how often do you change your chain?

406 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 23, 2009 8:40 pm

blast! I think I went too long:

Marla · **Posted:** Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:18 pm

nah, looks fine to me.

EMFC · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:43 am

My RM has the same chain on it now for 4 years now.

jonathan_sykes81 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 5:58 am

You need to use a chain checker and see if it has stretched beyond it's limit. Look here. You can also use a ruler.

Scott Forty G. · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:48 am

jonathan_sykes81 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:43 am

Scott Forty G. wrote:

Since i got my bike this year, i've had to change my chain 2x. The one i had now broke off when i was in Mammoth. For sure i'm doing something wrong. Can't figure it out though.

To be honest, I would guess that you are cross chaining(which is due to improper shifting technique) and this is causing your chain breakage. Example: Big ring with big cog, little ring with little cog, etc.

406 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:17 am

jonathan_sykes81 wrote:

You need to use a chain checker and see if it has stretched beyond it's limit. Look here. You can also use a ruler.

Thanks, but should it be changed prior to stretching ( 1% in the park demo video ) much to prevent damage to the gears? I'm asking for the future, I know the pictured chain and gears are toast.

jonathan_sykes81 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:20 am

A few peeps I know buy 3 chains at once and rotate them out about once a month. It makes your chain, cogs and chainrings last longer.

406 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:31 am

jonathan_sykes81 wrote:

A few peeps I know buy 3 chains at once and rotate them out about once a month. It makes your chain, cogs and chainrings last longer.

I like that, good idea.

singletrackmitch · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:53 am

406 wrote:

jonathan_sykes81 wrote:

You need to use a chain checker and see if it has stretched beyond it's limit. Look here. You can also use a ruler.

Thanks, but should it be changed prior to stretching ( 1% in the park demo video ) much to prevent damage to the gears? I'm asking for the future, I know the pictured chain and gears are toast.

(just me here) I am a bit obsessive compulsive about my drive train. This practice of cleanliness, proper derailleur adjustment, and correct lubrication will allow a user to get the most life out of such components. On average, I can get about 4 months of life from an HG93 chain. (remember to change out your cassette with each new chain)

Sultan Ali · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:42 am

Do I see right? Right by the wheel, one of the roller is gone. In that case, the time is " NOW " for a new chain.

406 wrote:

blast! I think I went too long:

Sultan Ali · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:43 am

And possibly too much tourqe during shiftings.

Scott Forty G. wrote:

Since i got my bike this year, i've had to change my chain 2x. The one i had now broke off when i was in Mammoth. For sure i'm doing something wrong. Can't figure it out though.

Robo · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:52 am

singletrackmitch wrote:

(remember to change out your cassette with each new chain)

Whoa, now. That IS a bit compulsive. If you change your chain out about every 4 months - which is about what I aim for - there is no need to change out your cassette along with it.

The reason for changing out your chain often is so that you avoid having a worn chain wearing the cassette down in a way that will not fit properly with a new chain, resulting in bad skipping that can toss a chain off under load. Cassettes and chainrings can last over a year, even years if you change out your chain before it's worn.

If you put a new chain on and you get that dreaded skip - you know for sure it's time for a new cassette.

406 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:57 am

mikuteit wrote:

Cassettes and chainrings can last over a year, even years if you change out your chain before it's worn.

That is what I was thinking/hoping.

406 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:58 am

6packguywith5spot wrote:

Do I see right? Right by the wheel, one of the roller is gone. In that case, the time is " NOW " for a new chain.

Yep, that is what I was trying to show, and the thin links ;-)

how often do you change your chain?

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