Bent Chain Ring Replacement.

The other day I ejected off a log ride a few feet early and landed on a log directly on my chain ring. It bent at a roughly 35 degree angle. I braced it on a log and gave it a good boot and it bent back perfectly. Yesterday I just tapped it on a log and it bent quite easily.

Now I know I need a new chain ring. My question is how much of my drive chain do I need to replace? A buddy broke his chain in two and says he should replace the chain and all the cogs.

Next question is can I get a deal on this type of gear? My bike is costing more to maintain than my bloody car and I'm a little short on dough these days. What would be the best solution for a dude on a budget? It's still ridable but I fear that it's going to shear off or something similarly drastic.

Bike is a Specialized S-Works Enduro.

Also thought it would be nice to have a smaller chain ring instead of the massive bash guard I have on it now.

If your drive train is fairly new you may be able to get away with just replacing the bent ring. The new ring will wear to to suit your current chain and cog. If its had some kms put on it you'll run into trouble and your chain is going to skip and come off under load. I would just replace the drive train to be safe. Check out MEC.

What about getting something off the Buy n Sell or will it be too hard to mix n match a complete drive chain that won't skip?

Unless you know they all have the same amount of wear you may still run into problems.

2003 XTR has a proprietary bolt circle diameter meaning you need another XTR chainring for that model. I believe Black Spire made them as well. I may have a full set of used ones in my spares box at home.

my suggestion would be to stop doing log rides. ;)

no really.

2003 XTR has a proprietary bolt circle diameter meaning you need another XTR chainring for that model. I believe Black Spire made them as well. I may have a full set of used ones in my spares box at home.

This is true. Shimano replacements are big $$ and blackspire isnt CHEAP, but its not too bad of a price. Probablyy $120 for the set of three rings if I were to guess. $40 for just a middle ring IIRC.

More. My recollection a few years back was that I bought a new XT crank with bb for $350 and it was only about $20 more than three XTR rings. Those particular rings are really thick and stiff and made from harder aluminum, 7000 series iirc whereas at the time all others were 6000 aluminum which is softer. Unless I have it backwards.

Which ring is bent though and how could you bend a ring protected by a bash ring?

The 22 or 24 I think is the standard 4 arm bolt pattern. I think.

Which ring is bent though and how could you bend a ring protected by a bash ring?

Believe it or not, the bash guard bent also. The third ring was replaced by the bash guard so it was the second ring and the guard that were mangled.

I don't think you'll be able to fit a smaller bash on there

If your bash guard bent did you do any damage to crank itself? I would check the 4 tabs.

If your bash guard bent did you do any damage to crank itself? I would check the 4 tabs.

Good call. I guess I should have looked at my crank arm a little more closely as there is a massive crack in it. It is basically cracked all the way through and the only thing holding the offending tab on is the fact it's bolted to the rest of the assembly.

Wow.

Are you also missing teeth on your granny ring?

Are you also missing teeth on your granny ring?

Good catch. Funny that it still pedals fairly well. I only had one issue with my chain skipping a a full ride from the top of CBC.