On chainsuck

[Paul Y]

My Hillborne and its Sugino XD2 are about 3 years old. I recently put a new chain on and had 100% reliable chain suck on the granny ring. 

Earl Grey helped me out with a replacement ring and I put it on this afternoon. Its interesting to note how severely burred the original ring is on several teeth.

I'm wondering if I filed down the burrs, if this chain ring could provide any further useful life, or if the profile is already beyond salvage. 

The new ring has solved the problem completely! 

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

I always advocate the proper disposal of worn-out parts...but that ring looks like it may be reversible. File off the most prominent burrs, and flip the ring.

[Cyclofiend Jim]

In addition to the burrs, there may be non-obvious wear in the "valley" of the tooth pattern - you essentially elongate the dip.  I usually match up the new under the old to determine how much change to the shape has occurred.  The burrs are probably the cause of chainsuck, but the more rounded out the pattern becomes, the quicker I seem to burn through chains.

Also, steel chainrings are a good thing - especially in the high stress applications (say if someone were to ride their Quickbeam in fixed mode 95% of the time) or on smaller rings.

- Jim / cyclofiend.com

[dougP]

Considering what a nuisance it is to change inner rings, I'd pitch it so as to avoid temptation, especially as the new one solved the problem.  You may consider more frequent chain replacements.  I've gone from replacing chains "whenever" to every 3-4,000 miles max.  It makes the expensive, harder to replace parts last longer.  My climate is relatively dry and easy on drive trains.  I've slogged thru that red clay mud in Thailand & it's gotta be a whole tougher on drive trains.

dougP