New chain - advice needed

jon1981

Hi,

I need to change my chain, I noticed when I gave it a slight pull when it was on the top chain ring that I could see pull it far enough to see the chain ring teeth under it.
As Im cycling a lot more I reckon I'll need to learn how to do this otherwise I'll be at the bike shop every 3/4/5 months just for a chain change.

So looking at options:

I have a 105 10 sp cassette on the back with a 105 derailleur and a tiagra triple crankset up front. The only options I can find are these ( within a budget)


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-ultegra-6600-10-speed-chain/rp-prod104615 - Shimano Ultegra 6600 10 Speed Chain


and

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-tiagra-4601-10-speed-chain/rp-prod106556 - Shimano Tiagra 4601 10 Speed Chain


Would there be any issues with these? Seems a lot of chains are made for a double these days. At least Shimano have recommended some chains be only used on a double.

Also I plan to do it myself with the help of youtube. What would be the best chain tool to buy (again within budget) and also do the connector pins typically come with the chain?


Thanks for the advice!
jon

Pinch Flat

I do my chain and cassette all the time. It's easy and with a bit of practice it'll come second nature.

You'll need the following:

Chain breaker - make sure it's suitable for 10 speed, as the pins are smaller. Some chain breakers come with different pin sizes, so suits a wide range of chains.

I use this:

http://kmcchain.us/extra-products/reversible-chain-tool/ (about €15 from www.chainreactioncycles.com).

For the cassette, you'll need chain whip. I find the Halfdords Bike Hut grand - cheap and cheerful. There's more expensive makes out there.

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/tools-maintenance/tools/bikehut-chain-whip-sprocket-remover

and a cassette remover

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/tools-maintenance/tools/bikehut-professional-cassette-tool

I don't have the one above - I prefer he ones that come complete with a handle, but you can use a spanner for this.

Any shimano or KMC chain will do (they're the main makes, few others out there as well). Just make sure it's a 10 speed chain. New chains wil come with a master link - this makes it easy for fitting and removing for cleaning.

www.sheldonbrown.com is my 'go to' site for info - it's pretty good. Youtube good as well, but unless it's a pro you risjk having someone demonstratying incorrectly.

http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

Cee-Jay-Cee

Sorry but have no idea what you mean by " noticed when I gave it a slight pull when it was on the top chain ring that I could see pull it far enough to see the chain ring teeth under it."

Is the chain slipping or what makes you think it needs replacing?

jon1981

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Sorry but have no idea what you mean by " noticed when I gave it a slight pull when it was on the top chain ring that I could see pull it far enough to see the chain ring teeth under it."

Is the chain slipping or what makes you think it needs replacing?

No it's not slipping. I was giving the bike a clean down and I decided to check the chain. I measured the links with a ruler , apparently there should be 12inches between any two links on the chain, my measurement showed it was about 2/10 of an inch over.

So I used another method , where you put the chain on the top chain ring and give it a slight pull with your hand, apparently an unworn chain shouldn't allow you to pull it so far as to see one of the chainring teeth under it, I could see it.

The method in this video - 1 min 38s in roughly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LqTmvuf6tw

Jon

Pinch Flat

It might be partially worn - you could consider a chain gauge, it'll show partial and full wear (i.e replace now). http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/tools-maintenance/tools/bikehut-bike-chain-wear-checker

Some people like to rotate 2 or 3 chains to prolong the life of the cassette which may be an option depending on usage / mileage you're putting up.

jon1981

There's about 3k kilometres on it...not sure what the going life for a chain is?!

Thanks for the tools recommendation, worth investing in I think.

Buzwaldo

ALDI or lidl bike tool set contain all the tools you need (obviously mediocre quality but does for my occasional needs)

jon1981

Buzwaldo wrote: »

ALDI or lidl bike tool set contain all the tools you need (obviously mediocre quality but does for my occasional needs)

I see lidl are doing bike stuff next week, no toolkits!

jon1981

Right all ordered up, chain, tools and even a new cassette (in case it's needed).

Buzwaldo

Best of luck. You may need to shorten the new chain. Easiest to check how many links in old one before you discard it.

jon1981

Buzwaldo wrote: »

Best of luck. You may need to shorten the new chain. Easiest to check how many links in old one before you discard it.

yeah I was planning to line them up side by side to measure it up.

I went into a local bike shop who would change it for 30quid but the chain they use was some cheap BBB or OEM yoke so would rather have the piece in mind of a quality part.

Pinch Flat

jon1981 wrote: »

yeah I was planning to line them up side by side to measure it up.

Don't do that - the old one will have stretched and be longer than the new one, you'll end up with a longer chain than needs be.

Sheldonbrown has an idiot proof way of determining chain length. Works for me every time. Will post link here when I find it

jon1981

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Don't do that - the old one will have stretched and be longer than the new one, you'll end up with a longer chain than needs be.

Sheldonbrown has an idiot proof way of determining chain length. Works for me every time. Will post link here when I find it

Oh right, I thought they would be in an around the same all be it off by a few millimetres, not a full link.

