When you replace your chain should you also......

Mr Loverman
Mr Loverman Posts: 97
edited September 2009 in Road beginners
change the rear cogs as well?

Comments

  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    Yes - you should
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    :shock:
    Is this post the result in an expensive lesson....? :wink:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    Only if the new chains skips on the old sprockets. Check it under load on the most worn ones.
  • i think that if you change the chain in good time before overstretched you can get away without doing so. i've seen a post on here and by keeping chain well cleaned and making sure it doesn't get too stretched he gets 3 chains to 1 cassette and chainwheel. i put on a new chain last winter and the cassette and chainwheel are working fine
    park tools do a chain measure tool which gives a guide to when chain is stretched enough to need changing but cassette should be ok and a measure of when the the chain is so overstretched that you will have to do a full change
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    i think that if you change the chain in good time before overstretched you can get away without doing so. i've seen a post on here and by keeping chain well cleaned and making sure it doesn't get too stretched he gets 3 chains to 1 cassette and chainwheel. i put on a new chain last winter and the cassette and chainwheel are working fine
    park tools do a chain measure tool which gives a guide to when chain is stretched enough to need changing but cassette should be ok and a measure of when the the chain is so overstretched that you will have to do a full change

    agreed!

    change the chain often and it works out better in sprockets too - i don't know what anyone else thinks, but cassettes seem to have gone really really expensive in the past year or so - even lowly centaur ones are close to £50 and if you fancy anything with 'record' (or even 'chorus") stamped on it - you'd best have bloody deep pockets!
  • Well the sprocket is only 6 weeks old but the chain has done about 1700 miles, and I have had to change the chain because I tried to service it and inadvertantly broke the links on it :oops:
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    In future buy 2 chains when you get the cassette, then swap them every 1500 miles or so, less depending on how you ride. That way you can extend the life of all components - rings, chains & cassette.

    Keeping them clean & well lubed is the best thing you can do though. Clean chain & gears make you go faster, it's a proven fact.
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    Well the sprocket is only 6 weeks old but the chain has done about 1700 miles, and I have had to change the chain because I tried to service it and inadvertantly broke the links on it :oops:
    A worn chain causes accelerated sprocket wear. However, the reverse is not true (worn sprockets don't wear out new chains). That's why you can trial the new chain, without fear of damaging it, to see if it skips on old sprockets.

    Invariably, a cassette will last three or more chains before any of its sprockets slip on a new chain, if the chains were replaced prudently before they wore to 1% longer.
  • What do you mean the chain will slip on the sprocket?
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    when you stomp on the pedals it skips forward a tooth or two on the sprocket, often repeatedly and unpredictably which is very annoying, and can even result in testicles meeting top-tube type incidents.
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    What do you mean the chain will slip on the sprocket?
    When you pedal forcefully – say, up a steep hill – the chain skips. It will feel like you lose drive for a moment. If that happens you need new sprockets.
  • So what is happening is the chain is missing a tooth or two in the sprocket and you get a jerky action as you are pedaling.
  • There is that much wear the chain will sit on top of the teeth on the cassette for a split second before engaging properly this is what you can feel when its slipping.
  • As with everything there will always be exceptions.

    I have had my bike for 3 years and last month changed the chain and cassette for the first time (Ultegra - total cost £48.00). That's after around 12,000 miles...
    Still breathing.....
  • Flasheart
    Flasheart Posts: 1,278
    balthazar wrote:
    What do you mean the chain will slip on the sprocket?
    When you pedal forcefully – say, up a steep hill – the chain skips. It will feel like you lose drive for a moment. If that happens you need new sprockets.

    and new nuts :shock:
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  • nmcgann
    nmcgann Posts: 1,780
    change the rear cogs as well?

    No, not if the new chain doesn't skip when applying pedal pressure.

    Change the chain when it gets over 1/16" stretch (compared to 12" pin to pin measured on a new chain) and your cassette will last for several chains before starting to skip.

    The front chainrings should last for several cassettes so may take years to show significant wear.

    Neil
    --
    "Because the cycling is pain. The cycling is soul crushing pain."