Hello wrenches. I just replaced my chain and it clearly is a link or 2 too short. Powerlink (SRAM) can’t be undone, but can I screw around with the other links? Do I need to? If I leave it too short, will I feel it on climbs? Am I taking a big chance on blowing my derailleur out? Share your experience and knowledge.
just out of curiosity, how are you sure it’s too short?
is it not the same length as your previous chain?
9- or 10-speed? How did you determine it was too short?
If it is a 9-speed, then just use your chain tool to put back in two links. If it is 10 speed, you may be stuck, but someone more qualified than me will need to respond.
Victor
Big Chain Ring, 11 tooth cog: straight line on the bottom, r derailleur pulled straight (in line) to the bottom of the 54 tooth chain ring.
Big Chain Ring, 11 tooth cog: straight line on the bottom, r derailleur pulled straight (in line) to the bottom of the 54 tooth chain ring.
Your RD is fully extended in the 54/11 gear combination?.. not to state the obvious, but that’s really short and will aggressively wear out your RD. If this is the case, use the 2 powerlink method mentioned above and add in enough links so that the chain coming from the lower pulley of the RD is just short of rubbing the upper pulley of the RD when in the small ring/small cog gear combination. Basically, the RD should only be extended a small amount in this gear combination (small ring/small cog). If this is confusing, then send me a PM and I might be able to send some pics that would describe it better.
Good luck,
Jake
I understand and I’ll get it fixed 2day. Thanks for saving me the cost of a new derailleur.
Besides accelerated wear, with a chain that short you risk yanking the RD right off of the frame.
Thanks for the help. Even I can pick up on the urgency of getting this fixed before I ride her.
Fixed! just slipped an extra 2 links in. MUCH better. I can sleep now. And ride in peace, which is sometimes more important.
A good rule of thumb on length is that when the chain is on the big ring in front and the small cog in back you want the rear derailleur pulleys to be vertical. An alternative is to go big ring in front and big cog in back and then use the shortest amount of chain that will go through the derailleur plus one link.
Wait. Hate to disturb the peace, but with many chains (including Shimano), you should not reuse rivets. In general, if I sized a chain too short, I’d toss it and get a new chain.
http://www.parktool.com/.../readhowto.asp?id=25
See also the link on this page to chain sizing.
Edit: looking at orginal post, seems you have a Sram chain. Check the instructions. Some searching on their website indicates that reusing rivets can be a problem:
http://www.sram.com/en/service/sram/faq.php?faqID=9bf31c7ff062936a96d3c8bd1f8f2ff3
Q.What’s the deal with PowerLinks?
A.A PowerLink is simply the easiest way to join a SRAM PowerChain-over and over again. All models of PowerChain can use the correct PowerLink, and two models require it. For model year 2001, the PC-99 and PC68 require the use of a PowerLink. These two chains have cross-step riveted pins and once a pin is pushed out, the pin cannot hold its original strength if pushed back in. In the same manner, chain models from '99/'00, the PC91 and 61 also require the use of the PowerLink. The PowerLink restores these chains back to their original glory. Additionally, the correct model PowerLink must be used with the specific model of chain, as it has varied over the last few years.
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What about using a couple of Wipperman links? wouldn’t that work?
OK, I’m willing to go buy a new chain and just chalk it up to a life lesson. But, I’m wondering, if you’ve seen this problem of reused rivets in action? I just rode for about 45 min over rolling hills and it felt great, nothing like the feel of a new chain/clean drivetrain to make the bike feel like new.
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=1346008;search_string=chain%20pin;#1346008
Near end of this thread, Martin C tells of breaking chain when he reused pin/rivet.
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replacing the chain tomorrow
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Good. And here’s how you size it: http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=26
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