Removal of Chain Guard on Trek 7.2 FX

[wackyjacky1]

Has anyone removed the chain guard on their bike? It's plastic and almost looks like it'll just pop right off, but it didn't budge when I tried tugging on it. I don't want to attempt anything more drastic without getting a little advice from you all first! :)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc71/wackyjacky1/DSCN0043-2.jpg http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc71/wackyjacky1/DSCN0042.jpg

[Zen]

Why do you want to take it off?

[lunacycles]

I have never seen this particular crank, but judging from the pic, it won't pop off. even if it came loose, the hole in the center of the guard won't go over the bulged area of the crank arm (unless there is an opening behind the crank arm I can't see), so you wouldn't be able to slide it free. There may be a chance to remove it, but it looks like you would have to remove the crank arm first. Hard to tell from the pics!
My gut tells me your chain guard is integrated into the crank. It's a nice little annoying trick Shimano does on a lot of their parts. Break or wear out one part and you have to replace the whole thing.

[wackyjacky1]

Zen:
I dunno...I just think it looks uber-dorky. :o

Luna:
The outer ring of the chain guard is solid, but the "spokes" don't completely go around the crankarm; there's a gap or opening behind the crankarm.

If it does just pop off, though, I imagine there are little nubs on the chainring that guard is attached to (see 2nd pic)?

Ah, well, it's no biggie if it won't come off. I was hoping someone would say it was a simple task, but I love my bike anyway, even if it does have a dorky, permanently attached, plastic chain guard. :D

[Zen]

Zen:
I dunno...I just think it looks uber-dorky. :o



I like mine :o

[wackyjacky1]

I like mine :o

Logically, I should like it, too, being that I myself am uber-dorky. :p :D

[lunacycles]

Look behind the largest chainring where each of the "nubs" are. If there are bolt heads at each nub location than you can probably remove the guard by removing each bolt at each "nub" with a 5mm allen wrench or whatever tool fits those bolts. The nubs should come off, too.

Otherwise, if there are no bolts connecting the guard to the chainring, given there's an opening you can probably pop that baby right off. If you need more leverage than your hands try gently prying it off by putting a large screwdriver (or something similar) between the guard and the chainring between the nubs and gently try to pry it loose. If it isn't budging with much effort, I'd leave it alone.

It's good to figure out how it's truly attached before going this route. A pic of the backside of the crank would probably tell the tale.

[wackyjacky1]

Oh, good tip. Looks like it's attached with Phillips-head screws. Chain guard removal might be my weekend project. ;)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc71/wackyjacky1/DSCN0047.jpg

Muchas gracias for the help.

[wackyjacky1]

Well, I took the darn thing off this afternoon. Meh. No big improvement, as far as looks go. That's not exactly a sexy chainring, is it? :p In fact, I may end up putting the chain guard back on! :D

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc71/wackyjacky1/DSCN0051.jpg

[Bluetree]

Well, I took the darn thing off this afternoon. Meh. No big improvement, as far as looks go. That's not exactly a sexy chainring, is it? :p In fact, I may end up putting the chain guard back on! :D


This thread made me laugh, WJ!

Just the other day one of my best friend was over, looking at my bikes (he's a DA guy). I mentioned I wasn't too crazy over the look of my Sram chainrings. They were too solid-looking, like his DA rings, not sexy-minimalist like my other bike's Campy rings or fierce-black like FSA's.

Thus began a long argument over the inherent "sexiness" of all our individual components ...Talk about bike geeks! ;)

[wackyjacky1]

Thus began a long argument over the inherent "sexiness" of all our individual components ...Talk about bike geeks! ;)
LOL! I figure they may not be pretty, but ditching the chainguard shaved a whopping 3 ounces of weight off the bike. I'm a weight weenie now. :D

[moderncyclista]

I like chain guards. I have one on my 520. My other bike doesn't have one and it irks me. A chain guard keeps my socks clean. I'm all over form rather than fashion though. The Shimano ones are bulky looking. Weight to me, has never been an issue. I ride steel frames. I don't race. I need to find one for my other bike with an FSA crankset. I don't want to replace the whole crankset....yet.

[Owlie]

I like chain guards. I have one on my 520. My other bike doesn't have one and it irks me. A chain guard keeps my socks clean. I'm all over form rather than fashion though. The Shimano ones are bulky looking. Weight to me, has never been an issue. I ride steel frames. I don't race. I need to find one for my other bike with an FSA crankset. I don't want to replace the whole crankset....yet.

Heh, this is something my BF doesn't get. I don't care about weight. I don't race (nor do I intend to), and I figure there's enough extra kilograms on me that a few extra grams here or there on the bike won't make much difference. Component sexiness, I get. My low-end FSA crankset isn't exactly sexy. However, I can't afford teh sexy at the moment. Perhaps when I replace everything else.