Chainring Size Decrease: Link removal help!
 

Original chain on my 52, 42, 30 setup was approx 58" in length. I just installed a 46, 36, 24. I'd like to know how many links, if any, to remove,,,
Thanks in advance!

Basic Math? 52-46=6 so 6 teeth less, a bicycle chain chain is 1/2 pitch , can you take it from there..

I'd probably not remove any - at least at first.
You MIGHT run into an issue if you're cross-chained in granny ring and the smaller cogs in back... but it wouldn't be a catastrophic problem and you could reduce the chain size later.
Or it might be just fine.
Best method is to check the size just like if you hadn't known what size the chain was originally - big big, max wrap, connect.
Maybe you need a new chain to go with that new crank anyway.

Also the 30-24 = 6, so both changes are the same.

I think one wraps about 1/2 the way around a chainring (maybe plus or minus 1 tooth depending on tangents).

So, the answer is probably closer to removing 3 single links, or between 1 and 2 double links.

However, that should just be a rough guide. Throw the chain on the big/big combo and the small/small combo, and see how it fits.

Also, check your chain for wear. No sense in mounting a heavily worn chain on new parts, potentially damaging one's chainrings and/or cassette.

If the derailleur cage is long enough, then as [MENTION=68015]DiabloScott[/MENTION] mentions, perhaps no change would be necessary.

You might want to hold off a few days just to make sure you are happy with the new rings.
Without knowing what RDER & cassette tooth min/max you have, one doesn't know how much chain wrap margin you have.
I try to leave enough so I can go up one size largest cog on the cassette without having too short of a chain.

If it is basic math, why did you use the half of the chainring with no chain on it?

I love it when you make fun of people using your math skills.

Not quite. You can remove 1/2 of the number of half-links indicated by the tooth difference. So the 6 tooth difference means you can remove 3 half-links. However, to maintain matching ends, you can only remove two half-links.

Or the OP could get a halflink and be perfect :)

Ok, yes. It's a new chain and I have already used the old 58" (52/42/30) chain on a 46/36/26 BIOPACE triple without problems. It is a long cage, but thought it would be beneficial to trim it down a bit.

Your question assumes the chain was originally the correct length, which is not necessarily true. In any case there's no need to calculate. Just cut the chain so you have one more full link than needed to fit it over large front and large rear.

Indeed! Sorry, mate... Yep, I'll just painstakingly pull it around the cogs...

Nothing says you HAVE to shorten the chain, if it works OK for you.

Over-long chains shift badly, slap around a lot and can end up shifting themselves onto the wrong cog.

Just do it right and enjoy the benefit.

The big-big + 2 links formula works for almost every modern derailleur. If you have something else size your chain accordingly.

Follow this?

https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair...-length-sizing