How to tell worn cassette

[pfm401]

Hi all

Just replaced the chain on my SLX 1 x 11 system, it was just over the 50% wear line (as some recommend for 11 speed, some don't!). Nowhere near 75%. The bike was 2nd hand so no idea how old the cassette is.

When I replaced the chain it's fine in the stand but "rumbles" under slight load - think it's causing slight movement in the jockey wheels. I know this is probably "chain skip" in the making but it does it in every gear at the back which surprised me a bit as I thought there would be uneven wear in gears - some would slip and some not.

Could it be caused by something else or is it a new cassette (they're over £50 so don't want to replace it unless I REALLY have to!!)

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Excess wear somewhere along the drivetrain or misalignment of something (gear indexing) would usually be the culprit. As you say, most likely the cassette. Chain skip is usually confined to a small numbers of cogs but if a cassette is fairly well worn throughout, then a new chain may just be struggling to engage across all cogs.

 

[Marchrider]

does it rumble in all gears or just some?

if it is just rumbling in a few of your more popular gears, then it may be worn a little but not worn enough to slip yet - just take it easy in those gears for a few hundred mile and the chain will probably bed in

 

[raleighnut]

1 x 11 is a 5hit system at the best of times too much angularity on the rear mech

 

[pfm401]

Cheers all, rumbing is hard to tell if all gears as just took it round the block really so can't get the force in the larger rings at the back.

Thinking about it I'm wondering if I should replace the cassette (£50), the only other thing that can be wrong given it's fine with the old chain is the chainring - which looks fine to me (but may not be or be slightly worn!) THe other option is to run it on the old chain until it "dies" (alarm bells at 100% chain wear) then replace the lot, which is only really a £15 chainring over what I'd do now!

I know it's not by the book but I've done it before on a "school" bike and it's still going months later on a worn chain.

 

[boydj]

Make sure the chain is routed properly through the rear mech and not fouling as it enters the bottom of the mech.

 

[fossyant]

1 x 11 is a 5hit system at the best of times too much angularity on the rear mech

Get with it Grandad. 1 x 12 and 1 x 13 now !

 

[raleighnut]

Get with it Grandad. 1 x 12 and 1 x 13 now !

Sooner 2x7 anyday (that's 14 gears)

 

[robgul]

There is such as thing as a "cassette wear measuring tool" - it's like a miniature chain whip . . . you fit it to a sprocket (max 21T IIRC) and pull it taut, if the end link doesn't move then the cassette is worn.

Like this https://www.bikeparts.co.uk/product...KadFmkS0mNIXPFA4_9BQ6-G7h7HkI8rkaApItEALw_wcB - or there's a Rolhoff one too.

 

[MontyVeda]

call me an amateur but i just look at my cassette to work out if it's worn or not, and even if it looks worn yet the chain isn't slipping then it's working as it should.

 

[Mike Ayling]

Get with it Grandad. 1 x 12 and 1 x 13 now !

Or you can go 1x14 with a Rohloff!