First time chain replacement

[BikerBob38]

I purchased a Trek Verve 3 a little over a year ago, have 3.200 miles on the chain and the chain wear tool indicates it is time for replacement.

The bike came with a KMC X9 chain.
Searching around I found these suggestions
• KMC X9.93 → better plating, longer life
• SRAM PC‑971 → very robust, good for heavier riders or mixed terrain

I am 87yoa, bike exclusively on a macadam bike trail, bike only when the trail is dry, bike mainly for the joy of it and to get some cardio-vascular exercise.

This is my first chain replacement, I have a master-link tool, and I would welcome any tips and tricks, cautionary advice, suggestions for chain choice, and especially advice on getting the right chain length.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Count the number of links in your current chain and match that. If you buy from a shop they will shorten it for you. Different brands are much of a muchness, Wipperman or Shimano were my preferred choice.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

advice on getting the right chain length.

Put two nails in a fence post; hang old and new chains side by side. Cut new chain to old length.

 

[laurentian]

I wouldn't worry too much about the differences between the two above both are reputable chain makers.

To make life easier for cleaning and future replacement/removal, I would advise that you purchase and install a quick link if you don't already have one. Apart from anything else, the make life easier if you want to remove the chain for cleaning. This would suffice: https://www.amazon.co.uk/KMC-Unisex...33802-B07J2TXG5J-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1&th=1

As far as getting the length, its probably easiest to count the links on your existing chain (but allow the the extra quick link you will be putting in) or calculate using the following method: https://www.google.com/search?q=cha...e=ive&vld=cid:c475f2f1,vid:Vg2SoOOrpE8,st:221

You will also need a chain breaker (to remove your existing chain if it doesn't have a quick link and to shorten your new chain to the correct length. Something like this: https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/park...RhyrL9Y-QgXlRpRQe1_s0hT6c1zEbpVRoCzCMQAvD_BwE

Make sure you thread the chain through the transmission system properly MAKING SURE THE CHAIN GOES THROUGH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TAB ON THE REAR DERAILLEUR (have a look at where the chain is before you remove it - it may even be worth taking a photo of the existing chain through the derailleur before you take it off).

Hands will probably get very oily so nitrile gloves might be worth considering.

 

[fossyant]

Bear in mind you may need a new cassette as well. If the new chain starts to skip, then you need one.

 

[ColinJ]

Put two nails in a fence post; hang old and new chains side by side. Cut new chain to old length.

The problem with that is that the old, worn chain will be significantly longer than the same number of links in a new chain.

The potential problem with just copying the number of links is that the old chain might not have had the ideal number of links in the first place (if the person that fitted it didn't know what they were doing). Assuming that the old chain used to be okay, you could use the same number of links.

If the old chain never seemed quite right, start from first principles. I usually use method #1 shown in the video below. I have also used method #2. Does anybody ever actually use the calculation in method #3?!!!

 

[roubaixtuesday]

The problem with that is that the old, worn chain will be significantly longer than the same number of links in a new chain

Yeah, agree, you need the same number of links, but hanging them together is a much easier way to do that than counting to 114!

If the old chain never seemed quite right, start from first principles

Principle I use is to make sure it just runs in big/big.

 

[Punkawallah]

Wear clothes you don’t mind being covered in oil, grease and dirt, and gloves if you want to avoid trailing the same through the house. Perform the whole evolution on an old drop cloth, for when you drop the bits :-)

 

[Webbo2]

Wear clothes you don’t mind being covered in oil, grease and dirt, and gloves if you want to avoid trailing the same through the house. Perform the whole evolution on an old drop cloth, for when you drop the bits :-)

I think the idea is not to use the old chain as a belt or a necklace before throwing it away.😉

 

[BikerBob38]

Put two nails in a fence post; hang old and new chains side by side. Cut new chain to old length.

Might you not get a false reading if the chain has stretched? Mine just reached the point where the chain wear indicator dropped into the slot, so it's not super worn. But, if someone had really worn out a chain, could the nail method not be accurate for them?

