[Randon] S&S coupler came loose

[Bengt-Olaf.]

After years of trouble-free service, the S&S coupler on the downtube
of my bike worked itself loose this weekend. I only noticed it when in
the front and the rear the chain moved onto the left-most chainring
and cog without me having control over it. Fortunately, nothing
happened - probably mostly because along the downtube there is a
compression force which pushes the two ends of the coupler together.
However, it was still a bit scary.

Besides giving a warning to everybody with couplers to check them on
their bikes, I wanted to ask how other riders prevent this from
happening. The instructions say to grease the threads, but I am almost
tempted to apply a bit of thread-lock to avoid another incident like
this. Any opinions?

Thanks for all suggestions, Bengt-Olaf.

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[Dustin Sharp]

I had some problems with this about 6 months back. I kept re-tightening,
even tried regreasing, and it still kept loosening. Finally, I took it apart
and cleaned up inside of the couplers. There was some dirt crud that had
worked its way up in there. After cleaning, I re-greased, tightened, and
have not had the same problem since.

I was advised by the S&S people that loctite is NOT the way to go.

Cheers,

Dustin Sharp

[Jim Logan]

This comment is meant more as a reflection on me rather than you, but a rule
I have learned over the years is "if the bike isn't shifting right, check
the couplers stupid". None-the-less, it still takes me 10-50 miles to
figure out it is a loose coupler rather than the drive chain. I am just in
the habit of checking them to make sure they are hand tight periodically.
At least for me, it is always the bottom coupler that loosens, but that is
where most of the flexing of the frame is when you peddle.

[Bengt-Olaf.]

Thank you for your comments. It's good to know that other riders have
also experienced this.
I will take your advice and thoroughly clean the couplers - and stay
away from Loctite.
Bengt-Olaf.

On May 17, 9:21 pm, "Jim Logan" <jimlo...@verizon.net> wrote:
> This comment is meant more as a reflection on me rather than you, but a rule
> I have learned over the years is "if the bike isn't shifting right, check
> the couplers stupid".  None-the-less, it still takes me 10-50 miles to
> figure out it is a loose coupler rather than the drive chain.  I am just in
> the habit of checking them to make sure they are hand tight periodically.
> At least for me, it is always the bottom coupler that loosens, but that is
> where most of the flexing of the frame is when you peddle.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ran...@googlegroups.com [mailto:ran...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
>
> Dustin Sharp
> Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 8:08 PM
> To: Bengt-Olaf.; randon
> Subject: Re: [Randon] S&S coupler came loose
>
> I had some problems with this about 6 months back. I kept re-tightening,
> even tried regreasing, and it still kept loosening. Finally, I took it apart
> and cleaned up inside of the couplers.  There was some dirt crud that had
> worked its way up in there. After cleaning, I re-greased, tightened, and
> have not had the same problem since.
>
> I was advised by the S&S people that loctite is NOT the way to go.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Dustin Sharp
>

> On 5/17/10 4:40 PM, "Bengt-Olaf." <bengto...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > After years of trouble-free service, the S&S coupler on the downtube
> > of my bike worked itself loose this weekend. I only noticed it when in
> > the front and the rear the chain moved onto the left-most chainring
> > and cog without me having control over it. Fortunately, nothing
> > happened - probably mostly because along the downtube there is a
> > compression force which pushes the two ends of the coupler together.
> > However, it was still a bit scary.
>
> > Besides giving a warning to everybody with couplers to check them on
> > their bikes, I wanted to ask how other riders prevent this from
> > happening. The instructions say to grease the threads, but I am almost
> > tempted to apply a bit of thread-lock to avoid another incident like
> > this. Any opinions?
>
> > Thanks for all suggestions, Bengt-Olaf.
>
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