fitting new chain

andy83

ok getting a little confused, have read park tools guide and still a little confused lol

doing a new build on bike and got shimano deore grankset with xt chain, 9 speed cassette and xt front and rear dearailler.

is it just a case of putting the new chain on the bike as i have heard people say about taking out to links etc

sorry if this seems a stupid question

thanks

nicklouse

yes you will need to shorten the chain.

GHill

nicklouse wrote:

yes you will need to shorten the chain.

There's some instruction on how long to make the chain in the current WMB (82) if the OP needs some guidance.

andy83

so by the looks of things ill prob need to take two links off

The Big Cheese

One way is to put the chain round the largest cog at the back and largest chain ring up front, but don't put it through either mech, then marry them up and add 2 links

Robert's your mothers brother

millster

^ thats the method i was recommended when i asked the question of how long the chain should be last week, and it is perfect, gear shifts are very smooth now. i would say do that method

andy83

oh bugger, aint got no spare links, looks like ill need to get me some.

i have got a shiamno chain rejoin pin, will this be strong enough??

pretty stupid if you buy a chain and it aint enough links

you did mean add two and not take two off didnt you??

GHill

andycraddock wrote:

pretty stupid if you buy a chain and it aint enough links

Your chain isn't long enough from the box? That sounds a bit odd, sure it's not a singlespeed chain?

allthegearnoidea

i think its meant as if you were to run it as a single speed to gauge the length, placing over both the largest cogsand then see where it would be as a join, then add two complete links??
i know shimano chains come in 3 or so different lengths, i think its 110, 114 and 117?? depends which length you have i suppose!

andy83

no no, maybe i didnt explain properly at the start. its a brand new 9 speed shimano chain i am putting on my new build, obviously a 9 speed set up.

so can i literally put the chain on and hay presto??

bloke in the shop said i would need to take it into him as if i dont get the correct length it will all mess up

its just what the bloke in bike shop said has confused me

andy83

its a deore xt hg93 if that helps

allthegearnoidea

do you know how many links the chain is?/ should be a tick in one of the lengths on the bottom of the box??
iirc mine was a 114 link chain and had to take out 4 complete links iirc.

dunker

mine was 114 too and i removed 6 links, 3 outer links and 3 inner links. when people say "complete link" does that mean 1 outer and 1 inner?

millster

andycraddock wrote:

no no, maybe i didnt explain properly at the start. its a brand new 9 speed shimano chain i am putting on my new build, obviously a 9 speed set up.

so can i literally put the chain on and hay presto??

no not hey presto. like mentioned before, put the chain around the largest cog at the front and the smallest at the back, so, as if you would be in your 27th gear if you have 3 rings up front. then wherever the chain meets, add 2 links. give me 15mins and i will do a little diagram for you

millster

so you dont pass the chain through the front or rear mechs, and just add 2 links

supersonic

Yes, pull the chain taught as above, then add two links to theis point and chop. alink measures exactly an inch, a set of inner plates and outer. You can use a SRAM poerlink to rejoin two female chain ends (or inner links).

robbarker

Millster's drawing will result in your chain being much too short, so don't do what it says!

If you're going to use this method put the chain round both LARGEST cogs, front and back, then add 2 links (i.e. 2 rivets).

Once the cahin is properly installed, with the chain on the largest front chainring and the smallest rear cog, and correctly threaded through both mechs, the rear mech cage should be oriented vertically downward.

Boffington

i think, if i understood correctly your running nine speed (with a single chain-ring up front) and you assumed a nine speed chain would be the right length. but chains are never the right length as people will run differnt sized chain rings/cassetes.
is that right?

maybe not cos not many people run single chain rings. lol this doesn't seem helpful at all now

andy83

no, not quite, 3 chain rings up front.

i think i have the jist of things now, got a little confused with the concept of added two links.

as i see it i need to thread the chain around the two largest rings with the chain not being joined, then where the chain meets i add two links and discard the rest.

anyhow going to have a bash shortly so will keep you posted

thanks for all help

MountainPete

andycraddock wrote:

anyhow going to have a bash shortly so will keep you posted

Did we really need to know that?

Thewaylander

Heep the spare links though in case you ever snap your chain or so on, usefull to keep handy!

Dazzza

When he said the largest rear gear he meant size wise not gear wise.

I presume adding the two links one would be the powerlink if using sram/kmc/connex.

andy83

well followed the method of putting chain around two largest rings (back and front) then there were 2 links left over so joined these with the shimano joining pin and seems ok. although the fun and games are now starting with gear set up, but think its the to end screws i need to adjust as the chain moves into all gears apart from largest and smallest on the cassette

Boffington

yep thats right (unles the cable tensions off) if you need help what mountain bike have something about it in the current issue