wrr1020

Is there a norm when it comes to chain wear. After searching a bit i hear about people replacing there chain ever 1k miles which i find excessive. More searching i read a few people go 10k miles. I'm at around 3100 miles on this chain and after measuring with a measuring tape it shows no signs of stretch. Should i replace it anyway as a precautionary? Bike shifts perfectly fine. Should i just keep riding and measuring every hundred miles or so for any stretch? Thanks

chasm54

What sort of chain are you talking about? Singlespeed? Nine-speed? Ten-speed? It varies.

If you have really managed over 3000 miles on a nine- or ten-speed with no sign of wear you're doing well. The rate of wear varies, but can be minimised by keeping the whole drivetrain clean and the chain properly lubricated. And if the cassette is new, then a new chain will last much longer. A worn cassette will cause a new chain to wear more quickly to get in synch, so to speak.

With a newish cassette and proper maintenance I generally get in the region of 3000 miles out of a ten-speed chain. If you're at that mileage and can't see any signs of wear I'd make sure you are measuring it correctly, and then check regularly.

ericm979

Tape measures aren't as accurate as a good steel ruler, and you're looking for 1/16 inch over 12 inches, which isn't much.
Also, the chain should be tight when you are measuring it.

wrr1020

Sorry with the lack of info, it's a 10 speed chain. SRAM PC1031 chain, full Force setup. Don't think i have a steel ruler around, just a measuring tape and an old wooden ruler. Should i put the bike in a certain gear when measuring or will any gear work?

chasm54

The gears don't matter, the issue is making sure the chain is under slight tension so it is tight and doesn't sag. A wooden ruler should be OK, but as ericm says, you're looking for only 1/16th of an inch of stretch, or about half of one percent.

fishymamba

Just keep on using it until it stretches more. I got over 4000 miles from my last chain(9 speed).

wrr1020

Since i have the cassette off right now since i'm cleaning it i thought i would see if this is showing any signs of wear. Some of the teeth look a bit abnormal. Hopefully i won't have to replace the cassette as well as the chain.

fishymamba

That's normal, the teeth are shaped so that shifting is smoother.

That cassette has a lot of life left in it.

dnuzzomueller

frickin immaculate, real test though is to check the smallest 3 cogs, those get the most wear.

wrr1020

Alright, good to hear. Smallest cogs look about the same if not less wear. I tend to stay in my bigger cogs since i spin more than mash.

MikeyBoyAz

this will also extend the life of your chain.

Looigi

Boy, I dunno. With 10 speeds I've seen cassettes with teeth that look perfectly fine to the eye but skip with new chains. I ran my last new 10 speed chain and cassette until I measured precisely 1/16" of wear using a steel machinists rule and though the cassette looked OK it skipped with the new chain and I had to replace it. The shops around here report similar and replace chains way before 1/16" elongation, usually using a chain wear tool to make the determination....but of course they're selling new chains.

bikepro

Here's the easiest solution:

https://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-Chai...3594032&sr=8-2

lazerzxr

I replace my chains at different intervals. My Colnago spends its life in the hills and gets mostly used for high effort riding, intervals and sees a lot of sustained 300w + efforts. the chain generally lasts about 2500km. my Canondale sees lots of recovery rides, gentle evening rides and almost no hills. The chain lasts about 3500km - 4500km.

I have heard people debate about cadence and chain wear but the fact is - the more power that goes through it the more wear. I spin just the same on both bikes