chain started skipping a bit. I thought it
needed lubing as it is not that old, but upon inspection I found
something odd.

It is a Wipperman 9-speed stainless chain. The half-links either side
of the connector are both binding. I lubed the heck out of them, and
worked them back and forth but they remain stiff.

Drive train is triple 9-speed Campy. This is not a new setup, I have
ridden a few years on this bike, and worn out at least one chain prior
to this one (same kind) and I did not see any similar problems.
There's probably 5-600 miles on this chain, and I clean it as needed.

Any ideas anyone?

10 speed master link on a 9 speed chain.


That's your solution, or your diagnosis?

The link came with the chain, so unless they made a mix-p I don't think
that is the problem. I wouldn't think the pins on a 10-speed link would
be long enough to connect a 9-speed chain.

"A.N. Other" wrote in message
news
Tom Kunich wrote:

Any ideas anyone?

10 speed master link on a 9 speed chain.

That's your solution, or your diagnosis?

I would have thought it was the diagnosis.

The link came with the chain, so unless they made a mix-p I don't think
that is the problem. I wouldn't think the pins on a 10-speed link would be
long enough to connect a 9-speed chain.

It is unlikely that they would put the incorrect master link in the package
but it is possible.

If I understood you correctly, neither end of the link moved correctly.

Tom Kunich wrote:
"A.N. Other" wrote in message
news
Tom Kunich wrote:

Any ideas anyone?

10 speed master link on a 9 speed chain.

That's your solution, or your diagnosis?

I would have thought it was the diagnosis.

The link came with the chain, so unless they made a mix-p I don't
think that is the problem. I wouldn't think the pins on a 10-speed
link would be long enough to connect a 9-speed chain.

It is unlikely that they would put the incorrect master link in the
package but it is possible.

If I understood you correctly, neither end of the link moved correctly.


The master link itself moves fine. The bushings immediately on either
side of it are seizing up. All the other links appear to be fine. This
did not happen right away. I have done several hundred miles on this
chain, and this problem cropped up only on my most recent ride.
Fortunately I have other bikes.

On Jul 15, 1:16 pm, "A.N. Other" wrote:
Tom Kunich wrote:
"A.N. Other" wrote in message
news
Tom Kunich wrote:

Any ideas anyone?

10 speed master link on a 9 speed chain.

That's your solution, or your diagnosis?

I would have thought it was the diagnosis.

The link came with the chain, so unless they made a mix-p I don't
think that is the problem. I wouldn't think the pins on a 10-speed
link would be long enough to connect a 9-speed chain.

It is unlikely that they would put the incorrect master link in the
package but it is possible.

If I understood you correctly, neither end of the link moved correctly.

The master link itself moves fine. The bushings immediately on either
side of it are seizing up. All the other links appear to be fine. This
did not happen right away. I have done several hundred miles on this
chain, and this problem cropped up only on my most recent ride.
Fortunately I have other bikes.

Assuming you chain is of the correct length for your setup, I'd just
break out the trusty chain tool and remove the offending links.
Somehow the side plates holding the bushings got bent causing them to
seize up.

On Jul 14, 7:47*pm, "A.N. Other" wrote:
Last time I was out my chain started skipping a bit. I thought it needed
lubing as it is not that old, but upon inspection I found something odd.

It is a Wipperman 9-speed stainless chain. The half-links either side of
the connector are both binding. I lubed the heck out of them, and worked
them back and forth but they remain stiff.

Drive train is triple 9-speed Campy. This is not a new setup, I have
ridden a few years on this bike, and worn out at least one chain prior
to this one (same kind) and I did not see any similar problems. There's
probably 5-600 miles on this chain, and I clean it as needed.

Any ideas anyone?

I have seen a couple of mis sized(no idea how this may have happened)
Wipperman snap link pins. Too big and when inserted, don't allow
smooth operation of the chain. May try a new Wipperman 9s snap link.

On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:16:28 -0700, "A.N. Other"
wrote:

I'd take a chain tool and "pop" the links in question. Not
necessarilly dissassemble them, but shift the pins and see what
happens. If necessary, dissassemble, clean, inspect, and ressemble
with a bit of grease and see what happens. Many things can cause tight
links.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada wrote in message
...
On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:16:28 -0700, "A.N. Other"
wrote:

I'd take a chain tool and "pop" the links in question. Not
necessarilly dissassemble them, but shift the pins and see what
happens. If necessary, dissassemble, clean, inspect, and ressemble
with a bit of grease and see what happens. Many things can cause tight
links.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

To the OP:
I remember you writing that you'd bent the links at either end of the snap
link back and forth without helping the problem, but can't remember if you
said which direction you were bending. If you bend the chain firmly in the
plane that it doesn't want to bend in, that might free the tight links.
Kerry

On Jul 15, 8:02 pm, "Kerry Montgomery" wrote:
clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada wrote in messagenews:4qiq74dul0robpvslvavnj4te6fcmnr1n4@4ax .com...

On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:16:28 -0700, "A.N. Other"
wrote:

I'd take a chain tool and "pop" the links in question. Not
necessarilly dissassemble them, but shift the pins and see what
happens. If necessary, dissassemble, clean, inspect, and ressemble
with a bit of grease and see what happens. Many things can cause tight
links.
** Posted fromhttp://www.teranews.com**

To the OP:
I remember you writing that you'd bent the links at either end of the snap
link back and forth without helping the problem, but can't remember if you
said which direction you were bending. If you bend the chain firmly in the
plane that it doesn't want to bend in, that might free the tight links.
Kerry

(from the OP)
I tried flexing the links laterally, much as you suggest. It didn't
make any difference. It's always hard to know how much pressure to
apply in a situation like that, you can always create a different
problem. Typically that was a solution if you were reassembling a
chain using a chain tool and the original links, which isn't the case
here. I'm baffled why these two bushings in particular are seizing up.
There's obviously some significance to the fact that they are right
next to the connecting link. I thought perhaps it might be a chainline
issue causing lateral pressure on the links but it seems to me that
the fact they are adjacent to the connector link would put them under
less stress than other parts of the chain as the connector link will
probably flex more in a lateral direction than the rest of the chain.