chains

Peanutt

I need to replace my chain on my old 12 speed, are there different gauges? do I need a specific chain? and most importantly do they make anti-rusting chains?

racingcondor

Cogs and therefore chains have had to become narrower as more gears were added so you won't be able to use a 10 speed chain on a 6 speed cassette. I'm sure you can still get them somewhere though, hopefully someone else with a retro set up can help.

Chains all rust unless you keep them clean and well lubed.

MattC59

Yes, there are different gauge chains. The best thing to do is go to your local bike shop and ask. (Avoid Halfords though, they'll definitely screw this one up).

I don't know as you can get stainless steel chains, but there's this fantastic new goop that you can put on your chain to stop it rusting. I believe it's called chain lube, again, ask in your LBS

keef66

The chain width remained the same up to 8 sprockets, then became progressively narrower for 9, 10 and 11 speed.

So for your bike you'll be OK with a chain that says 7 or 8 speed. And yes, there are anti-rust chains although I've never tried one myself.

Have a look on Chain Reaction (no pun intended) Wiggle, Ribble etc for an idea of what's available.

Bear in mind a new chain might skip on the old sprockets if they are worn. (You'll only find out when you fit the new chain!) If it's 6 speed then you may have a screw-on freewheel rather than a splined cassette. They are still available quite cheaply, but removal requires a different tool / technique.

Peanutt

thanks guys,

sprockets should be good, only recently changed the freewheel when I got new wheels. I'll try a 7/8 speed chain.

smurfylicious

My old Dawes SuperGalaxy is 18 speed (same as 12 speed but with one extra chain ring). It's been running very happily on an SRAM PC-850 chain. The chain packaging is marked for 8-speed, but it should work fine on 6, 12 or 18 speed systems.

night_porter

As has already been said a 7/8 speed one will be the same size and there are gazillions of them available on the web.

Apart from Sram, Clarkes make anti-rust chains and KMC make nickel coated ones for protection against rust.

Shimano ones are cheaper but they do tend to get surface rust after the smallest of showers so I won't buy them (especially for commuting) but you pays your money and gets your choice.