Chain replacement interval

[Brett Jaffee]

I've been told that you should replace your chain about every 6 months, to
avoid the chain stretching and wearing on the gears. Assuming that's true,
is that an overly conservative interval? I'm typically riding 6-8 hours a
week and wondering when I should start thinking about replacing the chain
my bike came with.

[Michael Dart]

"Brett Jaffee" > wrote in message
. 77.201...
> I've been told that you should replace your chain about every 6 months, to
> avoid the chain stretching and wearing on the gears. Assuming that's
true,
> is that an overly conservative interval? I'm typically riding 6-8 hours a
> week and wondering when I should start thinking about replacing the chain
> my bike came with.

Chain Smokers Anonymous here at:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

Mike

[Andy Chequer]

> By the way, don't buy one of those park chain checker tools with the
> dial on them, they simply don't work. A ruler is the best way.

I can't comment on the Park but the Rohloff tool is excellent. As you say,
the ruler works, though.

Andy Chequer

[jack]

"Brett Jaffee" > wrote in message
. 77.201...
> I've been told that you should replace your chain about every 6 months, to
> avoid the chain stretching and wearing on the gears. Assuming that's
true,
> is that an overly conservative interval? I'm typically riding 6-8 hours a
> week and wondering when I should start thinking about replacing the chain
> my bike came with.

One of the best strategies of I ever heard of for chain replacement is to
have a set of 3 or 4 chains and rotate the chains every month. This
minimizes cog wear, you can clean and lube extra chains at your leisure and
will have a spare measured and ready to go if one breaks. This strategy
makes sense if you do a lot of mileage, ride in wet mucky conditions and use
power links. Otherwise the old ruler works fine.

[D T W .../\\...]

"Brett Jaffee" > wrote in message
. 77.201...
> I've been told that you should replace your chain about every 6 months, to
> avoid the chain stretching and wearing on the gears. Assuming that's
true,
> is that an overly conservative interval? I'm typically riding 6-8 hours a
> week and wondering when I should start thinking about replacing the chain
> my bike came with.


Look under chain tools.

http://www.parktool.com/tool_indexes/catindex.shtml

--
DTW .../\.../\.../\...

I've spent most of my money on mountain biking and windsurfing.
The rest I've just wasted.

[Brett Jaffee]

Chris Phillipo > wrote in
:

> In article 1>,
> says...

> Forget intervals. Get a good plastic or aluminum ruller, measure 12"
> and if the pin at the 12" mark is more than 1/16th past the mark it's
> time to change the chain, 1/8" past then definitely get a new chain
> and you may get some slipping in the smaller cogs with the new chain,
> 1/4" past and there's no doubt you are going to need a new cassette
> and perhaps a new front chain ring or three.

Cool, thanks. I measured with a steel ruler and found I was within 1/16".
With so many things on bikes being metric though, I'm kinda suprised at the
12" thing.

[(Pete Cresswell)]

RE/
>I can't comment on the Park but the Rohloff tool is excellent. As you say,
>the ruler works, though.

I was thinking about getting one just on GPs... What's the advantage over a
ruler?
--
PeteCresswell

[Andy Chequer]

"(Pete Cresswell)" > wrote in message
...
> RE/
> >I can't comment on the Park but the Rohloff tool is excellent. As you
say,
> >the ruler works, though.
>
> I was thinking about getting one just on GPs... What's the advantage over
a
> ruler?
> --
> PeteCresswell

It's very important to measure the chain when its taut. Because of the way
the Rohloff chain thing is shaped, it will always pull the chain taut, which
is much less fiddly than using a ruler, especially if the chain is off the
bike.

It's just less faff and is very nicely finished to boot.

Andy Chequer

[JD]

Brett Jaffee > wrote in message 1>...
> I've been told that you should replace your chain about every 6 months, to
> avoid the chain stretching and wearing on the gears. Assuming that's true,
> is that an overly conservative interval? I'm typically riding 6-8 hours a
> week and wondering when I should start thinking about replacing the chain
> my bike came with.

Use a chain checker to determine that. There are too many variables
to say there is a standard time in which to replace your chain.

JD

[Pat Norton]

Brett Jaffee wrote:
>>measure 12" and if the pin at the 12" mark is
>>more than 1/16th past the mark it's time to
>>change the chain, 1/8" past then definitely
>>get a new chain
>
>I was within 1/16". With so many things on bikes
>being metric though, I'm kinda suprised at the
>12" thing.

The replacement threshold itself is a unitless 1%. An increase of 1%
on a 12 inch section is about 1/8 inch. You can measure any length
section and use mm or inches in the calculation. However, links are
designed in rational inches.

You can also measure the length of the whole chain and count the
number of links, then divide by the unworn length.

You can get an idea of wear without removing the chain. Simply see how
far you can pull a link away from the chainring with your fingers.