SAFETY HAZARD - RAD Mission - Chain Tensioner Failure

[Eu224]

Thanks everyone for the heads up here. Thought about ordering one of these because of discount but will not now. Fact that Rad will not acknowledge this issue widely makes me hold off purchasing. Imagine a new car drive train failing soon after purchase. That model would be recalled immediately. Rad should use the auto industry approach to safety and at least issue a technical bulletin on the issue. This is a potential safety issue and I won't compromise safety of my family with one of these bikes.

 

[radmissionbroke]

Just want to chime in that I have also had trouble with the chain tensioner. The original failed and was replaced. A month later and 173 miles later, and the replacement has failed in the same way as the original. Working with Rad on a 2nd replacement, but I'll also see if the local bike shop has any ideas for a quality replacement.

If you have this problem you'll know because the chain tensioner hitting the spokes is loud (and not good for the spokes long term)

The failure I experienced is a bolt breaking off / failling out same as the original poster.

 

[Chris_P]

Got my Radmission yesterday and my chain tensioner broke on my first ride. Not sure if it got caught in the spoke or what but I'm so disappointed right now. I was pedaling and I heard some grinding noise and then saw the chain tensioner just hanging there on the chain. The bolt that secures the chain tensioner to the frame broke in half and now it is stuck in the frameView attachment 89952 View attachment 89953

Edit: Contacted support through email and they are sending me a replacement chain tensioner. I was surprised how fast they responded as all the things you read online suggest it takes them some time to respond. Will keep you all updated once the new part is installed.

Update: I ended up finding a local mechanic that was able to repair and improve the old chain tensioner with a sturdier steel bolt instead of the weak aluminum bolt. Rides good now. The replacement chain tensioner is on the way but I don't need it anymore.

Exact same thing happened to mine, broken right out of the box. Haven’t even ridden it!
Got any picks of what the bike mechanic did to fix it?

 

[Rad and Sad]

Exact same thing happened to mine, broken right out of the box. Haven’t even ridden it!
Got any picks of what the bike mechanic did to fix it?

Sorry to hear that! I think they get damaged and bent in shipping, Rad needs to do a better job of protecting the chain tensioner.

After riding with the fix from the mechanic I would say it's not ideal since it shifts up during hard bumpy terrain so I have to push it down when that happens. Possibly because there is no spring. I don't know. Anyways, here are the pics

 

[john peck]

That all of course makes complete sense. Right now I fully believe that RAD is drowning in their success and can't keep up with customer service. We all know what the long term result of that will be.

JLF

Same happened to Juiced, too big, too fast. It alienates folks. Bin looking for mission feed back. This
sounds like a serious issue, but perhaps a simple fix. It looks a rather awkward configuration.

 

[Captain Ron]

Recent drastic Radmission chain-tensioner failures ...

Hi Guys,

You can see my earlier posts related to this topic here.

My local bike shop guys are the best. I live in the lowest-cost best-biking mountain town in Canada.

I received my Radmission around Hallowe'en last year and the LBS (who had been caring for my steel-framed Rockhopper for years) happily assembled it ... and mounted the Radmission rear rack ... which meant removing the rear while and re-wiring the rear light ... and moved the headlamp lower down because I needed a taller stem-riser ... for $48.

Today I stopped in and had the brakes adjusted and the chain professionally cleaned and lubed. I'd gone there to have the full-deal $60 tune-up, but that would have been an hour ... so they did that urgent stuff and we arranged for me to return tomorrow when I wasn't so busy.

The bike has been flawless. While the tech guy was doing the chain, he and I and and the manager (methodically trueing somebody else's spokes) were yakking about my recent adventures and near misses ... and I mentioned the several instances reported online of the Radmission's chain-tensioner coming adrift (mentioned here earlier). The young tech-guy doing the chain lube immediately stopped what he was doing and checked the relevant bolt. Good instinct .. it was a quarter-turn loose.

I wanted to pay them for the work (and that great discovery) but they said to bring take the bike back tomorrow for the rest of the tune-up ... it would be covered by the standard tune-up price.

Needless to say, I returned 30 minutes later with some awesome Italian pastry for their coffee break tomorrow.

Classic win-win, eh?

 

[Captain Ron]

Recent drastic Radmission chain-tensioner failures ...

Hi Guys,

You can see my earlier posts related to this topic here.

My local bike shop guys are the best. I live in the lowest-cost best-biking mountain town in Canada.

I received my Radmission around Hallowe'en last year and the LBS (who had been caring for my steel-framed Rockhopper for years) happily assembled it ... and mounted the Radmission rear rack ... which meant removing the rear while and re-wiring the rear light ... and moved the headlamp lower down because I needed a taller stem-riser ... for $48.

Today I stopped in and had the brakes adjusted and the chain professionally cleaned and lubed. I'd gone there to have the full-deal $60 tune-up, but that would have been an hour ... so they did that urgent stuff and we arranged for me to return tomorrow when I wasn't so busy.

The bike has been flawless. While the tech guy was doing the chain, he and I and and the manager (methodically trueing somebody else's spokes) were yakking about my recent adventures and near misses ... and I mentioned the several instances reported online of the Radmission's chain-tensioner coming adrift (mentioned here earlier). The young tech-guy doing the chain lube immediately stopped what he was doing and checked the relevant bolt. Good instinct .. it was a quarter-turn loose.

I wanted to pay them for the work (and that great discovery) but they said to bring take the bike back tomorrow for the rest of the tune-up ... it would be covered by the standard tune-up price.

Needless to say, I returned 30 minutes later with some awesome Italian pastry for their coffee break tomorrow.

Classic win-win, eh?

I think I'll maybe ask their thoughts about adding/dabbing a little Loctite (they can choose the colour) onto that spooky bolt that secures the chain-tensioner.