Chain length relative to chain wrap?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Eastern Shore, MD
Posts: 2,107
Bikes: Road ready: 1993 Koga Miyata City Liner Touring Hybrid, 1989 Centurion Sport DLX, "I Blame GP" Bridgestone CB-1. Projects: Yea, I got a problem....
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 753 Post(s)
Liked 737 Times
in
422 Posts
Chain length relative to chain wrap?
I'm changing the gearing of a bike, with new chain rings and a different freewheel. The gearing calculator gives the same chain wrap as the present drive train. Would I end up using the same length chain? Thanks.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sherwood, OR
Posts: 1,279
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 336 Post(s)
Liked 309 Times
in
180 Posts
If the total number of teeth on the largest chainring and largest rear cog did not change, then you do not need a longer chain.
if the sum grows, you may need a longer chain.
if the old chainrings and cogs were worn, you may need a new chain.
if the sum grows, you may need a longer chain.
if the old chainrings and cogs were worn, you may need a new chain.
#3
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,543
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3674 Post(s)
Liked 5,432 Times
in
2,759 Posts
New chain. Size it by your preferred method.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Eastern Shore, MD
Posts: 2,107
Bikes: Road ready: 1993 Koga Miyata City Liner Touring Hybrid, 1989 Centurion Sport DLX, "I Blame GP" Bridgestone CB-1. Projects: Yea, I got a problem....
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 753 Post(s)
Liked 737 Times
in
422 Posts
Don't know how I double posted. I'm going from 48-36tx14-28t to 50-34tx14-24t. The calculator gave the same chain wrap for both set ups. I think it was 26t. Same bike
same chainstay length. Bike is blue. Just curious. Will replace chain anyway.
I looked at the calculator a bit and it looks like chain wrap on the derailleur is not directly correlated for a given chainstay leangth. But the my elementary school level math makes it look like the chain will actually have the same number of links after changing every thing else.
same chainstay length. Bike is blue. Just curious. Will replace chain anyway.
I looked at the calculator a bit and it looks like chain wrap on the derailleur is not directly correlated for a given chainstay leangth. But the my elementary school level math makes it look like the chain will actually have the same number of links after changing every thing else.
Last edited by bark_eater; 06-13-20 at 12:05 PM.
#6
Really Old Senior Member
Your biggest ring increases by 2.
Your largest cog decreases by 4.
Difference in chain length required -2
ERGO- You could shorten your chain by 1".
I wouldn't bother. You obviously have enough chain wrap to handle to handle the difference without issue. Why risk doing damage?
Measure the chain to see if it's worn, although if using NEW rings & cogs, a new chain will probably at least make us feel better.
Your largest cog decreases by 4.
Difference in chain length required -2
ERGO- You could shorten your chain by 1".
I wouldn't bother. You obviously have enough chain wrap to handle to handle the difference without issue. Why risk doing damage?
Measure the chain to see if it's worn, although if using NEW rings & cogs, a new chain will probably at least make us feel better.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Eastern Shore, MD
Posts: 2,107
Bikes: Road ready: 1993 Koga Miyata City Liner Touring Hybrid, 1989 Centurion Sport DLX, "I Blame GP" Bridgestone CB-1. Projects: Yea, I got a problem....
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 753 Post(s)
Liked 737 Times
in
422 Posts
Cool. The chain presently has less than 50% wear and well less than 1000 miles. I am interested in just trying out the new combination before cutting a new chain If I like the new gearing.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
1,000 miles isn't very much for a chain but it's more than zero so I'd expect the chain to have some wear elongation. When you install your old worn chain onto your brand new cogs and chainrings, the old chain is going to do it's best to wear in the new cogs to fit. My philosophy has always been new sprockets = new chain.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.