 

[BikerBob38]

Might you not get a false reading if the chain has stretched? Mine just reached the point where the chain wear indicator dropped into the slot, so it's not super worn. But, if someone had really worn out a chain, could the nail method not be accurate for them?

I wouldn't worry too much about the differences between the two above both are reputable chain makers.

To make life easier for cleaning and future replacement/removal, I would advise that you purchase and install a quick link if you don't already have one. Apart from anything else, the make life easier if you want to remove the chain for cleaning. This would suffice: https://www.amazon.co.uk/KMC-Unisex...33802-B07J2TXG5J-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1&th=1

As far as getting the length, its probably easiest to count the links on your existing chain (but allow the the extra quick link you will be putting in) or calculate using the following method: https://www.google.com/search?q=chain+length+equation+9+speed&sca_esv=aaedd9f10623a379&rlz=1C1VDKB_enGB1123GB1123&sxsrf=ANbL-n7qIpedQVX_-oCZsZoyPMi1n1YJ0w:1771859422571&ei=3m2cafbNIr3XhbIP2NWr4Qc&oq=chain+length+equation+9+s&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGWNoYWluIGxlbmd0aCBlcXVhdGlvbiA5IHMqAggBMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIEECEYFTIFECEYnwVIpDxQsQdYhCRwAngAkAEAmAGAAaABkAWqAQMxLjW4AQHIAQD4AQGYAgegAuUEwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICBhAAGBYYHpgDAIgGAZAGCJIHAzIuNaAHvx2yBwMwLjW4B9gEwgcFMC4xLjbIBxyACAA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:c475f2f1,vid:Vg2SoOOrpE8,st:221

You will also need a chain breaker (to remove your existing chain if it doesn't have a quick link and to shorten your new chain to the correct length. Something like this: https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/park...RhyrL9Y-QgXlRpRQe1_s0hT6c1zEbpVRoCzCMQAvD_BwE

Make sure you thread the chain through the transmission system properly MAKING SURE THE CHAIN GOES THROUGH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TAB ON THE REAR DERAILLEUR (have a look at where the chain is before you remove it - it may even be worth taking a photo of the existing chain through the derailleur before you take it off).

Hands will probably get very oily so nitrile gloves might be worth considering.

In answer to your questions:
• My chain does have a quick link and I have a quick/master link tool.
• Thank you for those link URLs you kindly provided.
• The KMC comes with a quick/master link.
• Threading the chain advice: with the advent of smartphones you would not believe the number of times I take "before" photos when I mess with something - taking apart the clothes dryer to replace a belt, removing my chain to degrease it and load it with Squirt, etc. Excellent advice!!

 

[BikerBob38]

The problem with that is that the old, worn chain will be significantly longer than the same number of links in a new chain.

The potential problem with just copying the number of links is that the old chain might not have had the ideal number of links in the first place (if the person that fitted it didn't know what they were doing). Assuming that the old chain used to be okay, you could use the same number of links.

If the old chain never seemed quite right, start from first principles. I usually use method #1 shown in the video below. I have also used method #2. Does anybody ever actually use the calculation in method #3?!!!

The chain is the original from the factory, so have to assume that it was the correct length when originally installed. Thanks for that great video.

 

[Dogtrousers]

If the current chain isn't giving me problems I just count the links (I lay them out on newspaper rather than hanging them from a nail)

I wouldn't trust myself to come up with the right answer, so recalculating would be a good way of making things worse.

 

[Webbo2]

If the current chain isn't giving me problems I just count the links (I lay them out on newspaper rather than hanging them from a nail)

I wouldn't trust myself to come up with the right answer, so recalculating would be a good way of making things worse.

This but I mark every tenth link with a marker pen to get it right. I used t to do the hanging from a nail thing but I could never be sure I got it right.
The only thing is these days news papers are rarer than hens teeth.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Might you not get a false reading if the chain has stretched?

Yeah, you need to make sure they're matched - lifting the worn one a bit.