How to Install a New Bicycle Chain
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- Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
- This is a tutorial of how to install a bicycle chain, beginning with removing the old chain.
Note: some chains like new Shimano 11-speed are one-directional (logo facing out) so read the instructions that came with your chain before installing to see if it needs to be installed a certain direction.
Superlike to this video! Someone gave me a cannondale super v500 in "like new" condition with many upgrades, it just needed a new chain. Im so happy.
A couple of things to consider:
1 - On modern index chains, you never want to reuse an existing chain pin. The pins have a little lip on each end and when you push one out, they pull a little of the metal from the outer plate which causes the link to be compromised under load if you push it back to it's original position. The best practice is to push the pin totally out and reconnect with either a shimano pin or a KMC, sram, whipperman ETC. connector link.
2 - When test riding a bike to test wear on the cassette, I've found it's pretty effective to check at a low speed with the brakes dragging. That allows you to apply enough torque to the drivetrain without the risk of inadvertently loosing control of the bike when your chain slips at a high speed.
Good video mate. That tip about holding the chain together whilst installing the master link is a stress relief! Good work.
Going to make myself one of those tools out of an old coat hanger. Thanks Clint, Great tip.
Hi there ! I just finished replacing my chain following your step by step video !
I have no idea before how easy was to replace the chain thank you ................
Thanks Clint. This video just got me through my first new chain installation!
Thanks for this great video! Just changed my chain for the first time and it was easy thanks to your instructions!
Hey Clint i have a question, i bought an old 90's road bike from a pawn shop for a good price but i couldn't tell you how old the chain is but i am assuming it might be the original because it still had the original gum wall tires. It has 105 components and everything seems to shift smoothly so my question is at this point is it worth changing because you mentioned a "stretched drive chain". I don't want to change it and then have to replace something major for the sake of the chain, i am not doing major riding as it is i am using this bike to get back in the groove of things because its been at least 17 years since I've actually ridin on a regular basis. Thanks for the video and God bless.
I'm about 99 percent sure that when you change the chain you're going to have to change the cassette and the front rings. So if you are not a racing the bike then you could probably just keep riding it until the chain breaks and then go ahead and change out the whole drive train.
thanks and God bless
For the very first time, i can't handle this. But now i know,very useful
Yeah there’s more to it than one would think.
Hi , I like your How to posts lately ,your doing a great job Thanks, ride on Clint ....
Another great video Clint. Very informative. When measuring the new chain without the help of old chain u say add two whole links meaning 4 rivets holes correct? Also when putting on the new chain does a certain side of chain have to face out or doesn't it really matter?
Great tip.
Btw, the Giant Trance-2 has a special chain, so my bike shop told me.
Is that true ?
Or can I also use another chain / better one ?
Any available to recommend ?
Regards from Japan
+Xenos Xanthippe The 2016 Trance 2 comes with a KMC chain. It's not the highest end KMC, but they are good chains. It uses a master link which means you shouldn't need a chain tool to remove it. I'd just ride it until it stretches, then get a KMC X10L (or X10SL if you want the top end)
I have learnt a lot from Malawi 🇲🇼
what do you lube your chain with? Also, how do you know which chain to buy because you said make sure you get the right chain for your bike? Mine says use kmc chains but it does not say which one to use?
Thanks for sharing this information Brother 😎✌️
You don't need to lube a brand new chain, they are lubed in the factory with a very good hot wax type lube, the best way you could possibly lube a chain actually.
Trust wax is actually too sticky and can attract a lot of dirt which is why I recommend trying to take some of it off before riding off road.
Clint Gibbs Yes,the outside of the chain should be dry, the only place that benefits from lubrication is the where the pin rotates inside the inner plate and where the roller revolves on the ''half bushing''on a modern chain. What I meant was some people degrease a new chain and put on their own lube thinking it's better, when really they just wasted the factory lube that's superior to any way you could lube a chain.
Hi Clint, I need to install 3 things, 1. new cassettes( old one is 9 speed, the new one is 11 speed), 2. New shifter and derailleur( of course 11 speed). 3. New 11 speed chain. Which one should i install first and the second and the last.
