Chains and Chain-rings

Question 1

What are the two different styles of chains?

Answer 1

• Chains for bikes with a sing rear sprocket (wider roller/chain)
• Chains for bikes with rear derailleurs (shallower roller/chain)

Question 2

There are four different parts of a chain; name them!

Answer 2

• outer plate
• inner plate
• pin
• roller

Question 3

Chain width on derailleur bikes varies depending on what?

Answer 3

The number of rear sprockets: as the number of cogs increase, the spacing between them decreases; chains will get narrower as the cogs increase.

Question 4

Which parts of the chain tend to wear out the most?

Answer 4

The pins and bushings (which causes them to lengthen).

Question 5

How do you measure the wear on a chain?

Answer 5

There are two ways to measure a chain: a ruler, and with a chain checker.

Question 6

How do you measure the wear on a chain with a ruler? And what is the tolerance?

Answer 6

Using a ruler, measure a 12” length, placing an inch mark on the ruler exactly in the middle of a rivet, then look at the 12 corresponding links away. If the rivet lands on inch mark, the chain is fine.

• 1/16th is the tolerance (if over, the chain needs to be replaced).

Question 7

What is a good rule for sizing a new chain?

Answer 7

• use the old one to size out the new one.
• “Big-on-big, plus two”: move the chain on the biggest sprocket and biggest chain ring, and add two links; this should be the correct chain size.