quick mad question - chain

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Finally got around to checking the chains on our Triban 3s and whilst i have only had mine 4 months I seems to have worn it out already according to the chain tool checker I have just purchased - OK the weather has been wet, the lane I have to cycle is in theory called tarmac if you can find any under all the mud and I have to cover the entire 1mile length of it twice each and every ride... I've done about 2,000km on it, casette looks good, chain tool is going in easily at 1% (my OH's chain is at 0.75%). Everything gets cleaned at the end of every ride, and brought back to 'silver' colour so I know it is clean rather than the black gunk it is by the end of the ride, and the chain gets the dirt removed from the inside of the links by patient mickling. I know if have a tendancy to wear chains out quite quickly on derailuers because I find it difficult to chain gear with my left hand and tend to overlap gears more than I should do (so using middle 6 gears when on middle chainring, rather than middle 4).

So quick question: I have a spare KMC Z51 chain (http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/kmc-z51-chain-116-links-7-8-speed-prod14135/) sitting in the bike draw which I know is fine for my touring bike (Rohloff hub so ironically does not need a 7/8 speed chain but I'm not about to complain about a chain I paid £4.49 for and got 14,500km out of) - can I use the same chain for my Triban 3 which is fitted with a shimano 2300 groupset (8x3 gears) to get my road bike sorted whilst I purchase another for my OH's bike to get that one sorted or does it need something different?

There is no skipping or anything else, though the rear derailuer is not as 'springy' as I would like it to be - technical term there. All I can explain is that I easily move the derailuer tighter or slacker by a small degree and it stays where I put it, rather than springing back to where it came from. Moving the pedals and the derailer stays put until I change gear.. so I suspect water in grease or somethign like that, but not sure and currently beyond my technical ability but I do have an old derailuer I can dismantle if someone can explain what is wrong and what needs to be done to sort it... l

 

[BimblingBee]

So is the question "can I use this brand new chain as a direct replacement for my old one?"

If so, yes you could but it may well slip/jump on the worn cassette.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

So is the question "can I use this brand new chain as a direct replacement for my old one?"

If so, yes you could but it may well slip/jump on the worn cassette.

thanks - had 2.5hrs Spanish today as well as yet another commute in fog and its getting to me not seeing any daylight...
cassette does not look too bad - all even wear (for once) think it is just the default dodgy decathlon chain but only time will tell.

any ideas on the springy thingy with the rear derailuer... not sure how to really explain that one... thanks

 

[BimblingBee]

Your bike comes with very low end kit, but that's not surprising as it is cheap..! But performance will never match higher end stuff.

The important part is does it work? If not, clean it. Still no joy? Replace it!

There will be no servicable parts on your rear mech, just clean and grease :-)

Hope this helps.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Your bike comes with very low end kit, but that's not surprising as it is cheap..! But performance will never match higher end stuff.

The important part is does it work? If not, clean it. Still no joy? Replace it!

There will be no servicable parts on your rear mech, just clean and grease :-)

Hope this helps.

thank you. very helpful. currently working (on the whole, sometimes more than 1 click needed for a gear change but I can live with that) will see what happens when I change the chain - may wait until after I have cycled 15 miles to pick up the car though, just in case!

 

[HovR]

sometimes more than 1 click needed for a gear change but I can live with that

That sounds to me just like the indexing is slightly out. I'm guessing the shifting is slow/unreliable when changing to a lower gear (bigger rear cog)? If this is the case then all you need to do is unscrew the barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur (the bit the outer section of cable goes in to) a quarter turn at a time until shifting is restored.

If shifting is slow/unreliable when changing in to a higher gear (smaller cog on the rear) then you will most likely need a new cable, which you can either send to a bike shop to do or I can post a link to a tutorial video here

The lack of spring in the rear derailleur isn't too much of a problem as long as it is shifting fine and the chain is nice and taught, although spraying the pivots with a helping of WD40/GT85 etc wouldn't do any harm.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Not quite sure what you mean by the rear derailleur not being springy... if you mean how it moves back towards the smallest cog it is likely to be just cable drag. In which case, put the gear lever so the gear is on smallest cog and then ynhook the gear cable outer from the stop on the frame. Do the same wuth the length of cable near the rear deraileur and slide them out if the way to expose the cable that would normally be within the outer. Give a good clean to the inner wireand llubricate thoroughly before replacing cable outers again.. Although the Triban gears are low spec they are no worse than Shimano Tourney which are basic but relatively robust.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

That sounds to me just like the indexing is slightly out. I'm guessing the shifting is slow/unreliable when changing to a lower gear (bigger rear cog)? If this is the case then all you need to do is unscrew the barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur (the bit the outer section of cable goes in to) a quarter turn at a time until shifting is restored.

If shifting is slow/unreliable when changing in to a higher gear (smaller cog on the rear) then you will most likely need a new cable, which you can either send to a bike shop to do or I can post a link to a tutorial video here

The lack of spring in the rear derailleur isn't too much of a problem as long as it is shifting fine and the chain is nice and taught, although spraying the pivots with a helping of WD40/GT85 etc wouldn't do any harm.

yep - dropping down is the intertesting one sometimes. up/higher gear is fine.
The derailuer is a curious one, - really have no idea how to explain it, may have to an LBS for that...
won't do anything until a) have picked up the car becuase OH is relying on me collecting him from the railway station and not yet sussed out how to ride 2 bikes at once, and b) until I change the chain which will be Saturday and c) get some runs in and see if the cassette is going to be OK with new chain or if I have left it too late and need a new cassette as well, though for once it does actually look OK.