Missing roller from chain

larkim
larkim Posts: 2,485
edited April 2019 in MTB workshop & tech
Not sure whether this was mine or my son's doing, but I took off the chain tonight to give it a long overdue clean and noticed one of the rollers from the link that the quick link goes through was missing.

I've got a few options:--
temporarily run without it
replace with the roller from a 9spd chain I've got lying around (the problem chain is a 10spd so narrower rollers)
remove a link from the chain to shorten it a touch so that I create a link where there is a roller

Pictures attached of the link and the angle of the rear mech with the current chain length on the biggest sprocket - looks to be like there is the option to shorten it, though it was measured "correctly" when it was sized for the 1x change we did a few years ago. Obviously, new chain etc out finding the right roller is the correct solution, but as a temp fix which would be preferred?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1kMHw2HWkXkoLwLYA
2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)

Comments

  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,715
    If you can remove a link, I would do that. Remember to compress the suspension when checking the length though, to make sure that the chain will still be long enough accounting for chain growth. Alternatively, I'm sure I've got an old 10 speed chain in the shed I could send for you to harvest a roller from, PM me if you want me to chuck it in the post.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    larkim wrote:
    replace with the roller from a 9spd chain I've got lying around (the problem chain is a 10spd so narrower rollers)
    Should be the same (3/32") width......
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,485
    The Rookie wrote:
    larkim wrote:
    replace with the roller from a 9spd chain I've got lying around (the problem chain is a 10spd so narrower rollers)
    Should be the same (3/32") width......
    In which case that'd be the right solution, thanks!

    I haven't got measurement pliers (whatever they are called), but it looked to the naked eye as if the roller which was present in one end of the 10spd chain was slightly narrower than that on the 9spd.

    Is it just the length of the pins and the thickness of the rest of the materials then that are different betnwee 10spd and 9spd?
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,485
    Just read this which seems to confirm Rookie's post (I do trust you, just looking for a bit more detail to see what I could have googled instead to answer my own question!!) - though with a small difference in terms of the actual measurements.

    https://bike.bikegremlin.com/3555/bicyc ... standards/

    This appears to suggest 9spd and 10spd are 11/128" whereas 5-8spd are 3/32".

    (I hope it's not the case that the article linked is road only, and that road 9 / 10spd chains are different to MTB 9spd etc - though I presume they are the same)
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    I wouldn't trust anyone who refers to inner and outer 'diameter' when they clearly mean width! F#ckwittery in the extreme.

    The data I've seen suggests that all chains up to and including 10s are 3/32" internal width and 11 speed a barely discernible 1/128" narrower at 11/128".
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,485
    LOL! After a touch more googling plenty of other sites seem to suggest consistent roller widths between 9spd and 10spd, though few of them agree whether that consistency is 3/32 or 11/128! Anyhow, that looks the way to go so I can sort that tonight.
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,485
    Noticed this on the back of my spare 9s chain box.

    Seems it is 11/128 after all.

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/EhMjptiZERES4Mar5
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,485
    After faffing around with that, a completely separate link snapped just at the end of a day at Llandegla so ended up shortening the chain and adding an extra quick link anyway. I think that chain might be in the way out...
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • billycool
    billycool Posts: 833
    Just buy a new chain!
    "Ride, crash, replace"
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,485
    Yup!! Just wasn't an option today.
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)

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