Chain Stretch

NWLondoner

I have just measured my KMC X10-SL chain. Some sections of it is now in the .75% category. It has done 1450 km.


Should I look to replace this now or wait until parts become 1% stretched?

balthazar

I think chains should be replaced at 0.5%, for the sake of the sprockets, so yours is overdue. I'm confused by your comment "some sections", though: chain wear should be even. How are you measuring the wear?

topdude

Replace it now.
Chains are consumable items, next time replace it before it gets worn.

NWLondoner

balthazar wrote:

I think chains should be replaced at 0.5%, for the sake of the sprockets, so yours is overdue. I'm confused by your comment "some sections", though: chain wear should be even. How are you measuring the wear?

I am using a chain tool

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10219

balthazar

NWLondoner wrote:

balthazar wrote:

I think chains should be replaced at 0.5%, for the sake of the sprockets, so yours is overdue. I'm confused by your comment "some sections", though: chain wear should be even. How are you measuring the wear?

I am using a chain tool

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10219

The "chain checking" contraptions compound genuine wear with roller clearance, which varies between chains. They may misleadingly report wear on new, and perfect, chains.

Throw the gizmo in the back of a drawer, or use it to open paint tins. Get a steel ruler: measure between 12 pins along the bottom run of chain; one-sixteenth of an inch over 12, equals 0.5% wear.

NWLondoner

balthazar wrote:

NWLondoner wrote:

balthazar wrote:

I think chains should be replaced at 0.5%, for the sake of the sprockets, so yours is overdue. I'm confused by your comment "some sections", though: chain wear should be even. How are you measuring the wear?

I am using a chain tool

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10219

The "chain checking" contraptions compound genuine wear with roller clearance, which varies between chains. They may misleadingly report wear on new, and perfect, chains.

Throw the gizmo in the back of a drawer, or use it to open paint tins. Get a steel ruler: measure between 12 pins along the bottom run of chain; one-sixteenth of an inch over 12, equals 0.5% wear.

Cheers.

Just tried that method and it seems that the chain wear tool was right.

Time to bin the chain

andrewjoseph

I have a park chain checking tool, it measures all new chains as 0.5%. I replace at 0.75%.

rake

andrewjoseph wrote:

I have a park chain checking tool, it measures all new chains as 0.5%. I replace at 0.75%.

thery no good as said allready. use a ruler. the roller wear doesnt matter or make any difference to the pitch wear.. measuring across more links divides the error down hence measure over a foot.

andrewjoseph

rake wrote:

andrewjoseph wrote:

I have a park chain checking tool, it measures all new chains as 0.5%. I replace at 0.75%.

thery no good as said allready. use a ruler. the roller wear doesnt matter or make any difference to the pitch wear.. measuring across more links divides the error down hence measure over a foot.

the tool is good enough for me to keep a decent check on my chains, it doesn't need to be 100% accurate, it just needs to be consistent.

Using a ruler needs the chain to be very clean to eliminate lube build up and grit etc from causing errors. The chain also needs to be under tension, this makes it difficult to measure on the bike. When off the bike it is difficult to put tension on the chain at the same time as you are measuring it.

Using a chain checking tool gives you a quick and relatively accurate assessment of your chains condition. If it's easy to use, you will use it more often, so keeping a better watch on your chain and replacing it before it causes further problems.

I'm happy with my chain checker.

keef66

I too am happy with my Park Tools chain checker. Very quick, easy, clean to use.

Never got it to fit into a new chain of any make. Correctly identified that the chains on the kids' bikes were beyond 1% (and when replaced, the new chains skipped on the worn cassettes)

My original 105 chain lasted 18 months incl 2 winters, I replaced it at 1%, and the new chain is happy with the original cassette.