Warranty on my swingarm - Is this fair?

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May 22, 2012, 03:00:27 AM

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[clanton]

OK, now I'm really confused.

What is the actual issue here? Failure of the rear mech? The hanger not failing? Or the drop out bending?

Sorry, but I'm not sure what we're actually debating now!

Steve - as you have a vested interest I do not expect you will be swayed by any argument I put forward. That said it is unimportant as I'm not dealing with your shop. To reiterate and clarify though:

I do understand that mountain bikes fail. I do not feel that a failure such as this should occur in the first month of normal use. If it was due to mishifting or overshifing into the spokes then the shop SHOULD accept responsibility as they set the bike up.

I believe that where a mech failure occurs the brunt of the damage should in most circumstances be borne by the hanger, mech and spokes NOT the frame. I accept that the hanger cannot protect the frame in all cases but from this thread and conversations with the shop it is clear that this is not an isolated incident. Having looked at the mech hanger on the Meta and compared it to two other bikes I believe the design of the swingarm contributes significantly to the damage that occurs.

No Doml I don't want blood. Just decent, reasonable customer service, and I am still hopeful that this will in fact happen. Please try to keep the cheap shots to yourself.

[doml]

What cheap shot? That was at the other poster, who admitted user error, got a replacement swingarm but still didnt sound happy?

Are you an engineer, metallurgist or other such prefessional? If not looks to me like your having the cheap shots at commencal. Ive looked at 2 bikes and decree that commencals design isnt right? What utter nonsense.

[doml]

it was a joke, it was supposed to lighten the thread up, it failed.

To answer the thread, I think the treatment received is fair.

[steveb]

"If it was due to mishifting or overshifing into the spokes then the shop SHOULD accept responsibility as they set the bike up."

If it was the first part of the first ride, then yes I can accept that, but after a month of problem free riding? Nope, that is a maintenance/rider error issue and the shop should not be expected to replace FOC.

You say you know why this problem occurs, but that in this case these are not the reasons for the incident. But how can you say that? Did you check the alignment of the mech before the ride? Did you check the cable tension to ensure the gear changes were 100% perfect? Essentially was the mech perfectly setup and as new before the ride? I doubt it. Therefore you can't prove that the failure didn't occur due to one of the many known reasons. Next throw in the odd mis-shift on your behalf, dirt, mud, leaves, small furry animals. How can you know that any of these didn't cause the failure? You can't.

If you could 100% lay the reason for this problem at the feet of the shop then fair enough, but can you do that?

[Tomm]

Blimey, wasn't expecting to see this still raging on, a month later.  I've got the frame back now and it all seems OK - I've ridden it a few times and shifting is perfect, no problems.  If the frame remains in one piece I'll be satisfied I guess. 

I can see the argument about the hanger/dropout being stiff front-back in order to ensure good shifting, but there's a very good counter-argument to that;  I have had absolutely no problems with other frames where the rear of the hanger is 'open' (I.e. not constrained by the dropout).  With this in mind, it's hard to see an advantage in the dropout design on the meta.  It looks neat I suppose.  A design flaw?  I'm not sure. 

[wazzer987]

Yeah I'm quite sure.  It was just up a gradual incline, my drivetrain was making the odd clicking noise but I thought nothing of it.  The next thing I know the pedals jam and the mech was in a right state. 

I had this noise the other week so I stopped to investigate and found a broken link in my chain. After reading this thread I feel glad I did!

[Steve UK]

I had the same problem with my 08 meta xt, on only the 3rd or 4th ride the chain snapped. The hanger broke, bent the mech and just recently I have noticed that it had also bent the small piece of swingarm which locates the hanger.

I phoned steveb and he said the same that it wasn't warranty but being a top bloke sorted me with all I needed at a good deal to get going again.

In my case it was a crap chain, a shimano HG73 which at closer inspection was of very poor quality. I was going to try shimano for a claim but was advised it would be difficult. So I decided to just forget about it and ride which was the right decision as I am sure it would still be dragging on.

Another cause which could cause this problem is the chain falling off and getting wrapped around so I now run my bikes with a chain guide and single front ring which works fine.

steve

[Mr.SandmaN]

I had this noise the other week so I stopped to investigate and found a broken link in my chain. After reading this thread I feel glad I did!

same here man if i hear my drive chain is clicking clunking or doing anything noisey i stop right away and check it out, spose you live and learn tho