trek 5200 carbon chain problem

Sounds like it could be the chain. I test rode a 5200 with a triple. Chain kept getting caught in the middle. LBS called Trek and trek was replacing all the Bontrager triples with Ultegra (forgot if it was double or triple). Trek has acknowledged a problem on the newer ones.

Since yours worked for years.. maybe just try the same chain.

Bob s. said:

My old chain is HG72. Bike is a 4 year old trek 5200 triple chain ring. The local bike shop recommended a new chain - Dura Ace 10 speed HG78.
My bike is a 9 speed, they said it would work fine. I'm now having a problem with the front deraileur when coming off the large ring it frequently sits 'between and on top of' the middle ring, like it didn't go far enough over. I'm thinking the 10 speed chain is not compatible with the spacing of the 9 speed front chainrings. Can anybody verify this? I consistantly have problems shifting into the large chainring without popping off now, never before was it a problem. Comparing the chains, there's possibly a slight difference in the shape of the chain, enough where it might make a difference. holding them together the 10 speed chain seems to be a very very slightly bit narrower, which together with the slightly different design of the links might make the difference. Anybody know for sure though? Thanks for any help you can provide.
--Bob

I hate it when THAT happens ... and, I'm not talking about the chain mis-shifting ... I'm talking about a bad retailer (NOT just bike shops) who sells you the wrong thing or something that costs more than it should or ______ ...

The 10-speed Shimano chain is not only undoubtedly more expensive than the chain it replaced, but it it NARROWER and there's the rub ... OR, lack of ... and that is why your shifting is now a bit off.

Your 9-speed front derailleur is not moving the narrower chain enough to properly engage the large chainring ...

If you only had a double, then you could possibly remedy the problem by adjusting your derailleur stops ...

BUT, with a triple crank, you MUST have the proper width chain with the proper front derailleur inner cage width for any Shimano STI shifter to function properly. That's just the way it is -- yes, I can elaborate if necessary.

EITHER never buy ANYTHING from that shop again; OR, if the chain has less than 100 miles, ask the shop to take a NEW 9-speed SHIMANO chain off one of their display bikes and substitute it for the WRONG chain free-of-charge.

DON'T let them sell you a 10-speed front derailleur to remedy the problem ... it won't fix the problem!

Very good point. I used to be a bike mechanic back before index shifting was around. Don't know all the in's and out's of the new stuff. Loving the bike, but wish I'd never gone with a triple crank up front. I'm going back to get the right chain this weekend.
--Bob

Problem solved quite easily. Brought in my old 9 speed chain, and the short 'extra' chain that they sold me, and the guy was [censored]. At himself for rushing. Very appologetic, he said he thought I had a 10, not a 9. Gave me a nine, even without a receipt or the 10 chain, told me to bring it back in when I'd swapped it out and was going by.
They're pretty fair there overall. The owner just completely remodeled, has a very sweet repair area, set up perfectly. Completely re-did the front of the building, changed the entrance around, bigger windows along the whole side and front now. All new interior. Must have cost him a fortune. Hope he stays in business now, because going overboard on that stuff frequently can be a fatal blow.
Hey, quick question: Both new chains were covered in this horrible sticky garbage. I always clean the chain and lubricate it myself, but does anybody actually use it without cleaning? Seems like everything in the world would stick to it immediately. Can't get the stuff off my hands without serious work. Never have figured out if the stuff they coat it with is just cosmoline to protect against corrosion or something actually meant as a lubricant.
--Bob

I always leave the as bought grease on.

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Bob s. said:

Problem solved quite easily. Brought in my old 9 speed chain, and the short 'extra' chain that they sold me, and the guy was [censored]. At himself for rushing. Very appologetic, he said he thought I had a 10, not a 9. Gave me a nine, even without a receipt or the 10 chain, told me to bring it back in when I'd swapped it out and was going by.
They're pretty fair there overall. The owner just completely remodeled, has a very sweet repair area, set up perfectly. Completely re-did the front of the building, changed the entrance around, bigger windows along the whole side and front now. All new interior. Must have cost him a fortune. Hope he stays in business now, because going overboard on that stuff frequently can be a fatal blow.
Hey, quick question: Both new chains were covered in this horrible sticky garbage. I always clean the chain and lubricate it myself, but does anybody actually use it without cleaning? Seems like everything in the world would stick to it immediately. Can't get the stuff off my hands without serious work. Never have figured out if the stuff they coat it with is just cosmoline to protect against corrosion or something actually meant as a lubricant.
--Bob

VERY GLAD to hear that your LBS didn't balk & was so accommodating.

BTW. To reply to your query, that would be ME who doesn't clean the cosmolene off the newly unpackaged Shimano chains ... in the future, you could get a SRAM equivalent and avoid the problem ...

I had thought about cleaning the cosmolene (or, whatever it is) off, but it comes off soon enough with as-necessary OR regular wipe downs of WD-40 on a rag after riding ...

MTB riders can probably just hose the mud/crud off the cosmolene the first few times ...

FWIW. Despite the trend, you PROBABLY don't want to strip the chain of it's factory "lubrication" using one of those chain cleaners that are hung onto the chain (oh, great for race-day if you're sponsored ...) as the solvent strips whatever is between the pins & plates. Those cleaners are a good substitution for removing the chain and soaking it in kerosene or paint thinner AND THEN soaking the chain in melted paraffin (use a double boiler!) ... but, who does that anymore? IMO, those "chain cleaners" create a problem which must then be kludged with over-priced chain lubes ... THAT'S MY TWO CENTS on the subject.