Grinding effect - to oil or not oil chain

Paul Kopit writes:

a. hang the chain section with a five pound weight on it (a set of
automobile cable chains).

b. Measure with an 18 inch ruler that is ruled to 1/32 in the first
inch. Using that long a ruler allowed us to measure between the
1 inch mark and the 13 inch mark so we could use that first inch
and extrapolate to 1/64.

I've found that hanging a the used chain and new chain on a hex key
and looking at where the pins line up is easier than measuring.

Holy schmuck, this is getting both complicated and cumbersome. How
about holding a wooden yard stick with 1/8" graduations (the kind
hardware stores often give away) along the bottom run (because it is
long and exposed) of the chain with and inch mark aligned with a chain
pin. A glance at the pin 12 inches away will reveal whether it is on
the inch mark, half way between it and the 1 1/8" or even at the 1
1/8" mark. It takes only a glance. This is not a metrology thesis.

I prefer to know whether the chain is worth cleaning or out of usable
life, right now, on the bicycle. This is not a religious ritual,
codified in some sacred text. Just do it!

Jobst Brandt

On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 02:39:18 GMT,
wrote:

A glance at the pin 12 inches away will reveal whether it is on
the inch mark, half way between it and the 1 1/8" or even at the 1
1/8" mark. It takes only a glance. This is not a metrology thesis.

I prefer to know whether the chain is worth cleaning or out of usable
life, right now, on the bicycle. This is not a religious ritual,
codified in some sacred text. Just do it!

Jobst Brandt


I actually was measuring as you recommend. I found that my
measurement with a rule showed no meaureable wear over 12" but I saw
the wear when holding next to a new chain. The chains are so
inexpensive compared to what the cassettes cost, I get rid of a chain
when I see any wear.

I wax the chain so I have to remove it every 4-500 mi. anyway. Here
in SoCa,l where I rarely get the chain wet, the chain lasts thousands
of miles.