re: Shimano 10 spd Chain Life
 

Hey All:

Just got a new bike with Shimano Ultegra 10 speed. At it's 500 mile tune up today, the shop guy said my chain was already stretched to the replacement point. I am not a hammerhead but do ride in the mountains and keep my rig clean. This seems waaayy too early to have to replace a chain. I am used to getting 2,000 on average.

Before I assume my LBS is scamming, is there any news on Ultegra 10 spd chains having shorter than normal life spans?

THanks

Jason

Even a brand new chain won't show 0 on the Park chain checker. Anything near 75% and you should pitch it. I guess in theory the thinner the chain the sooner it would stretch, but I can't believe that after only 500 miles (regardless of how hard you ride) you'd need a new one. Not saying you're being scammed, but you might want to be present and accounted for when the chain gets measured.

Why not measure it yourself? Use a steel ruler, 1/16th inch over on a 12 inch length is more than enough stretch.

I agree that 500 miles is unusually soon. Carefully measure the distance between 24 pins with an accurate ruler. if it's more than 12-1/16" your chain is noticably worn. The Park and Rohloff chain checkers are notoriously inaccurate because the premise behind their design is flawed. Use a ruler.

I had the same thing happen with mine when checked with a Park tool. Measured absolutely fine with a steel rule. After a lot of input and consideration, I am now convinced that the steel rule is the accurate way.

Just make sure you put some tension on the chain to tighten it up before measuring. I've seen people slap a ruler on their chains while off bike and all looks groovy.

OP: Do you know the shop and the shop guy? Trust him? There's a lot of weird information out there: I once heard the two managers of a LBS say that you should routinely replace your chain and cassette every 500 miles!!! I don't go to that shop any more. But, as has been said, it's easy enough to measure yourself.

Shimano wears out lots faster than Campy does. The good thing is that it cost a lot less than a Campy.

Tim

That's very interesting. I get 6000 to 8000 miles from a Shimano chain. How much more should I expect from my new Campy?

OK, this is NOT a shimano vs. campy thread. Might as well argue macs vs. PC's or whether there's a god -- people's views on it aren't rational, and nobody comes to the argument willing to have their mind changed. Take it elsewhere, or I'll start posting the "Arguing on the internet is like..." pictures (and probably get myself banned).

Measure the chain yourself with one of the more precise tools, and then put another 100 or 200 miles on it and see if it changes. 100 miles ain't gonna hurt nuthin. Shift up to your biggest cog and look at how the chain is seating, too. Sheldon has some pics on his site of how it looks if new, worn together, chain worn more than cass, etc... but it's fairly intuitive.

Also, post up your chain cleaning and lube habits, we might smell a rat there.

I've done about 4,500km's on my Ultegra 10 chain and it's still hasn't reached the 1/16" limit. I clean (shake chain in a jar of kerosene) and relube (with motor engine oil) about every 400-500km's.

I think we're in agreement that OP's probly being taken, but the contention that these gauges are "notoriously innaccurate" I think mistates where the mistake lies. Its in the hand of an inexpirienced user, though a simple tool it is, where mistake is made. Unless there is some article from a reputable source on this claim, I would contend that while rivet measurement is best, the Park chain-checker is plenty accurate to guage whether a chain should be replaced.

Like Landgolier said it's not a Shimano vs Campy thread. It is a known fact that Shimano 10 speed chains wear out faster than Campy 10 speed chains. Just as well known is that Campy 10 speed chains cost a lot more. Use search and you'll see I'm not just saying it. It's also been discussed many times on Campyonly.
Maybe, I should have specified 10 speed chains. I haven't heard of any wear problems with 8 or 9 speed chains in either Shimano or Campy.
Tim

My personal sample size isn't big enough in the campy vs. shim 10 speed chain area, but I don't exactly head over to campyonly.com for objective advice on shimano parts durability

These people are so blind to anything but Campy you can't rely on them for comparative advice on anything. I have a new Campy Chorus equipped bike that I'm extremely pleased with but I also know from 100,000 miles of personal experience that Shimano makes excellent components too.

Campy has made way too many mistakes in the past to assume they are superior in all things. Anyone else remember Synchro I and II? How about "Permalink"?