Chain measurement the dark art
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Kingsmill1
Posts: 103
I'm looking to replace my chain on my allez sport as its stretched I'm going for a direct replacement which is a kmc x9 chain now the next bit is how can I insure I measure it correctly and not totally bugger the job up. Can I just measure off the old chain or would this cause problems as its stretched a little. I'm a total bike mechanic novice so please excuse the dumb question but want to learn how to do it myself rather than pay £8 a time to my lbs.
Giant TCR Comp 2
Specialized Allez Sport
Specialized Allez Sport
0
Comments
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Just measure against your current chain. You want the same number of links, but you old one won't be so stretched that you can't measure side by side.0
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... so lie them down next to each other (on something clean) and kink the old one slightly so that the links stay roughly aligned.
Edit - and make sure you have the outside link at one end and end up with an inside link at the other.0 -
before you remove the old chain, use a 12 inch ruler and measure the distance from one of the pins to the pin that will now be slightly past the 12 inch mark - see how here... http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html
if it's less than 1/16" past the mark, chain is ok
if it's reached 1/16" but is still less than 1/8" past, it's time to change the chain
if it's 1/8" or beyond then the old chain has worn so far that it has probably damaged the cassette, in this case you'll find a new chain may slip on the old cassette or you'll get accelerated chain wear - if the chain has reached this point, you may as well run it a while longer because when you change it you'll need to change the casssette (which costs a lot more)
moral - check the chain every few weeks, otherwise the cassette may be worn out much sooner than it should bemy bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny0 -
It's as simple as counting the pitches, just count each pin (pitch) do the same for the new chain and your sorted.2013 Eddy Merckx Amx-1
2010 Mongoose tyax super!
http://app.strava.com/athletes/520456
http://www.trainerroad.com/career/damov30 -
Thanks for the advice I got a kmc chain checker off flee bay chain is still ok for the momentGiant TCR Comp 2
Specialized Allez Sport0 -
damov2 wrote:It's as simple as counting the pitches, just count each pin (pitch) do the same for the new chain and your sorted.
As for wear, I would err on the side of caution and change it sooner rather than later.Aspire not to have more, but to be more.0