Dumb chain length question

[Easternlight]

Sorry if this is a bit stupid but when your measuring a chain counting the links do you include the powerlink?

Chain measures 1465 hole to hole. 1465/12.7 =115.3 links so 116 with the joint link

Bike is Cube acid e bike, 9 speed cassette. Most 9 speed chains are advertised as 114 links?

[OutInTheShed]

You can get chains with odd numbers of rollers, but mostly we are talking about an even number of 'pitches'.
Which is the number of rollers.

To have an odd number of rollers you need a link with cranked plates. Does happen in the world of industrial chain!

The 'repeat' of a chain if that's the word would be 2 rollers, a pair of 'outer' plates and a pair of 'inner' plates. That's two pitches in my book.

[gazza285]

Is that a worn chain?

[Easternlight]

gazza285 said:

Is that a worn chain?

Yes that's the old chain.
Doesn't show as worn out with a chain gauge but has done over 3k miles.

[wpa1975]

Best way to set chain length is to put the chain on the smallest sprocket and chainring, pull the chain so that the rear mech cage is just off stop, remove links allowing for the joining link, test.

[OutInTheShed]

wpa1975 said:

Best way to set chain length is to put the chain on the smallest sprocket and chainring, pull the chain so that the rear mech cage is just off stop, remove links allowing for the joining link, test.

Just make sure the chain has some slack when you're on the big chainring and the biggest sprocket!

I learned that the hard way after repairing a broken chain by the roadside.
Did me a favour in a way, because the new derailleur was a big improvement!

[dontlookdown]

My rule.of thumb for chain length is to thread it on the big ring and the biggest sprocket (the longest effective chain length) and add one or two links, including the quick link.

[Donbot]

Just line the old chain up with the new chain on the ground and split the excess off the new chain one link shorter.

[Steve vRS]

Donbot said:

Just line the old chain up with the new chain on the ground and split the excess off the new chain one link shorter.

But if it’s a worn chain watch out for uneven link lengths.

[Easternlight]

Steve vRS said:

Donbot said:

Just line the old chain up with the new chain on the ground and split the excess off the new chain one link shorter.

But if it’s a worn chain watch out for uneven link lengths.

I will count the links. Which I was trying to avoid having to do.
The problem was as I said in the OP that most 9 speed chains are advertised as 114 links, but It looks like I need 115 or 116.
If you count the split link on my original chain its 116 links (from my measurements not counting)

I really wanted a SRAM chain but all the 9 speed ones are listed as 114 link.

[OutInTheShed]

plenty of Shimano or KMC on ebay.

[Mazinbrum]

Steve vRS said:

But if it’s a worn chain watch out for uneven link lengths.

I’ve never had a worn chain that has worn to the extent that it might be a whole link longer than the new one! Usually laid side by side the new one is a few mil shorter overall.

[stargazer30]

3k on one chain is good going. My 11 speed chains only last 1 to 1.5k. I usually just put the new chain next to old and size it that way.

[Steve vRS]

Mazinbrum said:

I’ve never had a worn chain that has worn to the extent that it might be a whole link longer than the new one! Usually laid side by side the new one is a few mil shorter overall.

Ha. I like to squeeze every last mile out of mine!! Maybe I should check them more often.

[nickfrog]

Steve vRS said:

Ha. I like to squeeze every last mile out of mine!! Maybe I should check them more often.

That's normally a false economy as the exponential wear on your cassette from a very stretched chain is far more costly than the saving on delaying a chain swap.

[Steve vRS]

nickfrog said:

Steve vRS said:

Ha. I like to squeeze every last mile out of mine!! Maybe I should check them more often.

That's normally a false economy as the exponential wear on your cassette from a very stretched chain is far more costly than the saving on delaying a chain swap.

Oh I know that. I’m just idle. Especially on my winter bike.

[Barchettaman]

wpa1975 said:

Best way to set chain length is to put the chain on the smallest sprocket and chainring, pull the chain so that the rear mech cage is just off stop, remove links allowing for the joining link, test.

Not for a mid-drive e bike. You need more chain tension than sizing small-small on a conventional 2x derailleur set up.
Best way is to match the length of the outgoing chain.

[Promised Land]

Steve vRS said:

Mazinbrum said:

I’ve never had a worn chain that has worn to the extent that it might be a whole link longer than the new one! Usually laid side by side the new one is a few mil shorter overall.

Ha. I like to squeeze every last mile out of mine!! Maybe I should check them more often.

I swapped a 9 speed chain the other week, both with the same link counts and both start the other end together, this is how much the old one had stretched.

[Donbot]

Then you will have to change your cassette and probably chainrings at the same time.

You can get a chain wear tool for about £3.

It isn't the links that stretch, it's the pins and the rollers wearing, which chew up the rest of the drivetrain.

[Promised Land]

Donbot said:

Then you will have to change your cassette and probably chainrings at the same time.

You can get a chain wear tool for about £3.

It isn't the links that stretch, it's the pins and the rollers wearing, which chew up the rest of the drivetrain.

The middle chain ring gets changed every time the chain does, cassette isn’t that old, it’s a 2008 ride so doesn’t owe me anything but still goes. I have a tool to check it but rarely do.