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When do you change your chain?

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  • March 28, 2013 at 5:54 pm #18351
    Leviathan

    Simple question really, but you know the internet, google a simple question and you get so many random answers its hard to tell what is relevant. So I come back to the horse’s mouth (as it were, strange idiom.)

    I rebuilt my whole drive train about this time last year, and a long learning process it was. This is the first bike, road or mountain, I have had that wasn’t knackered once the drive was gone and worth rebuilding. Everything else was just ridden into the ground or sold or stolen (once!) Since then I have ridden more than ever before and covered 5386km/3347miles.

    Recently I have hear a little clicking/clacking/cracking rhythmic knocking noise coming from down below, this only happens when I am in a high gear and meet a slight incline; this effectively puts me in too high a gear and putting more pressure on the pedals. If I shift down and spin a bit faster the noise stops.

    The rear mech/cranks/cassette replaced Mar 2012 all still feel sharp and new so I suspect the chain. I imagine changing the chain can prelong the life of the other parts. So how far/how often do you change your chain?

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  • March 28, 2013 at 11:20 pm #724649
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    hotweathercyclist

    If you change chain, then
    If you change chain, then Change the cassette or you will end up with not smooth shifting. They wear together and should always be replaced together. Chain rings as an when they wear.

    March 28, 2013 at 10:08 pm #724647
    0
    TheHatter

    buy a chain checker – they’re
    buy a chain checker – they’re cheap and very easy to use.

    And then they’ll be no need to consult websites where people will tell you about their pants.

    March 28, 2013 at 9:21 pm #724645
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    russyparkin

    i change mine every 3 months
    i change mine every 3 months regardless. like my pants really

    March 28, 2013 at 6:16 pm #724643
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    Raleigh

    Quote:In metric measurement,
    [quote]In metric measurement, 10 links of a new chain are 25.4 cm, or 15 links, 38.1 cm.

    If the rivet is up to 25.5 cm or halfway between 38.2 cm and 38.3 cm, all is well.
    If the rivet is a little bit past 25.5 cm, or approaching 38.3 cm, you should replace the chain, but the sprockets are probably undamaged.
    If the rivet is approaching 25.7 cm or 38.5 cm, you have left it too long, and the sprockets (at least the favorite ones) will be too badly worn. If you replace a chain at this point, without replacing the sprockets, it may run OK and not skip, but the worn sprockets will cause the new chain to wear much faster than it should, until it catches up with the wear state of the sprockets.
    More than that, and a new chain will almost certainly skip on the worn sprockets, especially the smaller ones.

    March 28, 2013 at 6:08 pm #724641
    0
    we8ster

    If you buy a chain checking
    If you buy a chain checking tool, and check your chain frequently, and change your chain when it reaches 0.75% stretched. A worn chain will accelerate wear on both chainrings and your cassette. It is a lot cheaper and easier to change your chain, than letting it wear everything else out!

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