Comments on: My chain is too long, I know how to use a chain tool but need to know which links to remove? http://chaintools.com/blog/my-chain-is-too-long-i-know-how-to-use-a-chain-tool-but-need-to-know-which-links-to-remove/ ChainTools.com Tue, 22 May 2012 19:39:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Joseph R http://chaintools.com/blog/my-chain-is-too-long-i-know-how-to-use-a-chain-tool-but-need-to-know-which-links-to-remove/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Joseph R Sat, 29 Nov 2008 15:35:59 +0000 http://chaintools.com/2008/11/27/my-chain-is-too-long-i-know-how-to-use-a-chain-tool-but-need-to-know-which-links-to-remove/#comment-70 Click on the link below for exact help regarding chain length. Too long is always better than too short... because you can damage your derailleur and rip off the hanger if you go crazy with removing links. Too long and you'll get terrible shifting and tons of chain slap and chain suck, but it won't harm your derailleur or jam the chain into the cogs on the wheel. First off check the site below and figure out how much you want to remove of the chain. Then figure out what brand chain you have. It should be listed on the links. If its Shimano or Campagnolo you will have to break the chain with your tool, then you will have to get some extra chain pins for the particular brand (available at the shop) and you should break the chain at that link. Both have pins that you cannot reuse once you push them out. You'll have to remove a couple of links to get the length right, and when in doubt, always leave it a little longer. Like I said, too short and you can ruin a derailleur very quickly. Once you break the chain, you can then shorten it. Use a new pin and rejoin the chain. If its SRAM, Wipperman, then its very easy to break the chain. That special link is a tool free way to remove the chain. Other brands like Taya also have a master link, but are less common. Regardless of what brand chain you have, take the rear wheel off the bike so that you have slack. If its SRAM or Wipperman or another brand with the tool free master link, take the chain on both sides of that link and try to pinch the link together, and at the same time try to slide the parallel walls of the link in opposite directions. Its sounds harder than it is. The link should come apart and the chain is broken. Now all you have to do is just remove a couple of links, and then replace the master link. You can also get books pretty cheaply that cover everything like changing a tire to building a wheel (the hardest thing about building a bike), and it will save you time and money if you learn to service the bike yourself. Also, if they are a reputable shop, then they should take your bike back and shorten your chain for you. Bring the receipt and tell them kindly (don't get angry or terse with them) that they left the chain too long. They should do it for free since you already paid to get it serviced. If you pull an attitude, then they'll probably charge you to do that, even with a receipt for the original service, so be nice. Click on the link below for exact help regarding chain length. Too long is always better than too short… because you can damage your derailleur and rip off the hanger if you go crazy with removing links. Too long and you’ll get terrible shifting and tons of chain slap and chain suck, but it won’t harm your derailleur or jam the chain into the cogs on the wheel.

First off check the site below and figure out how much you want to remove of the chain.

Then figure out what brand chain you have. It should be listed on the links.

If its Shimano or Campagnolo you will have to break the chain with your tool, then you will have to get some extra chain pins for the particular brand (available at the shop) and you should break the chain at that link. Both have pins that you cannot reuse once you push them out. You’ll have to remove a couple of links to get the length right, and when in doubt, always leave it a little longer. Like I said, too short and you can ruin a derailleur very quickly. Once you break the chain, you can then shorten it. Use a new pin and rejoin the chain.

If its SRAM, Wipperman, then its very easy to break the chain. That special link is a tool free way to remove the chain. Other brands like Taya also have a master link, but are less common.

Regardless of what brand chain you have, take the rear wheel off the bike so that you have slack.

If its SRAM or Wipperman or another brand with the tool free master link, take the chain on both sides of that link and try to pinch the link together, and at the same time try to slide the parallel walls of the link in opposite directions. Its sounds harder than it is.

The link should come apart and the chain is broken. Now all you have to do is just remove a couple of links, and then replace the master link.

You can also get books pretty cheaply that cover everything like changing a tire to building a wheel (the hardest thing about building a bike), and it will save you time and money if you learn to service the bike yourself.

Also, if they are a reputable shop, then they should take your bike back and shorten your chain for you. Bring the receipt and tell them kindly (don’t get angry or terse with them) that they left the chain too long. They should do it for free since you already paid to get it serviced. If you pull an attitude, then they’ll probably charge you to do that, even with a receipt for the original service, so be nice.

]]> By: Anomaly 17 http://chaintools.com/blog/my-chain-is-too-long-i-know-how-to-use-a-chain-tool-but-need-to-know-which-links-to-remove/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Anomaly 17 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 01:25:08 +0000 http://chaintools.com/2008/11/27/my-chain-is-too-long-i-know-how-to-use-a-chain-tool-but-need-to-know-which-links-to-remove/#comment-69 Hey there; I just changed a bike chain for the first time in my life, and found the following website very handy. Just be careful when you rejoin the chain where you removed links; I over-did it with the chain tool while pushing the pin back in and ended up with a really tight link. Hey there;

I just changed a bike chain for the first time in my life, and found the following website very handy. Just be careful when you rejoin the chain where you removed links; I over-did it with the chain tool while pushing the pin back in and ended up with a really tight link.

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