Last night I popped a link on my 3 month old stainless steel 10 sp Wippermann chain. It happened a block from home. I didn’t think much of it at the time. Figured that the removable link somehow fell off. So, I got home and installed a new removable link and didn’t bother inspecting the chain. My mind was elsewhere. Well, tonight after a short ride I decided to remove the chain and give it a good cleaning - something I do every couple of weeks. It basically crumbled in my hands. I proceed to inspect further and discover that the original removable link was still there. Indeed, I busted a regular link. So, as I look a bit closer I notice that there are complete cracks in 18 pin joints! 18 failures! This chain would not have survived another mile.
Has anybody else ever experienced such catastrophic chain failure? I’ve used a number of Wippermann chains in the past without any problems, but this was my first stainless steel version. I’m hoping it was a lemon because I just installed a like replacement.
I broke a chain in a sprint (cheap 8speed on the training bike) and have a large gap of missing time from my memory. I dont like to F with my chain. I was thinking about switching but me thinks I will stick with my shimano 9 speed.
i keep trying to get the stainless chains but can’t find any. i’ve got 2 bikes going at the moment, one road one tri, 1 wippermann and 1 sram. no problem with either. but my wippermann’s nickel.
i have a wippermann titanium that works great as well, however it’s not worth the extra money. can’t seem to find the stainless.
as was the case with the guy a couple of weeks ago with the pics of the broken sram, i wouldn’t worry about either of these chains. i’ve popped shimano and campy both, never a wippermann, and it’s hard to say anything bad about shimano. planes crash. roofs collapse. shit happens.
I’ve gone through several wipperman nickel chains and had no problems. I thought they were great. So, I figured I’d step up and go stainless. I installed a new stainless wipperman last night. We’ll see how it goes. I’ve been a fan of their chains so far. I’m guessing this was a fluke. BTW, I bought mine at www.jensonusa.com. It looks like they still have them in stock. Price = $62.
I also had a wipperman stainless fail in the exact same manner. Multiple cracks at several links. I also hoped it was an isolated incident. but I did not even try to replace it with another one. It is the concensus around the shop that stainless, while very strong, work hardens easily because it is so hard. I am not a metalurgist, but it is my impression that when something work hardens, it gets harder but also more brittle. Work hardening is maybe good for some applications, but not for thin chain links. I still hope that this does not happen with all SS chains, because it was an awesome chain for winter use. -
Andy
Yikes. I’ve been riding Wipperman and SRAM though I’m not sure which flavor of the Wipp I’ve got. (I think it’s the stainless version.) I’ve never had any problems with either, except the SRAM seems to rust suprisingly easily. (I clean and lube often too). Anyway, the only chains I’ve broken have been Shimano. I will be taking a close look at my Wipp tonight though.
Are your cogs/chainrings quite old? I’ve had the same type of failure when I’ve used a new chain with old, worn chainrings (worn to the point where they start to look slightly hooked in profile). The hooked teeth, no longer having a smooth round profile, deform the chain rollers until they eventually crack. However, if your cogs/chain are in good shape I have no idea what could cause your problem.
I’ve had the 9 speed stainless (9x-1) on my yaqui since March with no problems. In fact I’m putting one on my road bike tonight. I remove and clean it every couple of weeks and have not noticed any signs of fatigue.
Incidently I’ve found Jensonusa.com to have the best price on the stainless.
Stranger things have happened – We sell all the available 10 speed chains and I have always found the wipperman to be the most reliable???
Also have had a situation when racing a lot on pave’ where 9 speed dura ace chains ‘which are as a rule OK’ disintegrate as you described, I think from radical side to side shaking from the rough cobbles ??? just a thought.
Have also had good luck with the IRD 10 speed – not bad considering it costs a fraction of the price of Campa and Wipp.
I hd a local shop build up a road bike (Salsa Campeon - SWEET!!!) in the last year I have had a Shimano chain fail (literally blew up into three small sections and two large ones on the first ride) and had to return a Wipperman nickle chain for warranty because it stretched too much within 100 miles (I use Pro Gold lubes fanatically). I’m now using a SRAM chain and not having any trouble.
I just bought a Serotta and have a Wipperman nickle on it. Hopefully I will have the luck others do with Wipperman. If not, I’ll stick with SRAM chains.
I am running 9sp nickel wippermann on my road bike and 9sp SRAM on my cyclocross bike.
Neither chains have ever failed.
The Wipperman (road) chain has ~ 5000 miles on it.
The SRAM chain (cx) has much fewer miles, but they were in the dirt, grinding it out.
I use the cx bike (with the SRAM) to run errands. It shifts great. I am running low-end components. It shifts better than the wipperman/DA on the road bike.
On the next chain swap, I am going to put SRAM on the road bike.