|   Mail ordered some parts - would you return these? | Bonee
Nov 9, 2002 10:13 AM | | I have an older MTB 7-speed with STX cranks that are shot and I am rebuilding the bike up - my first rebuild project. I found a mail order shop that stocked up on STX cranks before they went the way of the dinasaur. So I got them for $40.
I didn't want to get newer technology cranks cause I was worried about 8/9 speed cranks and the chineline not matching up on a 7-speed.
So they arrived yesterday and here are the details:
- The smallest chainring is fine.
- The middle ring has one tooth that is well rounded off, and another that is simply a funny shape.
- The largest chainring has 3 or 4 teeth that are somewhat rounded off.
Not sure if STX just had production problems at the end, if its from the sitting around in boxes over the years and getting banged around, or if this is considered "normal". They definitley are not "used" as they aren't scuffed up at all.
Would you contact the dealer and ask for an exchange? Or am I over reacting?
For usage, the bike is being rebuilt for my wife and will probably not need to the the cleanest performing bike, but I don't want her to have a messed up drive train from the get-go either.
Thanks for any advice. I can post some pics by the end of the weekend if that would help. |
| Obviously it's raining in San Diego.... | Timmy
Nov 9, 2002 10:30 AM | | so I'm not exactly certain what you mean by "rounded off", but the teeth from shimano chainrings are not all the same size on the same chain ring. They purposely do that to assist shifting.
Without actually seeing the Chainrings I would guess that that is the way the chain rings are supposed to be unless they appear to be either used or abused in some way. Then all bets are off.
Stick 'em on make sure they work, if not send them back. Good project for an hour or so on a rainy Saturday.
TCN (stuck @ work but heading home) |
| if you can post a pic | Yeti_Rider
Nov 9, 2002 11:05 AM | | it would help, but I know for certain that some brands of large chainrings have mis-shapen teeth to aid in engagement during shifting. My White Industries big ring is this way (although it's been bashed so many times now you'd never know where the low teeth really are). If the mis-shapen teeth are symmetric around the chain ring then that's the way they should be. If, however, it's only 4 in a row and the rest of the ring looks different then they might be damaged.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about it becasue A) as often as you'll be in the big ring you won't notice and B) it should still work just fine even if a tooth or two is really damaged anyway.
Same thing goes for the middle alhtough this does sound a little more like a defect. The reality is it probably won't affect anything in the way of performance. Just make sure the teeth aren't bent or mis-shapen such that they'll affect the driveline position.
we need the rain, but it makes for a boring Saturday AM. Fortunately Anderson Truck Trail drains quite nicely and should be ready to be ridden as early as tomorrow. Stay away from Penasquitos though. That canyon is a marsh in regular weather but with just a touch of rain it turns into a big old mud fest.
Michael |
| Thanks both - I'll try and take a pic today or tomorrow... | Bonee
Nov 9, 2002 11:30 AM | | I'm spending most of the weekend putting in new hardwood stairs, so the rain is no biggie. Quite nice cause I'm not missing much. I might actually (ack!) squeeze in a run to get some excercise. Tomorrow might call for a road ride.
I'll take a picture of the suspect teeth this weekend. It sounds like maybe it is normal. My wife's old bike had STX cranks too before she ran it over, and I remember when she bought it hers had a few funny shaped teeth too. I thought it was just a cheap bike, which it was. Maybe they are just made that way intentionally. |
| Nevermind - I found a picture... | Bonee
Nov 9, 2002 11:48 AM | | This is from another dealers website (bummer that they sell it for $15 less, but oh well). You can see how some of the teeth are shaped, so I guess that is intentional. I put some pointers to similarities with what I have... |
| That's intentional. I thought the same thing. . . | Billy Zoom
Nov 9, 2002 1:59 PM | | when I checked out my cranks closely, but they're meant to aid shifting/guide the chain. Don't ask me how, but that's the story I got. After checking out bikes in the store, I saw that it was true. No worries. Install that sucker and enjoy.
Joel |
| Perfectly normal tooth shapes there. Don't worry about it. (nm) | Twilight Error®
Nov 9, 2002 4:06 PM | | |
| Better talk to Leel about <I>that</I>. | Finch Platte
Nov 9, 2002 5:47 PM | | Oh, yeah, mo nessage. |
| Ah, what would Leel know about broken teeth anyhow.... | Twilight Error®
Nov 10, 2002 4:27 AM | | That guy needs to start riding with a mouthguard... |
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