Replace Chain Regularly or Not?

[swee'pea99]

I hardly ever replace anything, and it all runs sweet as a nut!

One interesting (arguably) thing in this sort of area...I have a Campagnolo chainset I bought cheaply, tho' brand new - I think I paid about £25 for it - and I was surprised how quickly it wore out. One or two teeth were chipped within a matter of weeks, and the whole thing was visibly worn after six months or so - not terminally, but noticeably.

By contrast, the Shimano 105 set I got with a secondhand bike off ebay two years ago, and have since transferred to another bike, still looks pretty much unworn, even after ywo years' hard commuting from me, plus whatever it had been through from its previous owner.

I hasten to add, this is not a Campagnolo v Shimano post (yawn)...just, more generally, I'm wondering if when it comes to these kind of wearing-out bits, you really do 'get what you pay for'.

(The chain, incidentally, came off the same bike, is still in use after what must be at least 5,000 miles, and still seems as good as new. Prolink Gold and a 'Mickle-wipe', whenever it needs it - every few weeks I guess, a bit more if there's a lot of rain around.)

 

[PBancroft]

[quote name='swee'pea99']and a 'Mickle-wipe', whenever it needs it[/quote]

OK... seen this a few times but not seen it expained. What's a mickle-wipe? I guess its Mickle's recommendation on how to approach the chore, but what exactly?

 

[palinurus]

Option 1 if replacing the transmission is likely to be expensive, option 2 for the commuter bike (this is where part-worn bits from other bikes go to die, and I take pleasure in making sure they are proper worn before I skip 'em)

 

[Riding in Circles]

Replace it when it needs replacing?

 

[Riding in Circles]

That reminds me, I need to clean my chain tomorrow.

 

[gbb]

How often to clean or replace depends on how many speed system you're running IMO
I have a Sora 8 speed that did 3500 miles on the original geartrain and chain, and i only replaced the chain at that point...everything still works fine. Chainring wear is evident, but not a problem.

I noticed my 9 speed Xenon chain wore quicker, and my 10 speed Xenon...i'm paranoid about wear

8 speed systems are cheap, 10 speed cassettes, chains etc are expensive.
8 speed i'd run into the ground....but based on replacement costs, i take consideraby more care with 10 speed.

 

[J4CKO]

Cycle to work scheme, 18 month, batter it, stick on Ebay as is, repeat !

 

[MacB]

Cycle to work scheme, 18 month, batter it, stick on Ebay as is, repeat !

I'm old fashioned I'd have to point out that the bits were worn and so probably wouldn't make a sale on e-bay

 

[J4CKO]

I'm old fashioned I'd have to point out that the bits were worn and so probably wouldn't make a sale on e-bay

I would as well, dont want to damage the feedback, plus I would find it hard to part with something I had sppent so much tim on, besides, always a good source of bits your old bike.

 

[Randochap]

2. The What the Heck, or I'm Getting My Moneys Worth Approach

How will you get your money's worth with that approach?

 

[Randochap]

How often to clean or replace depends on how many speed system you're running IMO
I have a Sora 8 speed that did 3500 miles on the original geartrain and chain, and i only replaced the chain at that point...everything still works fine. Chainring wear is evident, but not a problem.

I noticed my 9 speed Xenon chain wore quicker, and my 10 speed Xenon...i'm paranoid about wear

8 speed systems are cheap, 10 speed cassettes, chains etc are expensive.
8 speed i'd run into the ground....but based on replacement costs, i take consideraby more care with 10 speed.

This is all true, but it still depends what you've got into your 8 speed.

My Bleriot has a £55 cassette, a new middle ring (the one you usually have to replace first) will go for about £17.50 and the chain costs around £20. I'm going to replace the chain when the checker says it's time.

My bikes with 10-sp Campag receive fanatical, almost obsessive-compulsive, attention to cleanliness. I can't afford to change £60 chainrings and £125 cassettes on those very often!

 

[gbb]

This is all true, but it still depends what you've got into your 8 speed.

My Bleriot has a £55 cassette, a new middle ring (the one you usually have to replace first) will go for about £17.50 and the chain costs around £20. I'm going to replace the chain when the checker says it's time.
My bikes with 10-sp Campag receive fanatical, almost obsessive-compulsive, attention to cleanliness. I can't afford to change £60 chainrings and £125 cassettes on those very often!

Good point....

 

[BentMikey]

I go by my Park chain measuring tool, and replace after 0.75.

 

[saty]

On my old mountain bike, which was a daily commute for 2 years, i never needed to replace the chain, cassette or geartrain. 300 miles per month...

Lucky i guess

 

[Randochap]

On my old mountain bike, which was a daily commute for 2 years, i never needed to replace the chain, cassette or geartrain. 300 miles per month...

Lucky i guess

There's not much that could be construed as luck when it comes to drivetrain longevity.

If we assume that you rode 300 miles per month for every one of those 24 months, that would mean 7,200 miles on that mech. That's quite possible, but I'd guess the whole mech would be ready for a change at that point.

As discussed on this thread and others on the same topic, the big variables are maintenance and number of gears. Anything over 8-speed will wear faster, all other things being equal.

Again, look after it and it will last longer -- same for bicycle gears as any other item.