Salsa Alternator Dropouts
 

I would like to lengthen the chain stays on my 2015 El Mariachi using the alternator dropouts. Will I need to lengthen my chain as well? I am assuming I will. Thanks

It'd be easier to figure that out after it's been done. There is always the possibility that you might not, depending on whether the chain was sized to it's minimum length or whether the person that installed it left it on the long side.

If the cost of a new chain bothers you, then you probably shouldn't be doing this.

You can get a good estimate of the answer as follows.

1- for every inch you move the wheel back you'll need 2 inches of chain (4 links )

2- to see whether the chain is long enough, shift into the big/big combination, the pull the lower loop forward by that number of links. if the RD still has room, you're OK.

This doesn't mean you'll have the optimal length chain, just that it's long enough to work.

Thanks for the constructive feedback. I will give it a try.

Price of a new chain is not an issue. Thanks