Measuring chain wear
- by Trevor Moore
- •
- 21 Nov, 2018
- •
You want to replace your chain before it wears the rest of the drivetrain but how do you know when the chain is worn?
The simplest way is to use a Chain Wear Indicator / Checker tool. This has a 'heel' and a 'toe'. You place the heel between two rollers of the chain and then let the toe rest on the chain (see above image). If the toe doesn't fit between the rollers then the chain is fine. If the toe slots in between two rollers then the chain is worn and should be replaced (as in the image above).
Usually these tools are double sided.
One side is marked 0.75 or 0.075mm. If, when using this side, the toe goes in then the chain is worn to a degree where only the chain needs replacing.
The other side is marked 1.0 or 0.1 mm. If the toe on this side goes in then the chain is even more worn and the chain and gear cassette should be replaced as the very worn chain has worn the teeth on the sprockets of the cassette.
How many chains per cassette?
Usually you can use 2 to 3 chains on the one cassette if you replace then at the 0.75 stage. Obviously when the 3rd chain is showing 0.75 wear then the cassette should be replaced too so you will need to remember how many chains have been on that cassette!
So is it 2 or 3 chains per cassette? Good question! Its hard to say - there are so many factors involved in chain wear. Chain life is affected by riding style, gear choice (eg. cross chaining), the weather conditions ridden in, type of soil or surface you are riding on, type of lubricant used, lubrication techniques, and the chains quality.
If you have replaced the chain and you know the gear shift cables are running smoothly and the derailleur and shifters are all working well but you still have shifting issues then replacing the cassette as well will hopefully solve them.
You want to replace your chain before it wears the rest of the drivetrain but how do you know when the chain is worn?
The simplest way is to use a Chain Wear Indicator / Checker tool. This has a 'heel' and a 'toe'. You place the heel between two rollers of the chain and then let the toe rest on the chain (see above image). If the toe doesn't fit between the rollers then the chain is fine. If the toe slots in between two rollers then the chain is worn and should be replaced (as in the image above).
Usually these tools are double sided.
One side is marked 0.75 or 0.075mm. If, when using this side, the toe goes in then the chain is worn to a degree where only the chain needs replacing.
The other side is marked 1.0 or 0.1 mm. If the toe on this side goes in then the chain is even more worn and the chain and gear cassette should be replaced as the very worn chain has worn the teeth on the sprockets of the cassette.
How many chains per cassette?
Usually you can use 2 to 3 chains on the one cassette if you replace then at the 0.75 stage. Obviously when the 3rd chain is showing 0.75 wear then the cassette should be replaced too so you will need to remember how many chains have been on that cassette!
So is it 2 or 3 chains per cassette? Good question! Its hard to say - there are so many factors involved in chain wear. Chain life is affected by riding style, gear choice (eg. cross chaining), the weather conditions ridden in, type of soil or surface you are riding on, type of lubricant used, lubrication techniques, and the chains quality.
If you have replaced the chain and you know the gear shift cables are running smoothly and the derailleur and shifters are all working well but you still have shifting issues then replacing the cassette as well will hopefully solve them.
