Checking Chain Stretch
- Rob74
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Checking Chain Stretch
Postby Rob74 » Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:16 pm
* Sheldon says hang it up
* Some say side by side with a new chain
=>> Chain Stretch Tools
There are a few different ones available..from what I can see the following appear to be better than others
Progold-Chain-Gauge
or
Park Tools CC-2
Discussion on Chain Wear & Tools
Anyone using a chain stretch measuring tool?
* Which one and have you found it accurate?
* Do you load the chain by pressing on the pedals when making the stretch measurement?
Thoughts/experiences?
Rob
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby jacks1071 » Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:54 pm
- 3DKiwi
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby 3DKiwi » Sat Jan 18, 2014 7:02 am
Shimano Ultegra chains don't seem to stretch much on my road bike but whatever I use on my mountain bike seems to stretch despite much lower mileage.
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby trailgumby » Sat Jan 18, 2014 11:50 am
The others, including Park are misleading, as detailed by Sheldon and Jobst Brandt.
So I do the next best thing and use a 12" imperial ruler.
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Checking Chain Stretch
Postby cyclotaur » Sat Jan 18, 2014 12:03 pm
Either of these. I always install new chains with a quick link and have a spare new chain handy so it's easy to check.Rob74 wrote:Checking Chain Stretch...what method do you use?
* Sheldon says hang it up
* Some say side by side with a new chain
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby Roub » Sat Jan 18, 2014 12:14 pm
3DKiwi wrote:Park tool CC 3.2 for me. I replace my chains every 12 months regardless of whether they are stretched or not. I buy them on-line as they're much cheaper than the shops.
Shimano Ultegra chains don't seem to stretch much on my road bike but whatever I use on my mountain bike seems to stretch despite much lower mileage.
This is because the chains don't stretch - its a misnomer
The pins that hold the rollers wear which creates slop and allows the chain to appear longer. Sideplates don't stretch. MTB's are worse for it due to the harsher environments. I change my road chains every 2500-3000kms and the MTB I cycle 2-3 chains through every cassette and cycle them every 600-800kms or so (cassette then lasts 2000kms on the MTB)
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby ball bearing » Sat Jan 18, 2014 1:18 pm
They are available, but costly. I think it's money well spent.trailgumby wrote:No idea where to get the Shimano one - no longer seems to be made.
The others, including Park are misleading, as detailed by Sheldon and Jobst Brandt.
So I do the next best thing and use a 12" imperial ruler.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Shimano-TL-C ... 20de248bdd" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby biker jk » Sat Jan 18, 2014 1:38 pm
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby familyguy » Sat Jan 18, 2014 4:08 pm
Can I have some of your old roadie chains? I reckon I could get another good year out of one.3DKiwi wrote:Park tool CC 3.2 for me. I replace my chains every 12 months regardless of whether they are stretched or not. I buy them on-line as they're much cheaper than the shops.
Shimano Ultegra chains don't seem to stretch much on my road bike but whatever I use on my mountain bike seems to stretch despite much lower mileage.
Jim
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby high_tea » Sat Jan 18, 2014 7:12 pm
Same here. Well, it's more like 16" or something, which makes it easier for me to see when the chain's elongated to 12 1/8". Being as I was born after metrication, I'm not rightly sure what 1/8" looks like.trailgumby wrote:No idea where to get the Shimano one - no longer seems to be made.
The others, including Park are misleading, as detailed by Sheldon and Jobst Brandt.
So I do the next best thing and use a 12" imperial ruler.
/pointless pedantry
But yeah, ruler good.
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby mitzikatzi » Sat Jan 18, 2014 7:17 pm
It is about the diameter of one of the chains joining pins.high_tea wrote:...snip..., I'm not rightly sure what 1/8" looks like.
...snip....
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby Duck! » Sat Jan 18, 2014 7:25 pm
3.2mm, give or take a few stray microns.high_tea wrote:.... I'm not rightly sure what 1/8" looks like.
