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When should you replace your bicycle chain?

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When should you replace your bicycle chain?

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Old 04-03-16, 06:17 PM
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When should you replace your bicycle chain?

After I watched this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LqTmvuf6tw I bought a tool like that.

While trying to maintain my bicycle I decided to measure the chain using this tool, but how do I know if I should use the 0.75 or 1.0 side of the tool? One side sits kind of like the "new chain" in the video (at 00:58 into the video), while the other sits like the "old chain". Since my chain is old, I'm pretty sure what side I should use, but is it possible to tell this for sure, i.e. what side should be used? Is it written somewhere on the chain itself? On the gears?

Edit: Also, the one in the video has a different range than mine, it is 0.5 to 0.75. How do I know if my tool is right for my chain? What is the unit for this? Inches?

Last edited by fractal5; 04-03-16 at 06:22 PM.
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Old 04-03-16, 06:22 PM
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If the 0.75% tab fits into the chain links, the chain is due for replacement. If the1.0% tab fits, the chain is overdue and you are very likely to have to replace the cassette or freewheel too. If neither fits, the chain is still ok to use.
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Old 04-03-16, 08:01 PM
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https://www.pardo.net/bike/pic/fail-0...l#park-rohloff

shimano and now one other company make a tool that is an accurate chain measuring device. Not having one of those, a ruler is the most accurate way to measure chain wear. Replace a chain at 1/16" in 12" of chain.
The guy on the video is full of it.

Last edited by davidad; 04-03-16 at 10:06 PM.
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Old 04-05-16, 01:46 PM
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The Pedro's Chain Checker Plus looks like it works similarly to the Shimano tools, i.e. by pushing both rollers in the same direction instead of away from each other.
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Old 04-05-16, 01:49 PM
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When across 6-full-link the roller-to-roller distance is 132.6 measured with a good caliper...although that is rather conservative, you can push it to 132.7
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Old 04-05-16, 02:01 PM
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Originally Posted by fractal5
After I watched this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LqTmvuf6tw I bought a tool like that.

While trying to maintain my bicycle I decided to measure the chain using this tool, but how do I know if I should use the 0.75 or 1.0 side of the tool? One side sits kind of like the "new chain" in the video (at 00:58 into the video), while the other sits like the "old chain". Since my chain is old, I'm pretty sure what side I should use, but is it possible to tell this for sure, i.e. what side should be used? Is it written somewhere on the chain itself? On the gears?

Edit: Also, the one in the video has a different range than mine, it is 0.5 to 0.75. How do I know if my tool is right for my chain? What is the unit for this? Inches?
When it reaches 11 1/16 or 12 1/16 inches measured with a ruler between the same point on the nearest pins. That's 0.52 - 0.56% of elongation which won't have worn the cogs enough to preclude mating with a new chain.
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Old 04-05-16, 02:13 PM
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By the number or sooner , realizing preemptively replacing the chain extends the wear life of the cassettes.
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Old 07-20-16, 12:52 PM
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If anyone is interested I decided to just replace the chain without replacing the cassette at the same time.

My experience so far is that there is no slipping on the gears whatsoever. I tried to put as much force as I could on it while pedalling.

This is probably the first time in many years (I would estimate 5 years) this bike has seen a chain replacement.
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Old 07-20-16, 12:55 PM
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Anyhow, Generic; More frequent chain replacement helps to not have to buy a New Cassette .

If it skips just replacing the chain you waited too Long.
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Old 07-20-16, 12:57 PM
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Remember to actually stretch your chain taut if you're doing pin to pin measurements.
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