Repairing, maintaining, or replacing the chain on your bike that connects the front of the drivetrain (cranks, chainrings) to the back (cogs, cassette).
6
votes
1answer
211 views
What is a sign that my chain needs to be lubricated again?
I just cleaned my gears, derailleurs, and chain. Lubricated the chain with Teflon dry lube. When will I need to re-lubricate again? Will I hear the chain make sounds? Do I do a visual inspection?
6
votes
3answers
383 views
Should a chain be replaced even if it's not stretched?
This question suggests using a tool or ruler to assess chain stretch to determine when to replace a chain. I have one such tool (Park Tool CC-3), and it tells me that my chain is not stretched even to ...
6
votes
2answers
555 views
How to maintain chains during touring?
I think requirements are reusable, simple, small-size and things-to-easily-to-carry. There are exotic answers with chain clearers and other things that do not qualify to me simple. Perhaps, the ...
5
votes
8answers
4k views
Are there substitutes for chain lubricant?
With long journeys and particularly during winter I have noticed that the salt erodes the chain very quickly, even when I have lubricated the chain beforehand. When you are missing proper chain ...
5
votes
5answers
982 views
How to Sight a Chain Line
I just finished building a single speed bike and I think my chain line might be a little off. Is there a tool or trick to sighting the chain line?
5
votes
2answers
224 views
Is the Power-Link designed for routine usage?
I have a Power-Link which i intended to use in emergencies (when the chain breaks and i'm far from home). Used it once, worked pretty well.
Now i wonder, what if i use it permanently with my chain? ...
5
votes
2answers
458 views
Are lighter chains worth the cost?
I'm replacing chains on a number of bicycles, and trying to decide what chains to purchase. I'm a fan of Sram's master links, so I'm comparing the Sram PC-971 to the PC-991. The PC-991 is ...
5
votes
2answers
549 views
Upgrade Shimano from 9- to 10- speed
I'm thinking of upgrading the 9-speed Tiagra rear mech on one of my (road) bikes to something, still Shimano, but 10-speed.
The obvious replacements I'll need are cassette, right-shifter and chain. ...
5
votes
2answers
399 views
Do you need to lubricate gears after cleaning gears and chain?
I just cleaned my gears and chain with a biodegradable degreaser. I'm going to lubricate my chain. Do I also need to lubricate the gears or do I just pedal and make sure that I hit all gears? Will the ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Is a 7 speed chainring compatible with an 8, 9 or 10 speed cassette and chain?
Currently I have a 7 speed cassette (13-23) running with a spacer on a new Tiagra hub. After I changed my chain, the wear has made two of the gears unusable.
I am considering changing the cassette to ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
How can I keep my chain from falling off the inner chainring? (specifically, from getting stuck in the bottom bracket)
I've got a mountain bike which occasionally drops the chain off the lowest gear, and then the chain gets stuck in the bottom bracket. This happens while pedalling.
Once the chain is there, it takes ...
5
votes
2answers
203 views
Chain loses tension on straight drop out
I have single speed bicycle with a straight dropout.
The problem I'm having is that over the course of a week, the chain loses tension until eventually, if I do not re-position the back wheel again, ...
5
votes
3answers
755 views
What are the advantages and disadvantages to chain wax?
I recently bought a new chain for my bike and it came full of chain wax. I was wondering if this was a better lubricant then regular chain lube, or if it had some other qualities that the manufactures ...
5
votes
3answers
4k views
Is my chain too long?
I'm in the process of setting up a new drive train. When using the smaller chainring and smallest sprocket (hence least amount of utilized chain), the chain brushes up against the bottom of the ...
4
votes
2answers
345 views
Can you reverse the sprockets on a cassette to lengthen its lifespan?
I know my bike's rear cassette needs replacing, but before I do that, is it feasible to dismantle the 8 sprockets to reverse their spin? Can you increase the lifespan of a cassette by letting the cogs ...
4
votes
6answers
8k views
Chain slipping on newish bike
I've looked at most of the answers for related questions and they all speak about replacing parts that are old.
I just bought a new bike from a friend who rode the bike for about a month before ...
4
votes
3answers
4k views
Do cassettes and chains need to be replaced at the same time?