- wombatK
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby wombatK » Sat Jan 18, 2014 7:49 pm
chain is still under tension on bike. Have tried simple tools like the Park Tools CC-3, and measuring over 6 inches with vernier calipers. But can't
neither gives the same accurate answers as the hanging method (the CC-3 overstates wear).
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- il padrone
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby il padrone » Sat Jan 18, 2014 8:38 pm
12" steel ruler is always the go I reckon (I actually use a 1m ruler with imperial measures as well, to measure >12")
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby warthog1 » Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:21 pm
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby Dr_Mutley » Sat Jan 18, 2014 11:57 pm
+1warthog1 wrote:I use the park tools chain checker that supposedly has you changing chains too early. I still get >5k out of a chain so its a good enough guide for me. For the price of an ultegra chain I couldn't give a rats if I'm changing it 1 or 2k too early. My chain rings and cassettes are lasting well and they are the more expensive consumables in the drive train.
Exactly.... Beats wanking around over an 1/8 of an inch here or there..,
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby slidetaker » Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:16 pm
straighten chain, measure pin to pin, over 25.4cm, should be 10 links.
New chain = 25.4cm
Chain needs to be changed at = 25.6cm
Chain left too long excessive wear drive train = 25.7cm
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby anttismo » Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:18 pm
Anyway, I find the tool like this is good, although mine has 0.75% on one side and 1% on the other.
http://www.parktool.com/product/chain-w ... tor-CC-3-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I change 9/10 sp chains at 0.75% (usally about 5000kms, as much as 8K or as little as 3K)and it will be pretty reliable the cassette will handle up to 3 chains. Let them go to 1% and they'll do the casette. Having said that, I once let one go to about 2% (measured with ruler) to see what happened. Nothing really really, just become harder to shift. Obviously the casette and rings were cactus, but it is amazing how long they will keep functioning if you let them go.
I did also start rotating through chains together - i.e. rotating through 2 or 3 at 1000km change intervals. But given 1000kms is sometimes one week I soon got tired of it. And as it turns out, they don't go much longer and net result on casette is the same - one casette to every 2 or 3 chains. rings go for a long time, at least 2 cassettes.
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby Dr_Mutley » Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:24 pm
This is the tool that was earlier suggested to overcall chain wear... I use it personally myself... I'm not overly fussed if I'm changing chains a little earlier than need be, as less risk of breakage, and less drivetrain wear is ok by me...anttismo wrote:I do quite a few kms (~25K per year) so go through quite a few chains. Depending on bike and chain type, say 5000km would be average, so every few months at least.
Anyway, I find the tool like this is good, although mine has 0.75% on one side and 1% on the other.
http://www.parktool.com/product/chain-w ... tor-CC-3-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I change 9/10 sp chains at 0.75% (usally about 5000kms, as much as 8K or as little as 3K)and it will be pretty reliable the cassette will handle up to 3 chains. Let them go to 1% and they'll do the casette. Having said that, I once let one go to about 2% (measured with ruler) to see what happened. Nothing really really, just become harder to shift. Obviously the casette and rings were cactus, but it is amazing how long they will keep functioning if you let them go.
I did also start rotating through chains together - i.e. rotating through 2 or 3 at 1000km change intervals. But given 1000kms is sometimes one week I soon got tired of it. And as it turns out, they don't go much longer and net result on casette is the same - one casette to every 2 or 3 chains. rings go for a long time, at least 2 cassettes.
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby Aushiker » Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:53 pm
As per the Pardo.net analysis I have the Shimano TL-CN41 and have found I that I am using my chains a lot longer before replacing them. I have got 13,044 km out of a KMC 10L and 9,606 km out of a Shimano CN-6600 before I needed to replace them. Before that I was replacing them a lot earlier.Rob74 wrote:Discussion on Chain Wear & Tools
Anyone using a chain stretch measuring tool?
* Which one and have you found it accurate?
* Do you load the chain by pressing on the pedals when making the stretch measurement?
