New bike chain installation

You should hear the quick link snap into place! When installing a Shimano chain, use the chain breaker to push the new pin through the connecting links. Once the pin is flush on the outside face of the chain, use your needle nose pliers to break off the smaller portion of the pin. Make sure the chain is shifting smoothly between gears. Work your way up into the highest gear to make sure the chain isn't going to be too short.

The bike used here is a Santa Cruz V10 which does experience a good amount of chain growth. One way to ensure the chain is not too short is to cycle the bike through its suspension travel without limiting the derailleur. Either remove the air from your air shock or remove the spring off of your coil shock and then re-install the shock on the bike.

Cycle the bike through its suspension travel in its highest gear, and if the chain does not limit the suspension travel, you are all good to go! New Chain Who Dis?! Max has been a professional downhill mountain bike racer for the last 10 years, competing in the UCI World Cup downhill series and U.

Pro GRT series. Having ridden all different kinds of bikes on trails all over the world, Max's experiences being out on the circuit give him a unique perspective on what makes for a quality cycling component. Max also has degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Physics, and so if you don't see out on the trail, chances are he is probably in the garage tinkering on the next project.

Home Menu Search. Continue Shopping Your Cart is Empty. Shop Watch Read. Run New Chain Through Drivetrain Start by shifting the derailleur into its smallest gear meaning bottom gear farthest from the hub. Remove Excess Chain Length Make note of which pin needs to be removed, grab your chain breaker, and push the pin all the way out of the chain removing the excess chain length.

Shift Into Highest Gear Make sure the chain is shifting smoothly between gears. Go Ride! So you can compare the number of links and choose the same number for the new chain. Be aware that the old chain may have lengthened by links so watch the offset when you put it against. Make sure that if you have a chain with a quicklink, you shorten the chain so that the end piece is a small link. With a pin-lock chain master pin on Shimano chains , you must have a large link at the end the pin connects the large end to the other small end.

To do this, place the chain on the largest sprocket at the rear and on the large chainring at the front. This is the maximum length your chain will need. The rear derailleur can be pushed through more in this position, it must even reach very far forward. Removes as many links until the rear derailleur is in a strongly tensioned position if the rear derailleur is not strongly tensioned forward in this extreme position, then the chain is still too long.

Now the chain has the right length. Guide the chain again correctly through the rear derailleur, the frame and around the chainring. You have to be especially careful with the deraillers. There is a very typical mistake here, as the chain guide can be a bit confusing. Unfortunately, I do not have a detailed picture to this chain guide — but hopefully you get the idea!

Your chain must not have any contact with a pin when routed through the rear derailleur. If the chain is routed through so far and on the front chainring, then we must now connect both ends of the chain. To prevent the chain from constantly jumping open in this position, you can help yourself with a wire.

If you have a chain with a quicklink, then connecting part is especially easy. Connecting the quicklink. The easiest way to close such a quicklink is on tension!

This is because the chain stretches when riding, when the power is transferred from the crank to the rear wheel. So all you have to do is align the pin and pedal hard once. Now not all chains have the quicklink option. Even though this is already very common today! For this variant is convenient, to open and close again quickly — hence the name. But with the chain with master pin you have to work with the chain riveter. You can see this last variant here. In the best case, the chain now fits perfectly — because you have measured the length correctly!

Done — a not-so-simple topic with many sub-steps. I hope you have made some progress though. If not, now is the time to write a comment! Bicycles are his passion and he has been enthusiastic about them from his childhood. His passion is everything technical about bikes. We are currently working hard to make our site available in more languages.

If you cannot find an article in your desired language yet, I kindly ask for your patience. Fix your bike Buyers guides Get inspired Menu. The chain on the bike is the linchpin for many problems. It must be maintained and replaced in time.

How to do that and how a chain riveter works you can read here. Is your chain still usable or does it need to be replaced? Why replacing the chain How do I find the chains right length, width or size to fit my bikes drivetrain?

What chain How do I open the old chain to remove it? Gently release the derailleur. To do this, the chain needs to be fitted to the two largest rings, front and rear, although you should never ride in this gear. With the chain in place, pull the two ends towards each other and measure which one to split by holding them in place.

This is where the broken spoke comes in handy. For this, measure the distance from the centre of the crank to the centre of the rear axle. Now release the air or remove the spring from the rear shock and take this measurement again.

Size the chain in relation to the longest measuring position. For Shimano chains, take the two ends and insert a joining pin using the chain tool. When the pin is in place you can snap off the end with pliers. You can now snap the plates together and the chain will be joined. Special pliers can be used for this, but another way is to pedal the connector link through until it is sitting above the chainstay. Now grab the rear wheel to stop it from spinning and apply pressure to the pedals until the link is fully seated.

The best way to prolong the life of a chain is to clean and lube it regularly. Clean the chain in situ using a chain cleaner , then lube each roller individually, keeping the lube away from the outside of the chain. When cleaning the chain, try to avoid driving any degreaser or cleaning products into your bottom bracket or freehub body as this can strip the grease from these parts, causing all sorts of problems.

Lastly, always wipe down and relube the chain after wet rides to avoid it rusting and seizing up. As the chain wears, it deforms the sprocket teeth, which in turn leads to mis-shifting or skipping.