Casette Life Question

ROK ON

Hi. Just a query regarding casette life. I am going to change my chain this weekend after 5500km of service. The chain is acting fine, but I am aware that it is a lot of service for a chain.

Now, ISTR that you should change the casette for every 3rd change of chain? However, given that the casette also has 5500km of service, should I change this also.

FInally I am not noticing any performance deterioration from either the chain or casette, and both are cleaned and lubed every week.

Thanks.

rottenhat

If the chain genuinely hasn't worn appreciably then there should be no need to change your cassette.

Three chains before replacing the cassette is only a ballpark figure in any case - if you keep things clean and change your chain frequently you might well get more.

rob1891

0.75% rule, if 12 links / inches of chain has streched beyond 1/16 of an inch, you should change the chain. If it streches beyond 1/8 of an inch you have left it too late. I use the park measuring tool cause a 12 inch ruler isn't 12 and 1/8 inches long ...

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

5000km ... might not be too late to change the chain and reuse the cassette. Depends on many things though, best of measuring it or trying a new chain and seeing if it slips.

niceonetom

I'm betting that you'll need a new cassette too. I left it a bit too long (maybe ~5k) last time and the new chain was rolling over the top of the 12t and 11t of the old cassette. You might be luckier than me though, or more scrupulous in your degreasing.

ROK ON wrote: »

FInally I am not noticing any performance deterioration from either the chain or casette, and both are cleaned and lubed every week.

As the chain and cassette wear in to each other they can actually perform fairly well even with a very worn chain. Up to a point. Beyond that point it all goes to pot, jumping, slipping and generally being rubbish.

I've got a chain measuring thing now and am determined to buy chains more often so i can buy cassettes less often.

blorg

You could be OK, probably best measure it or just give it a go. I've certainly left a chain that long and not had to change the cassette.

Ryaner

I've 4.5k on my chain and it measures up as not having stretched. Reading this makes me think I need to invest in a proper measurement tool.

ROK ON

Thanks for the replies. I did measure using my new chain measuring tool. The reason that I am changing is that it shows slightly greater than 0.75%, but not yet at 1%. So I figure better be safe than sorry.

Having no shifting problems, thats why I asked about casette. I have bought a new casette, but may leave the present one on with the new chain for a while (it is 12-27, whereas new one is 12-25).

rottenhat

You'll know pretty quickly if the cassette has worn - the new chain will skip under pressure. This will be most obvious in the gears that you use most so go find an incline, stick it in whatever gear you usually settle in on the flat, and try to cycle up it. If the new chain skips, get off before you wreck it - a worn cassette will wear a chain very quickly - and go home and put the new cassette on.

ROK ON

Another related query. The cassette's that I have (Shimano Ultegra) have loose rings for the smaller cogs and a block for the larger cogs.
On this basis, can I swap out a 12 tooth cog for an 11 tooth one?

blorg

If you can find a loose 11t sprocket you could certainly give it a go, the only possibility would be that the shifting would be slightly off between the 11 and the 13, most road 10 speed cassettes with an 11t will go 11-12-13...

Sheldon says:

Although the Hyperglide ramps don't necessarily line up with non-standard sprockets, as a practical matter they tend to work just fine, even if they make a little click when you shift.

Harris cyclery sell individual sprockets:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/k7.html#sprockets