Fitting a new chain - How to find out correct length req'd ?

[doogie]

I once read that to find out the correct length of chain when fitting a new one was to feed the chain through the gears bypassing the rear mech, make sure the chain is on the outer front ring and on the biggest rear gear. Then bring both ends of the chain together untill taught - add another 2 to 3 links and then shorten the chain to that length.
Once the chain has been shortened it is then re fed through the rear mech and around front and rear gears and rejoined. Voila.

Is this the correct way to do it ? :?

 

[Huntso]

Sort of correct, but miss out both mechs and add one complete link, so two bits

 

[icantthinkofausername]

Re: Fitting a new chain - How to find out correct length req

I once read that to find out the correct length of chain when fitting a new one was to feed the chain through the gears bypassing the rear mech, make sure the chain is on the outer front ring and on the biggest rear gear. Then bring both ends of the chain together untill taught - add another 2 to 3 links and then shorten the chain to that length.
Once the chain has been shortened it is then re fed through the rear mech and around front and rear gears and rejoined. Voila.

Is this the correct way to do it ? :?

Thats the way I do it. There is another way where you put the chain on little and little then you tension it until both lenghts of chain are parallel.

But your way is much easier

 

[orange71]

And I do it another way

Feed the chain through both mechs onto largest cog at the back and largest ring at the front and ensure you have enough chain that the rear mech has a bit of slack in it so it wouldn't jam if you chose that gear combination.

 

[kaiser]

And I do it another way

Feed the chain through both mechs onto largest cog at the back and largest ring at the front and ensure you have enough chain that the rear mech has a bit of slack in it so it wouldn't jam if you chose that gear combination.

+1

 

[Andy B]

Bypassing rear mech, big ring/big ring +1 or +2 full links extra, depending on rear mech cage length.

Alternatively measure it against the old chain taking into account chain stretch.

 

[stevek]

Bypassing rear mech, big ring/big ring +1 or +2 full links extra, depending on rear mech cage length.

Alternatively measure it against the old chain taking into account chain stretch.

Same as Andy

 

[heathy]

Or you could do the same as me, i get my LBS to do it

 

[Pickle]

Or you could do the same as me, i get my LBS to do it

Ditto

+ setting my gears up.......+ fitting cables

 

[heathy]

Or you could do the same as me, i get my LBS to do it

Ditto

+ setting my gears up.......+ fitting cables

Infact, the only things i do are , changing tyres, tubes, putting air into tyres and shocks, and thats it :roll:
Everything else is done by my LBS, of course it does help if they are also your friends