which chain checker?????

[dantheman]

okay, ive been told that its good to replace the chain before it gets too worn, as it saves money on not having to replace cogs and stuff as much. i didnt however realise that they could last as little as 1000 miles!!! - anyway, im at about 400 miles now, and thinking it may be time to get a chain wear guage and start checking every so often, so, my question is- which one??- ive only found a couple, both by park tools, the cc2, and cc3. which is better?- do i need to get the more expensive cc3?- and also, is it feasible to use a vernier caliper???- ive seen digital ones for about 8 quid, and they come in handy for other jobs too!

any other suggestions???

and i thought biking was gonna be cheap!!!

 

[mickle]

It'll become a lot cheaper when you start using a chain checker, you only buy one once and any one will do.

 

[Nick1979]

Alternatively you can use (as usual) Sheldon's method:

The standard way to measure chain wear is with a ruler or steel tape measure. This can be done without removing the chain from the bicycle. The normal technique is to measure a one-foot length, placing an inch mark of the ruler exactly in the middle of one rivet, then looking at the corresponding rivet 12 complete links away. On a new, unworn chain, this rivet will also line up exactly with an inch mark. With a worn chain, the rivet will be past the inch mark. This gives a direct measurement of the wear to the chain, and an indirect measurement of the wear to the sprockets:

• If the rivet is less than 1/16" past the mark, all is well.
• If the rivet is 1/16" past the mark, you should replace the chain, but the sprockets are probably undamaged.
• If the rivet is 1/8" past the mark, you have left it too long, and the sprockets (at least the favorite ones) will be too badly worn. If you replace a chain at the 1/8" point, without replacing the sprockets, it may run OK and not skip, but the worn sprockets will cause the new chain to wear much faster than it should, until it catches up with the wear state of the sprockets.
• If the rivet is past the 1/8" mark, a new chain will almost certainly skip on the worn sprockets, especially the smaller ones.

From Sheldon's full article on chains: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

 

[02GF74]

I use vernier caliper - forget digital one as they eat batteries so by the toime you come to use it, they'll be dead (no need to ask how I know that).

Then measure 10 links under tension.
From memory if they are more than 127.6 mm then it is worn (1% wear limit). I need to check this number though.

I usually get aweay with 3 or 4 chains on the same cassette.

 

[4F]

Alternatively you can use (as usual) Sheldon's method:
From Sheldon's full article on chains: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html

Good one, just checked mine and spot on.

 

[andy_wrx]

A chain checker is a bit of pressed-out aluminium, costing what - oooh 4 or 5p to make at the factory ?

Lots of brands, lots of prices - I bought one for about £3 (own-brand from ChainReaction, or ProBikeKit or Wiggle, I forget which) and I can't imagine how it could possibly differ, other than laser-etched branding graphics or other 'really useful' features, from one selling for a tenner.

Compare these for instance : all are bits of pressed-out alu, where you try to fit the 'prongs' into the chain...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=10219 X-Tools (who ?) £3.99

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5784 Park £6.99

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=23263 Shimano £26.99 !!!!!!

 

[Dave5N]

Or learn to lift the chain of the front to see.


(I have the Park one Though I never use it )

 

[Chris James]

A chain checker is a bit of pressed-out aluminium, costing what - oooh 4 or 5p to make at the factory ?

My Fat Spanner checker is made from steel, not aluminium. Would they get the tolerances required by simply pressing (bearing in mind it is a go / no go gauge that distinguishes between 1% and 0.75% over about 120mm - i.e. a difference of around 0.3mm?).

Presumably it is also hardened otherwise repeated use will wear the gauge.

 

[byegad]

The Park tools one works well and will out last most riders. Well worth the money it has saved me changing a chain too early a couple of times so is on the way to paying for itself.

 

[dantheman]

just oredered the park tools cc3, cheers for the help..