chain ring bolts

[beaufort-fj60]

What is the typical longevity of chain ring bolts... I dusted off my old trail bike this weekend. I went though all the bolts and tightened everything up. Two chain ring bolts snapped. I'm not sure if it was from dry threads or old age. Are chain ring bolts a common maintenance item?.

 

[Fly Rod]

What is the typical longevity of chain ring bolts... I dusted off my old trail bike this weekend. I went though all the bolts and tightened everything up. Two chain ring bolts snapped. I'm not sure if it was from dry threads or old age. Are chain ring bolts a common maintenance item?.

They are not on most peoples maintenance list. Too bad, as you have found they can be an issue. When I was racing they were checked on a weekly basis. The biggest cause for failure was over tightening. They don't need to be white knuckle tight. More importantly they need to be tightened equally. Beyond that I always replaced them when I replaced chain rings. For me that was twice a year. For a weekend warrier properly maintained CR bolts will last many years, or even a life time.

FWIW, I also ran Ti bolts and never had one break.

HTH

 

[beaufort-fj60]

thanks.. I have not ridden this bike in 10 years.

 

[Fast Eddy]

The aluminum ones break pretty easily. Get some steel ones and they won't be an issue again.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

picked up some Sugino ring bolts at the local bike shop for $10. It sucks because the biggest douche-bag runs that place, but it's the only store for miles.

 

[wxm]

You might have over-tightened them. The torque spec isn't very high for them. I usually tighten them somewhere around 8 ft-lbs.

 

[crholliday]

It sucks because the biggest douche-bag runs that place

This part of your quote could be used for 95% of bike shops I've been in.

 

[Mr. Toad]

This part of your quote could be used for 95% of bike shops I've been in.

Amen.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

not that I'm an expert.... but when I walked into the store I went straight to the guy working on a bike. I figured he was the shop expert. I asked him for some chain ring bolts and he did not know what I was talking about. He had to ask the guy who owned the store what a chain ring bolt was.

 

[Fly Rod]

not that I'm an expert.... but when I walked into the store I went straight to the guy working on a bike. I figured he was the shop expert. I asked him for some chain ring bolts and he did not know what I was talking about. He had to ask the guy who owned the store what a chain ring bolt was.

Scary, but so typical. Quality bike wrenches are few and far between.