Freewheel, chain wear out very quick!

[MAGICPIE3FOCUSPOWER]

I am using my bike 75km a day (5 times in a week).

But I have noticed KMC Z8X RB 7/8 speed chain and Shimano, Epoch, Defiant 5 speed freewheels are worn out in a short time.

I am doing something wrong maybe wrong combination of hardware?
I have to replace chain and freewheels within 6 weeks (about 2250 km usage).

Thanks for help!

 

[jateureka]

What tooth counts are you running front and rear?
Do you have a front deraileur?
Is there a reason why you run narrower 7/8 speed chain on a 5 speed rear freewheel?

 

[bowlofsalad]

Define "wear out".

Are you using a dry lube?

http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html Read this.

 

[MAGICPIE3FOCUSPOWER]

Thanks for replies 8)

Well by "wear out" I mean the teeth is almost gone there is only sharp spike left on the freewheel

So I am using a wrong chain in a whole time?

Nope I am using single front (Rennengroupdesign 52T chainring).

Which size of chain should I use?
Should I use 1 speed chain?

Thanks!

 

[skeetab5780]

usually when its a 5 speed freewheel(cassette) or less, they are designed for the wider(standard) chain, instead of the mountain bike chain that is noticeably skinnier. But your teeth wearing out could be another issue.

One thing i've noticed that sometimes gets over-looked is rear derailur angle/mount height

when your riding in the smallest rear gears all the time
those gears are so small that if the derailur is mounted too steep of an angle the chain will only have contact with 2 or 3 little teeth on the cog..which puts much more stress on them, but if you have a completely different bicycle frame with the same exact components with a different angle mounting of the derailur and you can have contact with 5 or 6 teeth and be in good shape.

One other thing to note is to replace them as a pair since a worn out chain will easily ruin a new cassette cluster or vice-versa

 

[MAGICPIE3FOCUSPOWER]

Thanks!

Angle of rear derailleur is okay, I have set to right angle.
Otherwise it doesn't shift well and make a lot of noise.

Nope 5 speed freewheel is just same as 6/7 speed.
Only the amount of cassettes is the difference.

 

[Lebowski]

what kind of power do you run ? mid-drive ?

I'm busy building a mid-drive, and just yesterdayevening calculated the tension in the drive
chain. For 2kW mechanical output of my AF motor the chain tension at full throttle will be 200kg !!!

Imagine that on a bicycle chain for prolonged periods of time...

by the way, my v1 AF motor delivers about 750W mechanical, wears out a chain in 3000km but luckely
leaves the sprockets intact (33kg chain tension).

 

[MAGICPIE3FOCUSPOWER]

Thank you

I am using Crystalyte HS3540 and 48V pack.

But does the motor affect freewheel wear when driving?
I mean when starting up fast and riding fast, does the motor influence the wear of the freewheel?

I have no problem to replace the freewheel and chain, but very annoying to unbolts every bolts...

 

[Lebowski]

mid-drive or not ? pictures ?

kom-op, wel ff lezen !

 

[dogman dan]

That's not normal. I've gone many thousands of miles on one freewheel. Pedaling hard on the smallest cog can wear them out fast, if the chain is stretched and it skips a lot. But you shouldn't be grinding away the teeth that fast.

Dry lube for sure if you ride in a dusty or sandy environment. Oil just turns into lapping compound. Ride in mud much? That's also lapping grit.

I don't know the chain sizes by the numbers, but it does look like you are running skinny chain on wide teeth.

 

[MAGICPIE3FOCUSPOWER]

I have rear HS3540 motor
Do you mean mid-drive by central motor at the crank position?

I am using KMC chain size 1/2“ x 3/32“.
So that should be fine right?

I am just using silicone lube...

 

[jateureka]

The chain you are using, Z8RB, is for 8 speed Shimano Hyperglide gears.
KMC recommends HP20 or Z33 for 5 speed
And Z610HX or Z610H for E-bikes requiring 1/2" x 3/32"

 

[MAGICPIE3FOCUSPOWER]

Thanks

What is Hyperglide?