Cassette then shifter, then derailleur, then chain. You will also need a new front chain ring(s) since your old one is for 9 speed, and those should be installed first.
Thanks Clint. I'm all done, It took me 3 hours and everything is perfect.
Great job!
Hi Clint. ..... great fan of your videos. .... always useful and practical in the real world .
how should I measure my chain if I have a chain guide (include or exclude the chain guide )
MRP 2X on giant trance
+Mohammed Akoodie include the chain guide and do the to link method by going around the large cog in the back. I would assume you're using a rear derailleur.
Yes correct, I'm using a rear derailleur. .... your video makes sense to me so installing a new chain should be a simple task, thanks and keep up the good work
Come visit us down in South Africa. .... We have some amazing trails over here. .. as well as flora and fauna
Single speed chain without master link?
Hey Clint, I just wanted to clarify this...you say add two whole lenghts (4 pins), and this Shimano document (si.shimano.com/php/download.php?file=pdf/um/SI-5W70B-001-ENG.pdf) says add two links (2 pins), if I'm reading that correctly. So what is it? 2 pins or 4 pins? Thanks.
Tomislav Duić I add 2 whole links, counting 1 link as a narrow and a wide link. So 2 links would be 4 pins. If you run a short cage rear derailleur you could get by with 1 link (2 pins).
Hi clint i have a giant trance 3 2014 (the red one) which i love but the free hub is almost silent do you
If it can be changed for a louder clicking one without changing the hub ? Thanks
The freehub may just need to be serviced. If it is going bad then you can replace the freehub without changing out the whole hub.
Thanks for the help!
+Clint Gibbs, How many miles are you getting out of a chain? I took the month-old XTC to the LBS today for a failed freehub and borrowed their ProGold chain gauge today. It is different than the Park Tool gauge you are using in this video - it has increments, one through ten, with ten being max allowed stretch. Well, it dropped all the way down to the "ten" hash mark with my chain, seemingly indicating that the chain is at max allowable stretch.
Hard for me to believe that the chain is already stretched beyond tolerances after only one month of riding?
I've probably put, maybe, 200 miles (all trail) on the bike. Not sure what brand chain it is...drivetrain is XT and it says on the crank, "Use only HG-X chain"
Meant to say, I'm not sure I trust that ProGold chain checker.
It's probably a Shimano chain which don't last as long as KMC chains. Since I switch between four different bikes it's hard to give you an exact number of miles but I would say on a Shimano chain I would get about 3 months of riding. If the gauge is telling you that I would go ahead and change the chain.
+Clint Gibbs, Thanks for the quick reply bud. If you're getting ~ 3 mos, it makes sense that this one would already be worn out in a month's time (maybe?), considering that I've put a lot of miles in this bike in the month that I've had it.
I'm going to go ahead and order a Shimano HG-95 XT chain and see what kind of life I get. Maybe I'll try a KMC next time.
+Clint Gibbs - Do you have many problems with freehubs? Surprised this one went out in a month's time...
Any suggestions on aftermarket replacements?
Ive rarely had an issue with a freehub. The one on the Stan's wheels are very easy to maintain which is another reason I really like stans wheels.
I love your videos, keep up the good work :-D
Does this apply to Mountain Bike ? I'm building up a 1x10 (11-36t cog)
Absolutely. In case you haven't seen it, I have a video on how to build a 1x 10.
do you add 2 links even when using a master link
Yes. The master link essentially counts for half a link.
Great vid, thanks.
Thanks for this video 📹 👍
Thank you!
I think you mean Missing Link (KMC term), not Master Link - the two mean different things.
I use the phrase "master link" as a generic term, but yes the KMC master link is called MissingLink by KMC. SRAM calls theirs PowerLink. Instead of referring to each brand's link name it's easier just to use the phrase master link.
Top tip clean the chain before removing so its not all dirty..
That does help, but don't you feel all manly when you walk out of your garage with grimy hands? ;)
Why dont they just note the chain lengths just like they do the speeds so you dont have to messa about shortening chains, seems idiotic
thanks
Thank You!!!