Hello everyone,
I was wondering if any of you have already replaced the drivetrain on your Zwift Ride. If so, after how many kilometers?
I tried replacing the chain and sprocket with the following components, but the drivetrain now seems to catch or bind slightly:
- Shimano CS-6800 14-tooth sprocket (Part No. Y-1Y914000)
- Shimano Ultegra/XT CN-HG701 11-speed chain with quick link
This leads me to think that, given the mileage (around 7,000-8,000 km), the chainring may also be worn and in need of replacement.
With the original drivetrain, everything runs relatively smoothly.
If anyone has experienced a similar issue or has any suggestions, I’d be happy to hear them.
Thanks in advance!
Zwift support is often pretty generous with replacement parts so that’s where I would start. I understand they will replace the 14t cog at no charge.
The original chain is a KMC Z1 narrow type single speed chain (3/32" - not the 1/8" version) so you could try that. However I have heard of many people using chains like the one you installed with no problems.
I’d be pretty surprised if a chainring of that size in an indoor environment (mostly free from dirt and grit) would wear out with so little mileage on it. Of course wear will also depend on your power and won’t be the same for everyone.
I tried the 11-speed chain + 14-tooth sprocket combination (based on the information provided in my first message), thinking it would be quieter, but it doesn’t seem to run smoothly at all. I still suspect that the chainring may be too wide for this setup, even though AI seems to confirm that it should work.
My original drivetrain is still in good condition; this was simply a test to anticipate a future replacement.
It now appears that a replacement chain is available in the shop, but I haven’t seen anything regarding a replacement sprocket or chainring yet.
Ask support about the sprocket or anything not found in the shop. They sell or give away other components.
What made you replace the chain and sprocket in the first place? Had you measured the chain with a chain checker?
I already asked technical support. They got back to me quite quickly regarding the chain, but the person didn’t know about the sprocket.
It was just a precaution, as I don’t think there’s any major issue with my drivetrain yet. I wanted to test it in a different configuration.
When you actually need the part, I would try again, and ask them to escalate the question to the People Who Know Things. I am 100% certain that they have that part available.
The ultimate question is whether they think certain drivetrain components should be replaced after a certain point, or if you only need to do it once you personally feel the need to. I asked if they had any idea of the mileage, but they don’t know.
There isn’t any specific mileage that would let you confidently know when to replace those parts. The chain is supposed to be replaced at 0.75% elongation so that’s easy enough to check. If you do that regularly and don’t ride it in a worn out state, the rest of the parts will last a really long time. If you let the chain get super worn and do a lot of riding on it, that will be the thing that prematurely wears out the cog and chainring. Both should last through many replacements of the chain. If you want a way to evaluate chainring wear, this is a good guide to using an old chain roller to gauge the amount of contact you are getting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYp-DjeATtk