Rad Power Bikes Owners Forum

Discussions by Rad Model => RadMission => Topic started by: Guyster on June 15, 2021, 08:54:35 AM

Title: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: Guyster on June 15, 2021, 08:54:35 AM
My chain skips now and again. Mostly under hard pedaling, but sometimes just under normal pedal pressure. The click is infrequent and intermittent. My understanding is that there normally should be about 1/2" of chain play, but seems like I'm at an inch or more (haven't measured). Any guidance is appreciated.
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: Lantzco on August 07, 2021, 08:29:06 PM
This doesn't sound good, I think what your describing is the gateway to it falling off...

https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/safety-hazard-rad-mission-chain-tensioner-failure.40140/
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: wtfg on August 09, 2021, 02:50:12 PM
I just checked my mission the chain tension pin is broke too!!!
I noticed last week it was hitting the spokes.
Last week it was clicking, the bottom brakes was finger tight!!!
Ill have to email Rad.
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: Lantzco on August 09, 2021, 06:47:06 PM
Ya I think due to a poor design, my pin sheared off to...maybe they should go back to the drawing board

Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: wtfg on August 10, 2021, 05:32:20 PM
Does anybody know where we can get a after market one to work?
I sent another email to Rad but there customer service is terrible !!
It will take them a week to get back to me and probably another week to get the part!!
The mission is a nice bike but there quality control, customer service and cheap parts suck!!!
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: wtfg on August 11, 2021, 08:01:02 AM
I put a roll pin in and took a ride last night, 5 miles from home the pin came out.
Tensioner was hitting spokes, long walk home!!
So today I used epoxy to hold the pin in, and put a 10/24 screw with big head and a brass washer to keep the tensioner from hitting the spokes if the pin comes out.
Waiting to hear back from rad with replacement part.
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: Lantzco on August 11, 2021, 10:10:11 AM
I guess that's the bonus of buying a bike from a brick and mortar store, when it breaks they can't hide... ::)
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: RadJohn on August 11, 2021, 12:10:44 PM
Quote from: Lantzco on August 11, 2021, 10:10:11 AM... when it breaks they can't hide... ::)

But they often can't fix it in a timely manner either, if they have to get parts from the same type of place we do.

I met a guy a while ago who said he's been waiting for 3+ months to get his 1 week old, LBS purchased $4000+MAJOR branded Ebike fixed under warranty. He said they either can't or won't take the needed part off another in-stock bike or simply give him a replacement bike because he already registered his by S/N online! He would still prefer a working bike to a refund (the PERFECT customer), but I sensed his patience was wearing thin.
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: Lantzco on August 14, 2021, 10:06:07 AM
Quote from: RadJohn on August 11, 2021, 12:10:44 PM
Quote from: Lantzco on August 11, 2021, 10:10:11 AM... when it breaks they can't hide... ::)

But they often can't fix it in a timely manner either,

Yes but it's easier to ignore an email
than it is to ignore a guy glaring at you from two feet away...
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: Widgets on August 14, 2021, 04:21:20 PM
Remember that their service prioty is to the least recently updated tickets. This keeps tickets from going stale. Sending an email asking about the status of your ticket will be attached to your ticket and count as an update. You just put yourself at the end of the list.
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: Lantzco on August 15, 2021, 09:14:43 AM
Quote from: Widgets on August 14, 2021, 04:21:20 PMYou just put yourself at the end of the list.

Exactly, Another good reason to purchase at a brick and mortar store, if you're standing in front of the store clerk inquiring about your bike, they can't put you at the end of the list no matter how many times you inquire...excellent point Widgets  ::)
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: wtfg on August 16, 2021, 04:16:39 PM
Well its been a week since i sent my email to Rad, still nothing from them!!!
Terrible customer service unfortunately I expected it because of the emails I have sent before!!
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: wtfg on August 20, 2021, 10:48:54 AM
Finally after a week they confirm they are sending me a replacement tensioner .
They apologized that they are busy, maybe hire some more people?
And still waiting after 2 days for them to ship it!!!!
So because i could jury rig the tensioner to get it to work, I am fine.
But what about the people that cant jury rig it?
They are without there bikes for 2 1/2 weeks or so.
This will make me think twice about buying a bike online again.
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: Jeff_RI on August 24, 2021, 08:50:13 PM
Quote from: wtfg on August 20, 2021, 10:48:54 AM
Finally after a week they confirm they are sending me a replacement tensioner .
They apologized that they are busy, maybe hire some more people?
And still waiting after 2 days for them to ship it!!!!
So because i could jury rig the tensioner to get it to work, I am fine.
But what about the people that cant jury rig it?
They are without there bikes for 2 1/2 weeks or so.
This will make me think twice about buying a bike online again.

Please let us know what they ship you. If it's the same exact part I'm concerned it will fail again. I tried to take out the pin using the proper hex key and I started to strip the head no matter how careful I was. That pin is made of VERY soft metal, not good. Also I noticed every other component on the bike seems to be a standard name brand part except the tensioner.
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: wtfg on August 25, 2021, 06:06:12 AM
I sure will when I get it.
They showed the part was $15 dollars on shipping page
The part is still 2 states away, they use DHL to ship it then transfer it to usps
Probably wastes 2 to 3 days
The pin I epoxied in is still holding up after 200 miles
I will still add the screw on the back side of the new tensioner like I did in my mod, so if pin fails I am not stranded.
I think with how cheap there tensioner is you need a spare on hand, or expect your bike to be down for three weeks while you wait for the part!!
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: graefjon on August 25, 2021, 07:18:10 PM
Has anyone considered shortening the chain and removing the chain tensioner altogether? I just broke my second chain tensioner.
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: wtfg on August 25, 2021, 07:41:38 PM
What broke on it? The pin
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: RadJohn on August 25, 2021, 09:18:49 PM
Quote from: graefjon on August 25, 2021, 07:18:10 PM
Has anyone considered shortening the chain and removing the chain tensioner altogether?...

There are single speed, fixie and geared hub bicycles out there that don't use chain tensioners, BUT virtually all have horizontal dropouts, which allow the back wheel to be moved to set the initial chain tension, then periodically moved rearward to take up slack as the chain wears. Those who find having to adjust their mechanical disk brakes periodically a major PITA, will hate having to do this too.

I don't have a Mission but it looks to me like they have vertical dropouts (like most bikes), which won't allow the wheel position to be adjusted to compensate for chain wear so a chain tensioner or a rear derailleur (with a cage) must be used  to deal with the problem of the chain getting longer as it wears, and this approach offers another major benefit in that no periodic manual adjustments are required as the chain wears.

There are reliable chain tensioners out there, I've got thousands of miles on my tensioner equipped Rohloff geared hub bikes with zero problems (don't know if their XC can be adapted to fit a Mission): http://www.modernbike.com/product-2126250919
Title: Re: Chain Tension Adjustment
Post by: wtfg on August 26, 2021, 02:20:23 PM
16 days later I received my replacement , sad thing is its the same part as the original
So i don't have much faith that it will last !!
I will do my screw mod to it, so if the pin brakes it still will get me home.