I posted some pics of my cassette too, looks good to me.. what you think?

ford2600

jon1981 wrote: »

Oh right, I thought they would be in an around the same all be it off by a few millimetres, not a full link.

I posted some pics of my cassette too, looks good to me.. what you think?

Easiest way to measure chain is bypass rear der and wrap chain around largest cog and big ring, and overlap by two links.

Cut and rejoin AFTER running through rear derailleur

cython

Pinch Flat wrote: »

I do my chain and cassette all the time. It's easy and with a bit of practice it'll come second nature.

You'll need the following:

Chain breaker - make sure it's suitable for 10 speed, as the pins are smaller. Some chain breakers come with different pin sizes, so suits a wide range of chains.

I use this:

http://kmcchain.us/extra-products/reversible-chain-tool/ (about €15 from www.chainreactioncycles.com).

For the cassette, you'll need chain whip. I find the Halfdords Bike Hut grand - cheap and cheerful. There's more expensive makes out there.

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/tools-maintenance/tools/bikehut-chain-whip-sprocket-remover

and a cassette remover

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/tools-maintenance/tools/bikehut-professional-cassette-tool

I don't have the one above - I prefer he ones that come complete with a handle, but you can use a spanner for this.

Any shimano or KMC chain will do (they're the main makes, few others out there as well). Just make sure it's a 10 speed chain. New chains wil come with a master link - this makes it easy for fitting and removing for cleaning.

www.sheldonbrown.com is my 'go to' site for info - it's pretty good. Youtube good as well, but unless it's a pro you risjk having someone demonstratying incorrectly.

http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

Fairly sure Shimano chains don't actually come with one of those links. They use a special joining pin instead. SRAM chains do, but they are only recommended for single use in 10 speeds systems, so not really viable for cleaning, etc. I've only used chains with quick links, so can't comment as to how finicky the Shimano pin setup may be, but just strikes me that it's likely to be unnecessarily more awkward, even if not crazily so.

Pinch Flat

cython wrote: »

Fairly sure Shimano chains don't actually come with one of those links. They use a special joining pin instead. SRAM chains do, but they are only recommended for single use in 10 speeds systems, so not really viable for cleaning, etc. I've only used chains with quick links, so can't comment as to how finicky the Shimano pin setup may be, but just strikes me that it's likely to be unnecessarily more awkward, even if not crazily so.

Fair enough I have a shimano 9 speed and campag 11 speed - use links on both.

Op looks like you need to 'peen' the new chain. So the chain breaker can be used to push in the new pins. Thwy should come with the chain


http://www.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/au/index/tech_support/tech_tips.download.-Par50lparsys-0004-downloadFile.html/10-speed%20Chain%20Installation.pdf

edit looks like KMC do a quick link. Maybe someone with 10 speed can confirm?

http://www.wiggle.com/kmc-10-speed-chain-links/

jon1981

Thanks again, ah I think I'll just use the pin that will come with the chain and join with that. Or am I asking for trouble?

btw, are those KMC links good for multiple use or per 1 chain only?

Pinch Flat

ford2600 wrote: »

Easiest way to measure chain is bypass rear der and wrap chain around largest cog and big ring, and overlap by two links.

Cut and rejoin AFTER running through rear derailleur

Here's how Shelton describes it:

http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html#chain

You run the chain on the largest rear cog and largest front cog - but not through the derailleur. never done in practice (cross chain). Once you've got it cut to the correct length, re-thread and lock it (either peen or master link) to close it.

Note - make sure you have the chain correctly threaded through the derailleur. It's easy to thread it incorrectly around the little retainers on the cogs. Have done this myself before - no big deal with a master link that can be undone, but you might have only one or two peening pins with the new chain

jon1981

Hi,

Just another follow up question. I got my chain and it has this connecting pin. Is this ok to use? See pic attached, the pin is different to pins i've seen on videos that have a piece you break off. Also bought a SRAM powerlink as backup, better option?

thanks
Jonathan

Pinch Flat

What is the exact spec of the chain? The Shimano Techdocs pretty much cover every shimano part (assuming it's a shimano chain?).

http://bike.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/Chain/SI_09R0A/SI-09R0A-001-Eng_v1_m56577569830688497.pdf

Note that may not be your chain, but should give an idea

jon1981

Shimano ultegra 6600 10 speed. I actually ordered the KMC link just now anyway, I had a fiver discount with Chain reaction so cost me a couple of quid.

found the spec http://www.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/Chain/SI_08V0C/SI-08V0C-001-ENG_v1_m56577569830682230.pdf

The connecter pin in this spec is definitely not the same as what I received.

jon1981

jon1981 wrote: »

Shimano ultegra 6600 10 speed. I actually ordered the KMC link just now anyway, I had a fiver discount with Chain reaction so cost me a couple of quid.

found the spec http://www.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/Chain/SI_08V0C/SI-08V0C-001-ENG_v1_m56577569830682230.pdf

The connecter pin in this spec is definitely not the same as what I received.

Got one of those kmc missing links, chain replaced in 15 mins and gears indexed! Hopefully all will be good on the commute to work in the morning.

thanks for the advice all.