Should I trust LBS?

[magnatom]

I've just been off the phone to the LBS and my bike has just had its service and is ready to pick up (I am starting to feel better now, but unlikely to be riding it until next week )

Anyway, before I handed it in for service I gave my chain a quick check with a chain wear indicator. (The Park one). The 1% wear indicator fitted into the links, suggesting to me that the chain was needing replaced. However, getting off the phone to the LBS, they have said that it just needed a clean and a re-grease?

Should I be suspicious of this? Should I just get a new chain and replace it?

The chap at the shop suggested that if I replaced the chain I would need to replace the sprockets (although he agreed that they were not worn too much). Is this correct?

I really wish I had made it to my cycle maintenance course...

 

[Maz]

I'd only be worried if they'd replaced the chain and cassette if it didn't even need replacing. Do you fancy doing the replacement? It's not difficult.

I should invest in a chain wear indicator...My chain snapped on me once, but I fixed it/replaced cassette myself (advised by fossyant).

 

[magnatom]

I should invest in a chain wear indicator...My chain snapped on me once, but I fixed it/replaced cassette myself (advised by fossyant).

Ummm, did you read my post....

 

[Tynan]

how could we know, but in the absence of anything, them considering the work and deciding not to change parts sounds ok to me

 

[magnatom]

So the fact that the chain wear indicator suggests that the chain needs replaced, doesn't necessarily mean it does need replaced?

 

[leoc]

Maybe they only replace the chain if the chain and sprockets are worn? You could replace the chain and it might mean you increase the life of the casette. However if the chain jumps, I'd be inclined to go back to the old chain and use the new chain with a new cassette when the chains starts to jump. I am not a bike mechanic though.

Cheers,
Leo

 

[008]

My lbs suggested my chain required changing (showed me with their chain wear indicator) but advised that it wasn't necessary for the sprockets to be changed at the same time... particularly as they weren't worn! So they just replaced the chain for me... amongst other work that was required.

 

[magnatom]

Maybe they only replace the chain if the chain and sprockets are worn? You could replace the chain and it might mean you increase the life of the casette. However if the chain jumps, I'd be inclined to go back to the old chain and use the new chain with a new cassette when the chains starts to jump. I am not a bike mechanic though.

Cheers,
Leo

Hmmm. I suppose it would only cost a few quid to get a new chain, oh and a chain tool (is that what I need to remove links?)

The current chain is an sram powerlink.

 

[leoc]

Yep, you'll want a chain tool, here's a link from the late great Sheldon on getting the chain the right length http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html#chain .

Chains with powerlinks are much easier to fit. But if you decide to fit one without, you can hold the chain ends together with an old spoke bent into two hooks whilst you join the chain.

Remember also that the Shimano HG chains need special "joining" pins, you can't reuse the ones that you push out (you really can't you know I've tried )

 

[magnatom]

Yep, you'll want a chain tool, here's a link from the late great Sheldon on getting the chain the right length http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html#chain .

Chains with powerlinks are much easier to fit. But if you decide to fit one without, you can hold the chain ends together with an old spoke bent into two hooks whilst you join the chain.

Remember also that the Shimano HG chains need special "joining" pins, you can't reuse the ones that you push out (you really can't you know I've tried )

I was thinking of buying an equivalent sram chain, then shortening it to the same amount of links as the one on my bike (using the chain tool).

Can anyone recommend a reasonable (not too expensive) chain tool that works?

 

[BentMikey]

You don't need to replace both chain and sprockets if the sprockets aren't worn. I would replace the chain though. Mind you, if the LBS isn't using a chain wear tool, then they might be leaving chains till they're much more worn, in which case it'll likely have shagged the sprockets too.

 

[gazzaputt]

Park tool

 

[magnatom]

Park tool

Ct-5?

 

[Maz]

Ummm, did you read my post....

I did. I was saying I should invest in a chain wear indicator...so my chain won't snap again, hopefully.

 

[magnatom]

I did. I was saying I should invest in a chain wear indicator...so my chain won't snap again, hopefully.

Ah, I thought you were saying I should.

I'll get me coat!