For scientific research only

[dirtrider]

This in mostly for Johan but I thought other hubbers might find it useful . My view on changing chains every few 100/1000km are well documented throughout this site . But now I got some evidence to support my irrational actions .

I decided to replace the chain on one of the bikes (for no real reason) that has done lots of miles with the same DT combination (chain , cluster , blades) . But I found that the new chain and the old cluster was not very happily working together . At first I though I had ghost shifting but after looking closely at the problem I could see that the cluster grabbed the chain causing it to jump up . This feels just like ghost shifting and only after doing all the normal finer adjustment I realized the problem was something else . Anyway so this means my rear cluster is a goner !!! NO , replaced the old chain again and the problem went away . Did a 70km ride with the old setup yesterday no problems . But since I got a new chain I decided to replace the cluster yesterday anyway . The front blades did not seem to mind the new chain and everything works nicely .

 

Johan would you like to have this "worn" chain and cassette for you lab research ?

[SwissVan]

If it aint broke dont fork with it

 

How man km's did the happy couple have together before you divorced them?

[dirtrider]

Phew that would be hard to say but it's been running for over 4 years and have done many,many races and out rides . I forgot to mention that although all my bikes got XT cranks (Image thing) they all have LX blades/clusters .

[Mojoman]

Are you using Shimano or SRAM chains?

[dirtrider]

Shimano but only because thats what they gave me .

[AndreZA]

I decided to replace the chain on one of the bikes (for no real reason) that has done lots of miles with the same DT combination (chain , cluster , blades) . But I found that the new chain and the old cluster was not very happily working together.

 

Anyway so this means my rear cluster is a goner !!! NO , replaced the old chain again and the problem went away . Did a 70km ride with the old setup yesterday no problems . But since I got a new chain I decided to replace the cluster yesterday anyway . The front blades did not seem to mind the new chain and everything works nicely.

 

This whole exercise is common sense. The cassette is too far gone for you to just fit a new chain.

[dirtrider]

This whole exercise is common sense. The cassette is too far gone for you to just fit a new chain.

 

That is true but the argument is actually that you can ride a chain/casette combination into the ground and it still works fine . Go and look at previous topics about this and you will see that it is recommended that you replace the chain every so often . Now my reason has been WHY ?

[NotSoBigBen]

Phew that would be hard to say but it's been running for over 4 years and have done many,many races and out rides . I forgot to mention that although all my bikes got XT cranks (Image thing) they all have LX blades/clusters .

 

 

It's clearly going better over at the Dirty household ... moved on from Deore consumable stuff to LX

[dirtrider]

We are moving up in the world . We looking at changing all the deore derailures to something with more crome .

[AndreZA]

That is true but the argument is actually that you can ride a chain/casette combination into the ground and it still works fine . Go and look at previous topics about this and you will see that it is recommended that you replace the chain every so often . Now my reason has been WHY ?

 

Agree, you can ride it untill it gives problems. But the issue most of the people with their R30 000 bikes have is that if you do put alot of milage into a drivetrain, you have to change everything, as you've noticed, and that takes alot of cash. So they keep on changing chains to keep the rest of the stuff last longer.

 

I've always said, why replace a chain every 1000km (@ R200) and a cassette after every 3rd chain (R500)(total R1100) when you can just replace them at the same time after 4000km for R700.

[SwissVan]

That is true but the argument is actually that you can ride a chain/casette combination into the ground and it still works fine . Go and look at previous topics about this and you will see that it is recommended that you replace the chain every so often . Now my reason has been WHY ?

 

Exzagily, if u ride like a ouman and dont abuse your gear changes then the chain can last for a looong time.

 

I know I still got my original chain on my 2004 Specz mtb and only changed my Specz road bikes chain last year becuase I put a sram cluster on it and the bike mechie at the LBS advised me that the sram cluster works better with a sram chain.

 

Unfortunately my Zula did not fair so well, I had a rush of blood and broke my new (+/- 300km) xtr chain chop chop on the TT at epic this year.

[Brian Fantana]

You can ride a chain cassette combo for 4000km + but what if one of the following happens @ 2500-3000km:

 

- You do a very muddy ride and now your chain is stuffed.

- You break your chain or twist a link or two?

 

If you want to replace your chain after one of the above happened your cassette will most probably be too far gone to use with a new chain and then you have to replace both cassette and chain.

 

I replace chains every 1300km, and I replace the cassette after the 4th or somtimes the 5th chain. Also like to replace my chain a week before a stage race or a big event like Attakwas.

Edited May 18, 2011 by Stephan

[Cois]

Or you must replace your front blades (not just one, but the whole set) because I was to stingy to replace a chain that was overworked and stretched.

[Johan Bornman]

This in mostly for Johan but I thought other hubbers might find it useful . My view on changing chains every few 100/1000km are well documented throughout this site . But now I got some evidence to support my irrational actions .

I decided to replace the chain on one of the bikes (for no real reason) that has done lots of miles with the same DT combination (chain , cluster , blades) . But I found that the new chain and the old cluster was not very happily working together . At first I though I had ghost shifting but after looking closely at the problem I could see that the cluster grabbed the chain causing it to jump up . This feels just like ghost shifting and only after doing all the normal finer adjustment I realized the problem was something else . Anyway so this means my rear cluster is a goner !!! NO , replaced the old chain again and the problem went away . Did a 70km ride with the old setup yesterday no problems . But since I got a new chain I decided to replace the cluster yesterday anyway . The front blades did not seem to mind the new chain and everything works nicely .

 

Johan would you like to have this "worn" chain and cassette for you lab research ?

 

Please remind me what your chain policy is?

 

I don't know what you mean by grabbing. But if the chain rides over the sprocket is because the chain's pitch is too long to make it drop into the sprocket's teeth and settle in the valleys like it should. It is called skating when it rides on top.

 

Everything you describe is as it should be. A new chain doesn't work with a worn cassette. Put the old chain back, and it works again. But I miss your point.