How often do you change your chain?
Aguila
Posts: 622
The titile says it all really.
Reason for asking is that I recently had my main commuting bike serviced and it needed both the chain and cassette changing due to the chain stretch. I'd done about 4000 miles last 12 months and had changed the chain myself at about 2000 miles. Now i'm wondering if I should change more often. I dont want to be forking out for new cassettes every year!
Reason for asking is that I recently had my main commuting bike serviced and it needed both the chain and cassette changing due to the chain stretch. I'd done about 4000 miles last 12 months and had changed the chain myself at about 2000 miles. Now i'm wondering if I should change more often. I dont want to be forking out for new cassettes every year!
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http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=T0038
Simples.
FACT
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
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I find I usually get 2 x chains per cassette.
Well if you haven't replaced it yet just keep it on the bike until it breaks or until the shifting gets dodgy. Once the damage is done it you might as well run it into the ground.
While I clean my chain regularly (every couple of weeks) I don't normally bother to do the length check as based on all the stuff I've read I get as much life out of one chain and one cassette as people that end up using several chains on a single cassette. I also suspect that with the amount of dust and grit that gets into a chain riding off road I'd be replacing the chain every month. :shock:
My record is 10000 miles (7spd MTB) That chain never broke but it was pretty much falling apart when I replaced it. Although I only got 3000 out of my last 10spd chain. (CX with regular off road use in the wet) before it broke.
Mike
so I should get double the mileage out of the relatively expensive campag cassette
Single Speed commuter has old 8 speed chains. I saved them when they were worn out once on the old 8 speed bike. Now they get worn out again on the single speed. The single speed is less fussy than a bike with gears. Eventually the chain stretches so much I can't move the wheel back enough to get tension. Then I have to bin it
follow on
Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
+1 for getting a chain checker and just keeping an eye on it and keeping everything nice and clean (easier said than done through winter I know).
Regularly clean and lube and all is good.
Probably due for a change before winter.
with a what what? What's one of them?
It's a chain made of half-links:
Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
Carbon 456
456 lefty
Pompino
White Inbred
why does such a thing exist?
Well, I was led to believe that they're stronger, last longer, and run smoother on a FG.
I definitely agree with the 'run smoother' but can't really comment on the other two.
Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
Only the pretty expensive 1/2link chains are any good. They've also got more metal so they will take hits without bending better. I'm not sure it's an inheritantly stronger design though.
Carbon 456
456 lefty
Pompino
White Inbred
The only chain I have ever snapped was the OE one on my Kona Jake - a basic shimano one. It snapped when I raced a Hayabusa away from the lights for the 2nd day in a row. I beat him to about 3 bike lengths the first day, the second day I nearly lost my manhood.
I normally run 9 speed SRAM chains and have never had a problem with them.
(Gets coat.....)
Am I correct in saying that 1 000km is too soon for a new chain to break? It is not a cheap junk chain. It is an expensive one from a very reputable brand. So I don't know why it would break like that.
I clean my chain every two weeks and clean the cassette thoroughly as well every two weeks. Or after a wet ride I will also clean it thoroughly. So it has been well looked after.
I sprint a few times every ride so I don't know if that could contribute to it breaking so quickly. I got 5 000km from my previous chain and it never broke. And I also sprinted that much on that chain. So I don't know.
Any ideas what went wrong? Anything I am doing wrong?
Depends what cleaning entails, and how you lube it, and how and where you ride.
I never actually clean chains, just as and when I clean the bike, then use a wax based lube (Squirt in my case).
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
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Parktools
If a chain parts spontaneously, it's often because a side-plate has been bent during pin attachment or removal. Cheapo chain-breaking tools can do this.
Ridley Noah FAST 2013
Bottecchia/Campagnolo 1990
Carrera Parva Hybrid 2016
Hoy Sa Calobra 002 2014 [off duty]
Storck Absolutist 2011 [off duty]
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I'm not convinced about this. I have broken a few chains over the years. They have been fitted with missing link type links, and the breaks have been elsewhere i.e. links that have never had a tool anywhere near them. I think chains will have inherent weaknesses and if you put enough power through them there is always a risk they will break. I suspect wear increases the risk, although it could just be one of those things.
Some chains are better than others but and some folks are less mechanically sensitive. but to be honest its more likely just be one of those things, I've worn a chain in under 500 miles on the CX bike, with lots of muddy rides, and less than perfect cleaning, The MTB gets cleaned with unicorn tears and such, chain is showing very little wear after 700 miles and steep/muddy/high torque rides.
The old MTB I use for commuting had 3x9 across gravel/mud in Bushy Park never got more than 1000 miles before the chain was trashed, changed to 1x9 thus far up to 900 miles and it's not looking to bad.
1. Oil chain after it gets wet or if the chain looks unlubricated.
2. Clean it when the amount of crud on it interferes with shifting (2-3 month interval minimum)
When I replace the chain I do have to replace the cassette but in my experience unless you are super-paranoid about chain wear checking that's innevitable and replacing a cassette and chain after 5000 miles is still a lot cheaper than the number of chains I'd need if I did them even every 1000 miles!
Most of my chains show significant bushing wear when I replace them (I've even worn them through but I do try and get it replaced before that point).
Only shift issues I suffer in this regime is when the chain is covered in dirt or if the shift cable needs replacing. I've never experienced chain skip even when things are ridiculously worn(maybe I don't generate enough power
Mike
must replace the chain !
Some pootle, some put out 800 watts. Clean conditions, or grimy conditions. Etc, etc...
I am not sure. You have no chance.
I have a gauge. It reports chain worn after about 500-1000 miles. I ignore it and carry on for another 4500miles.
Mike