Andrew
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby Aushiker » Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:58 pm
I got mine from http://bike24.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. It seems that they only stock the Shimano TL-CN42 now. That said Pardo.net do give it a tick.trailgumby wrote:No idea where to get the Shimano one - no longer seems to be made.
The Bicycle Store has the Tl-CN41.
Andrew
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby biker jk » Tue Jan 21, 2014 5:44 pm
The point is that it's not "a little earlier". I had the Park tool and it would suggest changing the chain 2,000km earlier than the Shimano tool.Dr_Mutley wrote:anttismo wrote:I do quite a few kms (~25K per year) so go through quite a few chains. Depending on bike and chain type, say 5000km would be average, so every few months at least.
Anyway, I find the tool like this is good, although mine has 0.75% on one side and 1% on the other.
http://www.parktool.com/product/chain-w ... tor-CC-3-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I change 9/10 sp chains at 0.75% (usally about 5000kms, as much as 8K or as little as 3K)and it will be pretty reliable the cassette will handle up to 3 chains. Let them go to 1% and they'll do the casette. Having said that, I once let one go to about 2% (measured with ruler) to see what happened. Nothing really really, just become harder to shift. Obviously the casette and rings were cactus, but it is amazing how long they will keep functioning if you let them go.
I did also start rotating through chains together - i.e. rotating through 2 or 3 at 1000km change intervals. But given 1000kms is sometimes one week I soon got tired of it. And as it turns out, they don't go much longer and net result on casette is the same - one casette to every 2 or 3 chains. rings go for a long time, at least 2 cassettes.
This is the tool that was earlier suggested to overcall chain wear... I use it personally myself... I'm not overly fussed if I'm changing chains a little earlier than need be, as less risk of breakage, and less drivetrain wear is ok by me...
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby warthog1 » Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:04 pm
Fair chance that by changing chains a little earlier the more expensive components may last a little longer.biker jk wrote:
The point is that it's not "a little earlier". I had the Park tool and it would suggest changing the chain 2,000km earlier than the Shimano tool.
I'll stick with my park tools goer. It's easy and it's working well when my overall drivetrain service life is taken into acct IME.
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby Dr_Mutley » Wed Jan 22, 2014 3:30 am
Point taken [THUMBS UP SIGN]biker jk wrote:The point is that it's not "a little earlier". I had the Park tool and it would suggest changing the chain 2,000km earlier than the Shimano tool.Dr_Mutley wrote:anttismo wrote:I do quite a few kms (~25K per year) so go through quite a few chains. Depending on bike and chain type, say 5000km would be average, so every few months at least.
Anyway, I find the tool like this is good, although mine has 0.75% on one side and 1% on the other.
http://www.parktool.com/product/chain-w ... tor-CC-3-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I change 9/10 sp chains at 0.75% (usally about 5000kms, as much as 8K or as little as 3K)and it will be pretty reliable the cassette will handle up to 3 chains. Let them go to 1% and they'll do the casette. Having said that, I once let one go to about 2% (measured with ruler) to see what happened. Nothing really really, just become harder to shift. Obviously the casette and rings were cactus, but it is amazing how long they will keep functioning if you let them go.
I did also start rotating through chains together - i.e. rotating through 2 or 3 at 1000km change intervals. But given 1000kms is sometimes one week I soon got tired of it. And as it turns out, they don't go much longer and net result on casette is the same - one casette to every 2 or 3 chains. rings go for a long time, at least 2 cassettes.
This is the tool that was earlier suggested to overcall chain wear... I use it personally myself... I'm not overly fussed if I'm changing chains a little earlier than need be, as less risk of breakage, and less drivetrain wear is ok by me...
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Re: Checking Chain Stretch
Postby il padrone » Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:04 am
He asked me to help show him how to measure stretch so we laid the chain out.... and I was perplexed - it seemed to line up spot on 12" ?? Not possible as he has had the chain on for ages and little maintenance. Then I counted out the links. Yep, 12 1/2".
Told him that drivetrain was toast so we won't bother to swap a new chain on
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
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