Someone recently told me that if I replace my cassette I need to replace my chain (and vice versa) so that they wear evenly.
Is this true? And, can anyone elaborate on the reasoning for this a bit ...
4
votes
3answers
158 views
Shorten or replace bicycle chain?
The chain on my internally geared hub bicycle is now too long even when the rear wheel is entirely pulled back. How do I tell whether it's sufficient to shorten the chain by removing some links, or if ...
4
votes
3answers
9k views
How many chain links do I need?
Looking for chains at ebay, I see, that they have 106, 114, 116 links and so on.
I have a racing bike (2x7) and see, that chains are often announced as 6-7-8-speed, 10-speed, 11-speed. Since there ...
4
votes
4answers
586 views
Should I use a master link?
I just ordered a new KMC X10SL Ti 10 Speed chain for my bike. And I am wondering if I should use a master link or not.
In the past I have had much trouble with them. I used to use them on my 9 ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
how do I paint a bicycle chain?
I've seen chains with so many colours, white, red, you name it.
I would like to give it a try (this paint job is intended for visual styling of the bike, nothing related to protecting it), but I have ...
4
votes
1answer
114 views
What to do about a stuck chain link on 10 speed chain
I put a new chain on my bike and after 3 rides or so, I developed a stiff link. I'm not sure what caused the issue, but now it barely bends at the pin at all, unless forced. It causes skipping ...
4
votes
1answer
179 views
Can I flip my worn chain to extend it's life?
Assuming my chain is showing that it's worn and getting close to needing replacement due to chain 'stretch'. I know you can flip single speed chainrings to extend their life when they become worn. Can ...
4
votes
3answers
988 views
Replacing the front derailleur: unlink the chain?
If I want to replace the front derailleur on an already set up bicycle (replace SRAM Apex with SRAM Force), do I have to unlink and relink the chain on order to thread it through the FD cage? Or can I ...
4
votes
3answers
6k views
Heavier Thicker Chains and Gears for Winter due to Salt?
I have two bikes: one having gear-things outside and one with inner-hub. The gear-outside-bike has suffered a lot due to the salt during this winter, the other hilariously looks like a new one. I ...
4
votes
8answers
3k views
Should you use GT85 on your chain?
I've been told by various sources that WD40 is bad for your chain so have avoided using it. I've seen people using GT85 on their chains but I'm not really sure how the two products differ. So my ...
4
votes
1answer
139 views
How to mount SRAM snaplock?
I am trying to join PC-1 SRAM chain, it has such snaplock:
And the problem is, the distance between holes is slightly less (IMHO) than distance between the pins. Every hole on its own fits any pin, ...
4
votes
4answers
972 views
Eliminating chainslap on a 90's Stumpjumper
I have a mountain bike - a Stumpjumper hardtail frame with a Shimano drivetrain - where I'm getting a good amount of chainslap. Before I start fiddling with stuff, I'd like to understand the problem ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Chain drop under load
I have a problem. Today I was riding (flat-out) up hill, and went to shift up a gear on the rear, which caused the chain to drop off the front chain-ring (was in the big-ring, so dropped to the ...
4
votes
2answers
432 views
how do you make a chain longer with a simple chain breaker?
I was replacing a chain and managed to cut the chain too short. Is it possible to make the chain longer using a simple chain breaker? If so, how?
4
votes
7answers
2k views
How long should a well maintained chain last and what can I do to prolong its life?
I commute on a fixie. I'm using KMC Z410 chains.
Every evening if it's wet I wipe and re-lube my chain, using ProLink lube. Every weekend I remove the chain, soak it in kero, brush it with a citrus ...
4
votes
6answers
9k views
Problem with chain skipping without trying to shift (even with new chain and gears)
I have a mountain bike where the chain intermittently skips when put under load on the middle (and very rarely on the smallest) chain ring. It is not related to shifting.
I've taken several steps to ...
4
votes
2answers
270 views
Wiping extra Lube really important with all types of Lubes?
This question about chain maintenance during touring raised this quetion.
This tip sounds very unintuitive, of course, I know that the extra lube will attract dust (not good to chain) but I have paid ...
