Fitting new chain

Muckers

Any servicing/repair i've had done so far has always been done by my lbs, so now i've decided to carry out as much of this as is possible myself from now on. To start i've just paid for a new cassette and chain from CRC and have a couple of queries about fitting the chain.

Are there any "rules" that I need to keep in mind while fitting it? Will the new chain come with extra links fitted, which will mean it will be too long. Should I just measure the length of the old chain and make sure the new one is the same lenght including removable links which i'm fitting for easy removal for cleaning purposes etc.

Any advice would be great.

Mycroft H

What sort of chain did you buy?

I've only ever just put it on threading it through the parts and conncting the powerlink or what ever your using to connect it.

I dont think I've removed any links with a new chain, however I use a long cage mech so that probably takes up the slack easier.

Idleater

Assuming nothing else has changed then you can just measure the old chain against the new one. And of course assuming that the old chain length was correct.

Muckers

Shimano HG53 chain for a Tiagra 9 speed chainset

ckeego

Idleater wrote: »

Assuming nothing else has changed then you can just measure the old chain against the new one. And of course assuming that the old chain length was correct.

I may be wrong on this one, but if it wasnt the correct length in the first place or is old, you may find that method is not quite correct.:(

Cutti:(ng chains can be an expensive DIY lesson (been there several times:mad:) so it is important to measure twice and cut once...

Good advice here...http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/chain-length-sizing

The second method at the bottom of the article I find is the easiest.

Also more on breaking and joining....http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/chain-installation-derailleur-bikes

I find that the SRAM powerlinks are a lot easier to use than the Shimano bullets which take a bit of a knack and are not as robust.

Hopefully of help:)

Captain Havoc

The method I use is to put it around the biggest rings front and back without going through the rear derailleur, add a couple of links onto that length and that's where you split.

greenmat

Captain Havoc wrote: »

The method I use is to put it around the biggest rings front and back without going through the rear derailleur, add a couple of links onto that length and that's where you split.

If I use that method on a 53/39 chainset to a 11/23 cassette can I use this chain if I swap out rear cassette to a 12/27? Need to replace chain and would like a happy medium between both cassette sizes.