Chain and Cogs: Don’t wait too long!

[Vicegrip]

just checked my chain with the Park chain checker. Way past .75 😡

[ShawnoftheDread]

So why is the Park Tools device preferable to a ruler?

[dbb]

@ShawnoftheDread 56903 wrote:

So why is the Park Tools device preferable to a ruler?

It is a go-no go gauge so less thought (yeah!) is involved. You get some warning because you go from less than 0.5% to between 0.5% and 0.75% to greater than 0.75%. Takes but a second.

[hozn]

@Vicegrip 56902 wrote:

just checked my chain with the Park chain checker. Way past .75 😡

Probably the best option, then, is just to keep riding it until it falls apart (or starts skipping).

[hozn]

@dbb 56907 wrote:

It is a go-no go gauge so less thought (yeah!) is involved. You get some warning because you go from less than 0.5% to between 0.5% and 0.75% to greater than 0.75%. Takes but a second.

You also don’t have to touch your chain to use a measuring tool; I haven’t used the ruler method but it sounds messier and more prone to second-guessing. (I use the park CC-2 http://www.parktool.com/product/chain-checker-cc-2 which isn’t a pass/fail tool, but only takes a second to use.)

[mello yello]

So I just got my fixed gear back – new crank, chainring, and chain. The shop set it up on the SS side, and I rode it on the Bicycle Space Kingman Island ride last night – whisper quiet.
When I flipped it to fixed this morning I heard that popping, crunching sound of the chain shifting in the cog – it didn’t really even look all that worn, but I probably should replace it so everything can wear together.

[Rod Smith]

I checked my chain Monday morning and it was at .75 with 1075 miles on it. I put 73 miles on it since then. I’ll ride it one more day then guess I’ll change it this evening…

[lancito brazofuerte]

My simple fix is this- I change my chain every 4 months and degrease my DT once a month. Sometimes more often if I’ve been riding in the rain a lot. Decent KMC chains can be had for $30-45 a pop and are significantly cheaper than replacing rings/cassettes/cogs once a year. I’ve got 2 years or so on my ring/cog on my track bike with almost no wear on the ring or cog. Same goes for my cassette on my roadie. I recently swapped to Rotor rings on the roadie so no real longevity info there.

[mstone]

that is the cleanest (scariest?) drive train I have ever seen.

[eminva]

@eminva 55376 wrote:

Thanks, Pete!

One question: I have heard it said that you should replace your cassette whenever you replace your chain. I have also heard that if you replace your chain before it gets too bad you can extend the life of your cassette and don’t need to replace it with every new chain. Is there any accepted wisdom on this point, or do reasonable minds disagree?

Thanks.

Liz

Thanks — some of you answered my question above, but I asked the question again and got the definitive answer at bike school a couple of weeks ago [aside: I went to the Introduction to Bike Maintenance Class at United Bicycle Institute in Oregon; if anyone is interested in hearing about that, let me know and I will start a thread].

If a chain is checked assiduously and replaced before it gets too worn, the cassette does not need to be replaced with each chain. However, type of cassette, riding conditions, frequency of cleaning and mileage all contribute to chain longevity and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how long a chain should last. For my part, I have a 10-speed cassette, ride in a bunch of crappy weather and ride 500+ miles/month on my main bike, so I’ll be changing chains a lot more frequently than I probably thought necessary. I have a chain checking tool and use it fairly often.

The instructor asked, “who told you you needed to change your cassette each time you change your chain?” He seemed astonished when I replied that it was one of our LBSs. Maybe the average customer waits too long and this is the default advice.

Thanks all.

Liz

[dasgeh]

@eminva 61527 wrote:

[aside: I went to the Introduction to Bike Maintenance Class at United Bicycle Institute in Oregon; if anyone is interested in hearing about that, let me know and I will start a thread].

Yes, please. Thanks

[Greenbelt]

Probably a good idea to replace your chain before this happens…

[consularrider]

Nasty, sharp little teeth! They bites, they bites, been there done that, got the scar.

[Greenbelt]

Was lucky to make it all the way home with one link in the chain busted off on one side! It made an awesome noise each rotation. Softpedaling better than walking (or Metro), though.

[KLizotte]

@mstone 61523 wrote:

that is the cleanest (scariest?) drive train I have ever seen.

+1

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