Wobbly Front Chainring

Blakey

Active member
Sep 9, 2020
90
82
Mid Sussex, UK
Hey all,

2 months old bike (see sig). Today out on the trails the chain fell off. Checking into why it turned out the front chainring was wobbling - and I mean really wobbling. You can hold it in your hand and wobble it by over a centimetre sideways movement. As soon as I put the bike into a gear which pulled the chain at all sideways the chain just fell off the chainring. I had to cycle home in 2nd gear to keep the chain attached.

It seems like a serious issue. Is it? Anything I should look at or is this just as case of taking the bike into the LBS?

Attached is a .MOV file recorded from my iPhone to show how bad it is (zipped up as the forum does not allow .MOVs to be attached)

Thanks!
Blakey
 

Attachments

  • Loose Chainring.zip
    283 bytes · Views: 602

Blakey

Active member
Sep 9, 2020
90
82
Mid Sussex, UK
There don't seem to be any chainring bolts. The chain ring is attached on the back of the crank arm it seems with no bolts. The crank arm itself is solid.
 

urastus

⚡The Whippet⚡
May 4, 2020
1,548
995
Tasmania
Geez! Behind the crank arm there is a round thing with notches in it. If it's shimano it has 16 notches. That notched round thing holds the chainring tight (well, when it's done up) onto the crank. It needs to be tightened. You need a special tool and the crank needs to come off first. It sounds like you're pretty inexperienced re maintenance - if you take it to the bike shop they could do it in about 15mins. Hopefully they'd clean the threads up too and tighten it to torque specifications.

And yes, you do have chain ring bolts, 4 of them, but they're not the problem.
 

Blakey

Active member
Sep 9, 2020
90
82
Mid Sussex, UK
Thanks for help and feedback all - very appreciated.

I am going to take it into the LBS. You're right I am inexperienced and have a lack of skills and tools. And this looks like something which needs doing well.

I bought the bike from Rutland Cycles (who I rate highly) online as I'm a long way from them. Given I have had this issue, plus one brake needed bleeding and the bike is only 2 months old, should I be pressing Rutland to pay for these fixes?
 

steve_sordy

Wedding Crasher
Nov 5, 2018
9,017
9,457
Lincolnshire, UK
.................... I bought the bike from Rutland Cycles (who I rate highly) online as I'm a long way from them. Given I have had this issue, plus one brake needed bleeding and the bike is only 2 months old, should I be pressing Rutland to pay for these fixes?

You can try, but it would have been better to have consulted them first.
 

Blakey

Active member
Sep 9, 2020
90
82
Mid Sussex, UK
Okay well I have not taken it in yet and have emailed Rutland. Good plan to see what they say. Too late on the bleeding brakes but I guess it adds fuel to the fire.
 

Jimex

New Member
Jun 9, 2020
16
15
UK
I bought the lock ring tool (bosch gen 4) when I found play in my front chain ring. Its literally a two minute job to remove the crank arm and tighten.

It's worth buying the tools as bike maintenance is straightforward. I now service my forks and shock now, quite satisfying tbh.
 

Blakey

Active member
Sep 9, 2020
90
82
Mid Sussex, UK
I bought the lock ring tool (bosch gen 4) when I found play in my front chain ring. Its literally a two minute job to remove the crank arm and tighten.

It's worth buying the tools as bike maintenance is straightforward. I now service my forks and shock now, quite satisfying tbh.

That does sound like a good idea, if it's that simple. I'm just checking with Rutland now, hopefully they will pay for the fix if it's a simple case of tightening it up, so that gets it done short term.
 

Jimex

New Member
Jun 9, 2020
16
15
UK
That does sound like a good idea, if it's that simple. I'm just checking with Rutland now, hopefully they will pay for the fix if it's a simple case of tightening it up, so that gets it done short term.

You'll need a crank tool too. The lock ring tools are a joke price for what they are, but required when you replace your front chain ring.
 

Blakey

Active member
Sep 9, 2020
90
82
Mid Sussex, UK
Well Rutland Cycles have come through and were worth speaking to. They are going to reimburse me for the cost to fix this and also the brake bleed I needed last week too. Fair play to them, that makes me a happier man. I'll be super happy when the bike is actually fixed and ridable mind you!

Cheers for the feedback and advice all.

Blakey
 

linkmeaney

New Member
Oct 18, 2021
1
0
Adelaide
Hey all,

2 months old bike (see sig). Today out on the trails the chain fell off. Checking into why it turned out the front chainring was wobbling - and I mean really wobbling. You can hold it in your hand and wobble it by over a centimetre sideways movement. As soon as I put the bike into a gear which pulled the chain at all sideways the chain just fell off the chainring. I had to cycle home in 2nd gear to keep the chain attached.

It seems like a serious issue. Is it? Anything I should look at or is this just as case of taking the bike into the LBS?

Attached is a .MOV file recorded from my iPhone to show how bad it is (zipped up as the forum does not allow .MOVs to be attached)

Thanks!
Blakey


Wow, this happened to me just yesterday on my communte to work after some rocky trail riding on the weekend. I have booked my Genius in to have the locking nut inspected and tightended. A few Q's for the forum - has anyone tried aluminium thread specific loctite or simlilar? Does it prevent the issue? Has anyone asked Bosch service if they have a fix for this as it seems a design flaw if so many of us are experiencing the issue. Takata airbag recall was worldwide, why can;t we petition Bosch to recall and fix the issue. If I'm travelling at 50 plus Km down a fire trail I don't want my chain ring wobbling and chain coming off!!!!!!! I've seen people add safety wires and even grub screws to try to fix the issue but my bikes still under waranty so I don;t want to play with anything near the motor. BTW it happend just after I had done 10000KM.
 

Techno

Member
Oct 18, 2020
73
19
dartford
My 2021 cannondale moterra with bosch gen 4 has just done this, ive bought the tool and tightened it,25-30nm left handed thread and added two red painted dots so i can see if it moves .I havnt loctited it. if it moves i will let the blue goo loose.
 

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