How to determine chain length?

desmorrow

Hi,
Last step of my project (hopefully anyway). I searched youtube and found a couple of different techniques. Put chain on both big rings and add 2 link or big at front and small at back until rear derailer in line with rear axel.

Can anyone suggest an easy and effective technique?

Cheers,
D

supersonic

The former - big/big, bypassing the derailers, add two links.

RobJ20

Same as above, but with a cycle of the suspension to check for chain growth.

chrisvanderkaap

I was taught to go small/small including derailleurs and making sure the rd has at least some tension.

I suppose this doesn't take into account ridiculous gears (53-28), cross chaining.

Whats best?

nicklouse

chrisvanderkaap wrote:

I was taught to go small/small including derailleurs and making sure the rd has at least some tension.

I suppose this doesn't take into account ridiculous gears (53-28), cross chaining.

Whats best?

Big Big as it saves ripping your mech off and is the most widely recomended way.

Levi_501

chrisvanderkaap wrote:

I was taught to go small/small including derailleurs and making sure the rd has at least some tension

Thats the way I was tatught, touch wood I have never had any problems.

I was taught my a road race bike mechanic.

The Rookie

High risk if the RD is marginal on capacity as in big big that could see the RD pulled into the cassette.

supersonic

Levi_501 wrote:

chrisvanderkaap wrote:

I was taught to go small/small including derailleurs and making sure the rd has at least some tension

Thats the way I was tatught, touch wood I have never had any problems.

I was taught my a road race bike mechanic.

It's a terrible way in my opinion. if you hit the big/big combo you might rip the mech and the hanger off, snap the chain or even bend the frame.

desmorrow

OKay, so I added to link and a power link. Seems a little tight on the big rings when I run it through the derailer but think it's okay....

I had also replaced the cassette with a fairly cheap shimano alivio 9 speed. When shifting, the sprocket seems somewhat noisier than before - kind of tinny? Would that be expected with such a new cassette? I think I put everything back together okay....

The Rookie

More likely it's not indexed quite right and the chain is rubbing as it meshes with the teeth on the sprocket.

desmorrow

The Beginner wrote:

More likely it's not indexed quite right and the chain is rubbing as it meshes with the teeth on the sprocket.

Is that a case of adjusting the tension on the cable then?

Sorry another question too!!! When I am in small small combo, the chain is crazy loose. It was like this with the old chain but it was badly stretched so I thought that was part of the problem. I don't remember it being that bad when I first bought the bike. I guess it's to do with the derailer set-up - any suggestions?

The Rookie

Yes, adjust the cable.

It's possible the springs in the mech have gone soft, photo's would help!

Levi_501

supersonic wrote:

if you hit the big/big combo

That sounds something like you would get in McSh1t or Burger Queen!

I must confess, I have never had a problem doing it this way; it seems a logical way to me.

Just out of interest, do you tend to end up with more or less links doing it this way?

cooldad

desmorrow wrote:

The Beginner wrote:

More likely it's not indexed quite right and the chain is rubbing as it meshes with the teeth on the sprocket.

Is that a case of adjusting the tension on the cable then?

Sorry another question too!!! When I am in small small combo, the chain is crazy loose. It was like this with the old chain but it was badly stretched so I thought that was part of the problem. I don't remember it being that bad when I first bought the bike. I guess it's to do with the derailer set-up - any suggestions?

You shouldn't be in small/small. Pointless anyway, you'll have the same ratio in the middle ring further down the cassette.