Originally Posted by
RapidRobert
I'm finally replacing the chain I put on my bike 30 years ago with a NOS Sedis chain of the same quality. The old one is stretched 1/4" over 55 links. Is that a lot? Did I get my money's worth out of the old one or what?
The new one is full of old packing grease. Should I just wipe it off and ride?
Your chain only lasted 30 years and you've gone and replaced it with one exactly the same? Some people never learn.
Seriously, if the bike's been in regular use you got your money out of that chain. However, the chainring(s) and sprocket(s) are likely to be showing a similar amount of wear and might not mesh well with your new chain. If so, they will need replacing too. The packing grease is fine to start with - Sheldon Brown recommends against removing it until it wears/washes away, but personally I always spray a little GT85 lube over the top of the grease and then squirt on a bit more every two weeks or so - wiping the chain clean and spraying it if I've been riding in the rain at the end of that ride, before putting the bike away. Everyone has different ideas about chain care though and you certainly seem to get a lot of years out of yours.
