Chain replacement frequency

GhallTN6

Having bought XT chain related kit In November last year, and pretty much riding every weekend through whatever weather has been thrown at us since, I'm sensing that it's all just about to give up on me after a bit of chain suck in the muddy conditions yesterday.

I've always bantered with the idea of replacing the chain every 3 months, as it's the stretching of the chain that causes the wear on the rings/cassette (as well as the gritty sh*tty conditions).

Does anyone do this and does it work, will spending 15 quid every three monts be worth it, will it really extend the life of my chainrings,Cassette etc.

cheers
G

stubs

Problem is if you put a new chain on a worn cassette and rings you will knacker the new chain quicker. Get yourself a chain checker tool they arent expensive about £7 or £8 and keep an eye on the chain.

I replace my chain and cassette about every 800 to a 1,000 miles. Rings are replaced when I get chain suck and are usually replaced with steel ones where its possible.

I reckon to go through 4 sets of chain and cassette a year and rings about once a year. Its expensive but if you want lots of smooth changing gears its something you have to put up with. Just think of it as a running cost and divide it by the number of rides you get then its only pennies.

GhallTN6

I was thinking that perhaps changing the chain before it stretched enough to wear the Cassette/rings would make everything last longer therefore saving cash, four cassette's/chains and a set of rings a year comes out way more expensive than just changing the whole lot once a year, which I'm trying extend and prolongue the life of the kit.

jairaj

Have a read of Sheldon Browns' website, he has a good section on when to replace chains and cassettes etc ...

Neily03

GhallTN6 wrote:

I was thinking that perhaps changing the chain before it stretched enough to wear the Cassette/rings would make everything last longer therefore saving cash,

It will.

Dadsky

I run three SRAM PC991 chians simultneaously, changing every 100km or so. That seems to give an extended life for the entire drive chain - with the bonus that if one chain gets broken /damaged. Then you don´t have to write off the rest.

Anonymous

GhallTN6 wrote:

I was thinking that perhaps changing the chain before it stretched enough to wear the Cassette/rings would make everything last longer therefore saving cash

Chain wear tool will tell you when the chain is worn but not worn enough to warrant replacing the cassette.

There are two wear indicators usually.

One means "replace chain soon to avoid damaging cassette"
The other means "chain buggered, and so is your cassette, replace both!"

P.S. Don't forget the chainrings also. Well knackered chain could mean bent or worn chainring(s) too.

Oh, and clean your chain, cassette, mech cogs and chainrings properly, and oil them properly with wet/dry oil for the conditions you're riding. The chain will last longer that way and you'll go through less chains and cassettes.

I recommend those chain cleaning gizmos. They really do get them thoroughly clean.

sniper68

I change chains at .75 on the chain checker and I generally get 4 chains to a cassette(about 4 chains a year)
If I change at 1.0 and it usually means new cassette also.

JamesB

Is 500 miles per chain what people find? I`m surprised to have found my PC971 has raeched .75 mark after such a short useage!!! cf road bikes 2000+ miles ; and I do maintain my MTB chains well, cleaning, oiling etc after each ride----hope to NOT need new cassette too as SRAM red if I change chains now

dodgy

stubs wrote:

I replace my chain and cassette about every 800 to a 1,000 miles. Rings are replaced when I get chain suck and are usually replaced with steel ones where its possible.

You change your cassette every 800 to 1000 miles? That's extraordinary! I change my chain when it shows 0.75 worn, but I can get about 5 chains to one cassette, easy, probably more.

cavegiant

The quality of the chain is also paramount.
I use the KMC X9 with an XT cassette and usually get 1 chain to cassette, about a year.

I ride 7 days a week and am a clyde.

I never liked shimano chains they wear out in minutes, and snap faster.

The only good Shi/Sram chain is the 991 cross step or hollow pin, but they cost more than the KMC and wear faster.

cavegiant

dupe

bails87

dodgy wrote:

stubs wrote:

I replace my chain and cassette about every 800 to a 1,000 miles. Rings are replaced when I get chain suck and are usually replaced with steel ones where its possible.

You change your cassette every 800 to 1000 miles? That's extraordinary! I change my chain when it shows 0.75 worn, but I can get about 5 chains to one cassette, easy, probably more.

My KMC X9L was barely on 0.75, when I replaced it I had to change the cassette and middle chain ring too :roll:

stubs

dodgy wrote:

stubs wrote:

I replace my chain and cassette about every 800 to a 1,000 miles. Rings are replaced when I get chain suck and are usually replaced with steel ones where its possible.

You change your cassette every 800 to 1000 miles? That's extraordinary! I change my chain when it shows 0.75 worn, but I can get about 5 chains to one cassette, easy, probably more.

Blimey how do you manage that. Admittedly I only use Deore or PG 970 cassettes but I use KMC X9 chains which are good, changed at 0.75 on the checker. I have used PG 990 and XT cassettes in the past and they lasted a bit longer but not by much a couple of hundred miles or so and not worth the 100% higher cost for an extra 20% mileage.

I do get good mileage on the hardtail which is mostly used on the road a chain and cassette will last me a year about 2,000 miles. The full suss bike which gets about 3 to 4,000 miles on it a year the best I have managed was about 1,100 and that was chainsucking and skipping real bad, so bad in fact that I was stuck in one gear for about 12 miles on a ride in the Peak my knees almost exploded on the last bridleway climb to the Cat & Fiddle. I think if I made a cassette last 5 chains there wouldnt be any teeth left on the middle cogs.

I suppose it depends on the conditions you ride in. If your riding in gritty conditions things dont last.

hooker1uk

deadkenny wrote:

P.S. Don't forget the chainrings also. Well knackered chain could mean bent or worn chainring(s) too..

Learnt this the hard way this week.

My chain was overstretched, killing the cassette, i stupidly forgot the chainrings.

huge chainsuck and the center ring's teeth are more like saw blades now (and it was only 6 months old).

I suppose I can't complain though. The Sram PG830 Cassette and PG830 chain lasted from oops, (i meant) July 2008 til last week.so it's done well with a fat bloke giving it stick.