EJ123

Every few weeks or months my chain always ends up getting a tight or bent link. And buying chains can be a lot when added up all the ones I have to buy. I have probably gone through 4 since early december. Is this normal???
My 02 4300 has the stock chain and I think it works better than the SRAM 8sp I have now. I guess the geo of my bruiser has an affect on it. Its so embarrasing pedaling and this big loud "chlink" skip happens. Oh well. I thought about buying a new 8sp sram chain for around 21 bucks on the interent instead of my bike stores 30 dollar price. Where can I get a cheap chain breaker from the internet too? I don't want to have to take the wheel off and stick it in the trunk of my moms car just to take it in

supcom

Something is wrong. There is no reason for a chain links to bend or get tight through normal use. Assuming the chain is cleaned and lubricated on a regular basis, it should last at least a year of typical use.

vw addict

what are you talking about "take the wheel off"? The chain will be around the frame, the wheel comes right out. If you keep breaking chains just stockpile cheap ones, or stop breaking them.

operator

1) Sram 8 speed chains with a masterlink are $8 off probikekit shipped
2) Figure out what's causing these kinks

ken cummings

When my cogs or chain rings get really worn I start having trouble with the chain. Are the teeth getting worn? Is the chain compatible with the gear system? Back before index shifting a Sedis chain could last several thousand miles. Each time you splice a chain do you twist the new join a bit so it will not be tight?

HillRider

You are doing something very wrong if you have gone through four chains in the last four months. Are you doing very rocky, muddy MTB rides and hitting the chain on obstructions? That's about the only way I can imaging damaging them that soon.

On a road bike I get a year and 6000 miles out of a chain.

bkrownd

You need to take this bike to a proper mechanic before you waste any more money on it.

froze

Your doing something wrong or your bike is.

First off (and more then likely the reason for your problem), never put your bike chain while riding in the smallest chainring and have the rear in the last 2 smallest gears in the rear, nor the reverse, have your chain in the largest chainring and the be in the 2 rear tallest gears. If your doing that you are putting the chain in extreme angles thus stressing the chain more then it was designed to do, this is especially important with more gears the new school bikes have and really important on a triple setup.

The second thing is your chainline may not be aligned properly and you may have to take it to a LBS to have that check; but I doubt that, I think your not using your gear selection right.

Also make sure your keeping your chain clean and lubercated after every ride...but that's not the reason why your having the issues you mentioned, this will just preserve your chain longer under normal circumstances.

HillRider

Even habitual cross-chaining won't ruin a chain in a few weeks and the chainline would have to be 6" out to cause the problems he is describing. There is a problem more fundamental then these.