Re: New Chain

[Pete Biggs]

Gonzalez wrote:
> I've had my bike for about 15 years. Every 18 months I have had to
> replace the chain and block, and every 5 years the chain ring. I'm
> pretty sure that I read in this news group that if you replace the
> chain more regularly it extends the life of the block and chain ring.
>
> So that's what I've done - after 6 months I've replaced the chain.
> Unfortunately the new chain skips in the lowest gears. Will the chain
> bed itself in soon

It might if it's just a slight skipping. Personally though, I would
prefer to replace the block or just the affected sprockets if possible.

The alternative is just to bung the old chain back on and carry on until
it all wears out. This is a reasonable option if chainring(s) (or whole
bike!) is due for a change soonish anyway.

For the future, it will help to regularly measure the chain.
See: www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html - Measuring Chain Wear

~PB

[Phil.Winterbourne]

Gonzalez wrote:
>
> Pete Biggs wrote:
>
> >It might if it's just a slight skipping. Personally though, I would
> >prefer to replace the block or just the affected sprockets if possible.
>
> Probably the entire block.
>
> >The alternative is just to bung the old chain back on and carry on until
> >it all wears out. This is a reasonable option if chainring(s) (or whole
> >bike!) is due for a change soonish anyway.
>
> Not really an option. I'm starting the End to End in 2 weeks' time.
>
> >For the future, it will help to regularly measure the chain.
> > See: www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html - Measuring Chain Wear
>
> The Oracle (TM) didn't inspire confidence on this occasion.
>
> "Chain maintenance is one of the most controversial aspects of bicycle
> mechanics."

I've just changed a chain with no 'skipping' probs! Previously I've
done the same as you & wait for them all to go, but this time I kept
measuring my chain. When the length between links had gone up from 12"
to 12 1/16" (about 700 miles in my case)I put a new one on. With chains
at about £25 and cassettes at around £40 the more life I can squeeze out
of the cassette the better.

Phil

[Dave Kahn]

On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 10:02:53 +0100, Gonzalez
> wrote:

>Do you think the chain and block with bed in.

Yes. The chain will eventually stretch to the point where it fits the
worn block, which itself will probably wear at a faster rate until
that happens.

> If I don't push hard in
>the lowest gears the chain doesn't skip. Can I get away with pushing
>in 18th and 19th gears and only use the 20th and 21st gears when
>cruising until it beds in? Or will I do more harm to the new chain
>and old block if I leave it?

You left it too long before changing the chain. If you want to prolong
the life of the block put the old chain back on. If it were mine I'd
put a new block on pronto. You don't really want to set out on your
e2e with any known mechanical problems your bike.

--
Dave...

[Neil D]

"Gonzalez" > wrote in message
...
> Phil.Winterbourne wrote:
>
> >I've just changed a chain with no 'skipping' probs! Previously I've
> >done the same as you & wait for them all to go, but this time I kept
> >measuring my chain. When the length between links had gone up from 12"
> >to 12 1/16" (about 700 miles in my case)I put a new one on. With chains
> >at about £25 and cassettes at around £40 the more life I can squeeze out
> >of the cassette the better.
>
> Maybe I left it too late. 6 months = 1500 - 2000 miles. :(
>
> Do you think the chain and block with bed in. If I don't push hard in
> the lowest gears the chain doesn't skip. Can I get away with pushing
> in 18th and 19th gears and only use the 20th and 21st gears when
> cruising until it beds in? Or will I do more harm to the new chain
> and old block if I leave it?
> --
> remove remove to reply

There's something wrong here.
My good road bike: 9spd Campag steel 13~23 = 13,594 MILES on cassette.
Fitted a new chain last month (old had same miles as block).
It jumped on 39x13,14,15 (my usual ride gears) when under pressure, 18,19,21
just noisy.
After about 100 miles jumped only when oos.
After about 150 miles fairly good.
After 200 miles NO problems.

[Eatmorepies]

>
> >I've just changed a chain with no 'skipping' probs! Previously I've
> >done the same as you & wait for them all to go, but this time I kept
> >measuring my chain. When the length between links had gone up from 12"
> >to 12 1/16" (about 700 miles in my case)I put a new one on. With chains
> >at about £25 and cassettes at around £40 the more life I can squeeze out
> >of the cassette the better.

What chain is that? I use Sachs chains at about £7 on my MTB, change them
every 600 miles or so and the XT cassette lasts 5 years (6000 miles of off
road riding). I have a niave belief that a new chain will also help with
clean shifting.

John

[Dave Larrington]

Neil D wrote:

> There's something wrong here.
> My good road bike: 9spd Campag steel 13~23 = 13,594 MILES on cassette.
> Fitted a new chain last month (old had same miles as block).
> It jumped on 39x13,14,15 (my usual ride gears) when under pressure,
> 18,19,21 just noisy.
> After about 100 miles jumped only when oos.
> After about 150 miles fairly good.
> After 200 miles NO problems.

Back in the /very/ old days, I used to use my 17T sprocket 90% of the time
when commuting, and just shifted between the 28 and 42. So when it started
to look decrepit, I replaced the 17 and the chain. BUT, the other sprockets
/had/ worn enough to make it skip, to the extent that the started to shed
teeth. B+gg+r! Back to shop for five more sprockets...

As an aside, why are cassettes, which contain no moving parts, just as
expensive as freewheels, which do? I smell a scam...

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
================================================== =========
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
================================================== =========

[Pete Biggs]

Neil D wrote:
> There's something wrong here.
> My good road bike: 9spd Campag steel 13~23 = 13,594 MILES on cassette.
> Fitted a new chain last month (old had same miles as block).
> It jumped on 39x13,14,15 (my usual ride gears) when under pressure,
> 18,19,21 just noisy.
> After about 100 miles jumped only when oos.
> After about 150 miles fairly good.
> After 200 miles NO problems.

That is bad practice because a new chain on such worn sprockets will
rapidly wear - won't last so long and will wear out chainrings. That 200
miles couldn't have been fun anyway.

I had severe skipping when I put a new chain on a Campag 8sp steel
cassette that had done 6000 miles (with same chain). So bad that I was
not prepared to tolerate it for 20 miles, let alone 200.

~PB