Does replacing the chain help cassette life?

Dave_P1

Hi all,

In the past I've always waited until my cassette needs replacing before replacing me my chain and this has always worked fine. What was was wondering is, if I replace the chain more regularly will it prolong the life of the cassette?

Just to note, according to my park tool my chain is due for replacement?

Cheers,


Dave

benpinnick

Yes it does IMHO. If you let the chain get too worn, then the cassette will accelerate in its deterioration. Nowadays (I didn't use to) I replace my chains once a year regardless of use on every bike, and I cannot remember when I last replaced a cassette.

alfablue

A worn chain will still work on a cassette but the cassette will wear so that it will no longer work with a new chain, which will skip. The generally accepted wisdom is that changing the chain when 0.75% worn the cassette will work fine with a new chain and maybe will last for 3 complete chains.

richardspooner

Yep I can echo those sentiments. I got through four chains (about 80% wear each time), before I changed a cassette on my one road bike. Neglected to do the same on my MTB and it just butchered the cassette in no time by comparison

cavegiant

I try to get stuff that wears at a similar speed. That is why I like the X9 / XT combo.
When using Sram chains, they worse faster so had to swap more regularly.

stubs

Depends on the conditions you ride in. I tend to ride in the Pennines and the Peak district and its so gritty when your chain is at 0.75 wear mark the cassette looks like a collection of fish hooks. I have known lads destroy a chain in a weekends riding in the Peak.

I buy cheapish, heavy but sturdy Deore cassettes and KMC X9 silver chains and if I get 4 months and a 1000 miles out of them I'm happy to bin them and buy fresh.

TuckerUK

Obviously depends on cassette and chain quality, but in my experience a big yes every time.

I change chains at 12.0625” as recommended by Sheldon Brown (0.52%). Measured externally on the pins of course, not using one of those ridiculous chain wear gauges that measure roller wear too (meaning chain shows as being due for replacement when they aren't).

diy

I tend to replace them together, chains are normally about half price if you buy them as a cassette combo. But everything above makes sense.

I just don't do it.

sniper68

I mainly ride in the Dark Peak and if I change chains at .75 I get 3-4 chains to a cassette.If I leave it until 1.0 then it's usually chain and cassette time :roll:
With this method i usually get 3-4 chains to a cassette and 2-3 cassettes to new chain rings 8)

Buckled_Rims

ibbo68 wrote:

I mainly ride in the Dark Peak and if I change chains at .75 I get 3-4 chains to a cassette.If I leave it until 1.0 then it's usually chain and cassette time :roll:
With this method i usually get 3-4 chains to a cassette and 2-3 cassettes to new chain rings 8)

+1

I don't ride in the Dark Peak, but that's actually very close to my wear ratios for chain/cassette/chainrings.

I tend to use Shimano hg93 and SRAM cassette on my XT system.

Mancunianfightingcat

ibbo68 wrote:

I mainly ride in the Dark Peak and if I change chains at .75 I get 3-4 chains to a cassette.If I leave it until 1.0 then it's usually chain and cassette time :roll:
With this method i usually get 3-4 chains to a cassette and 2-3 cassettes to new chain rings 8)

Exactly the same here.
SRAM 990 cassette and 991 or 971 chains, Blackspire chaining seem very hard wearing.

njee20

IMO it can be a false economy changing chains, unless you have an expensive cassette. If you just use Deore then I'd run it until it's all totally trashed and replace the whole lot. Otherwise you'll spend £100 on chains preserving a £30 cassette.

Dave_P1

Thanks for your help guys.
At the moment I'm runng a SRAM PG990 cassette and a PC991 chain. I'm going to try and replace the chain and see how things go. One thing I have noticed is the price of the cassette seems to have shot up since I last purchased one.

NatoED

I run Sram 8sp chain and a old Tiagra 12-27 rear cassette . havn't need to change the chain or casstte for over 2 years . But then I do clean the chain and cassette till they are spotless every month . That's a full strip down of the cassette to individual cogs and clean the chain in finish line. must have done 8K with them at least. i live in South Wales near cardiff but don't use the trail centres . I prefer riding on my own trails in the mountains.

I think having 8 speed has allowed me to last longer too.

cavegiant

Try replacing the Chain with an X9, it will last longer and is stronger.

nickel

Tbh its pointless me changing my chain to preserve my cassette when my cheap ass shimano cassette is worth less than my sram chain :P