4
votes
4answers
177 views
Chain slipping off a non geared bike
I have a normal ranger bike without gears, I've had this bike for quite a while now, been 8 years. But recently it's chain has started slipping off. I have maintained it well, changed the chain a ...
4
votes
1answer
460 views
Why does my chain keep jumping off the front chainring on my 1x9?
My chain has a tendency to frequently jump off the front chainring. I have a 1x9 so it's not a front derailleur issue. It generally happens when I hit something like the lip of a driveway or sidewalk ...
4
votes
1answer
130 views
Replaced tyre and tube, now the rear gears will not stop
Just put on a tyre and innertube, fits perfectly, but now when I stop pedalling the gears at the back keep moving so the chain just sags down so much that it hits the wheel etc.
Any ideas on how to ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Quiet and strong chain recommendation for fixed gear commuter bike
I went through a couple of chains on my fixie bike, but I was not too happy with any of them.
Basically they seemed pretty noisy when more pressure was applied where cycling.
Could you recommend one ...
4
votes
2answers
172 views
My chain appears to be squeaking when I ride it forward but not backwards
At first I thought I just needed to lubricate my chain, so I degreased it and just re-lubed it very thoroughly. It's still squeaking. I thought it could maybe be a derailleur pulley issue, but I ...
4
votes
1answer
776 views
What would be the “definitive” formula to calculate chainstay length from sprocket size, chainring size and number of chain links?
Before I started to write this answer, I thoroughly read this question, its answers and comments:
How do I calculate the diameter of a chainring from the number of teeth?
So, my question tries to ...
4
votes
2answers
976 views
How do half link chains perform for long term use?
i was wondering if there is anyone with a Rohloff hub riding half link chains for longer. OK, the hub isn't essential it's just a single speed chain, so experience from anyone who rides more than the ...
3
votes
4answers
744 views
Properties with Belt-driven Chains?
This reply about belt-driven belt got my interest here. It does not need lubrication at all according to the replier. What are other properties with belt-drive chain? Where does the idea come from? ...
3
votes
5answers
230 views
Are single-speed bikes better equipped to handle cog/chain wear?
I need to decide between a single-speed and multiple-speed bike.
I usually ride multiple-speed mountain/city bikes in the highest gear anyway (around town). They're not intended for that, and doing ...
3
votes
4answers
405 views
Chain skipping on some gears
I have an old cruising bike with 21 gears. A few months ago I was pedalling back home when my chain broke, and I was only able to get the chain replaced this week. After having it replaced I noticed ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
How to tell what length of chain to get?
I am replacing the chain on my road bike soon. How do I know how many links to get? Does it have to exactly 114 or 116. Or is it not a big deal?
I ordered a 116 link chain. Will I need to shorten ...
3
votes
3answers
824 views
Why are 10 speed chains so expensive?
I've noticed that 10-speed chains cost 2.5 times as much as their 9 speed counterparts. Is this just because there isn't much demand for these, so the manufacturers can justify the ridiculous expense? ...
3
votes
3answers
430 views
What's the loss of effective output, with a worn chain?
I was just bought a new fine ultegra chain for 10 speed road race bike. This is actually the first new chain for this not so old bike. I am a fan of statistics, measuring power with a power unit on my ...
3
votes
4answers
455 views
Replacing Crankset. Do I need to replace chain? Then do I need to replace cassette?
Over the past year, my road bike's crankset has gotten pretty bent up and out of wack. Not due to abuse, just wear and tear I guess. It's pretty bent and has a nice wobble that I can see as I look ...
3
votes
4answers
14k views
How tight should a fixie's chain be?
I ride an SE Lager fixed.
How tight should the chain be and what is the best way of measure it? I have a chain tug so I can be pretty accurate in dialling in the right amount of tension.
I don't ...
3
votes
2answers
563 views
Are chain-drive gears 'ridiculously' efficient even when dry of oil?
Allegedly chain-drive gears are something like 99% efficient when well oiled and something like 98% efficient when without oil.
Personally I do not like the noise a dry chain makes, this has a 'I ...
3
votes
3answers
447 views
Is a self cleaning lube enough for chain maintenance?
I've been trying to figure out what I should use when cleaning my bicycle chain. When I first purchased my bike, I knew I needed to lube my chain when i did regular maintenance. I purchased some ...
