Technical Q&A with Lennard Zinn: Recall, flipped Wippermann and more tubeless talk
Replace those face-plate boltsDear Lennard,I have heard that 3TTT has recalled their Zepp stems. I have an XL version of this stem – how can I find out if it is on the recall list? Can you tell me more about the problems associated with the stems? Should I pull this puppy off the bike?William Dear William,Yes, there has been a recall of those stems. You do not necessarily need to remove it from the bike, but you must replace the face-plate bolts with longer ones.Lennard Wippermann chain with Dura-Ace?Dear Lennard,I’ve got a Shimano 7800 drivetrain on my Seven Elium. In your most recent
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
By Lennard Zinn
Replace those face-plate bolts
Dear Lennard,
I have heard that 3TTT has recalled their Zepp stems. I have an XL version of this stem – how can I find out if it is on the recall list? Can you tell me more about the problems associated with the stems? Should I pull this puppy off the bike?
William
Dear William,
Yes, there has been a recall of those stems. You do not necessarily need to remove it from the bike, but you must replace the face-plate bolts with longer ones.
Lennard
Wippermann chain with Dura-Ace?
Dear Lennard,
I’ve got a Shimano 7800 drivetrain on my Seven Elium. In your most recent VeloNews column you write that you use a Wippermann 9-speed chain with your 7800 crank. You don’t write about your RD. Can I use a Wippermann with my 7800? I like the idea of being able to take my chain off regularly to clean it without breaking it. If yes, which Wippermann would you recommend?
Michael
Dear Michael,
Yes, you certainly can use one on your 10-speed Dura-Ace rear derailleur. I would recommend the Wippermann 10-speed chains, like the 1008 (nickel-plated) 1011 (hollow-pin); 10X1 (stainless steel); or 10TR (titanium rollers, cutout plates and hollow pins). By the way, my RD was a 7700—9-speed Dura-Ace.
Lennard
Speaking of Wippermann chains . . .
Dear Lennard,
In the photo you published on velonews.com of your bike/crank/front derailleur, you appeared to have installed the Connex link incorrectly.
My understanding is that, as the chain is traveling in the forward motion, the Connex link should look like a “V,” and when the chain is on the bottom traveling toward the rear derailleur the Connex look should look like an inverted “V.”
Is this catch worthy of a signed copy of your book?
Mark
Dear Mark,
Thanks to you and the others who pointed out that I had installed the Connex Master Link upside down. It never occurred to me to look at the directions, since I have installed so many SRAM, Lickton’s, and Taya (and Wippermann) master links in the past without problems. The instructions clearly show the preferred orientation; still, I must say that I never had any noise or shifting problems with it in the upside-down configuration.
Wippermann’s U.S. agent says the side of the asymmetric link with the more constant radius is the side that goes against the cranks: “If it’s installed upside down, it’ll work, but you’ll hear an annoying tick as it rolls over the smallest cog on your wheel.” A picture of the proper setup and an installation tutorial is available at Technical writer Lennard Zinn is a frame builder, a former U.S. national team rider and author of several books on bikes and bike maintenance including the pair of successful maintenance guides “ Zinn & the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance” and “Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance.”Zinn’s regular column is devoted to addressing readers’ technical questions about bikes, their care and feeding and how we as riders can use them as comfortably and efficiently as possible. Readers can send brief technical questions directly to Zinn. Zinn’s column appears here each Tuesday.