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Riding with a shortened chain
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Guys/Gals,
Need some advice,
I twisted a chain link yesterday during a Manly Dam ride. We removed the offending chain link and one other so that we could reassemble the chain and continue on the ride.
There appears to be no more bent link and the bike is running as smoothly as before.
Do I need to replace the chain immediately or can I continue as is for a little while? Can I just get two links and add them to the chain? Am I likely to damage anything by doing this?
Thanks
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At a guess it might snap if you shift big to big by accident for example....I would replace it or alternatively you could use one of the connex wipperman links which would make it as good as new....
Most chains are longer than they need to be anyway. There is usually a few redundant links.
Turn the bike upside down and shift it into the biggest ring front and rear and see what happens.
It should be fine.
Assuming you have a sound reconnect, the issue is really is the chain still long enough. Have a look at park's chain length guide http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/chain-l.... If you were not running the minimum length chain to begin with, then you should be able to leave it as is. If it was "correctly" sized to begin with, then it will be too short, and I'd be wary of running a too short chain in case you forget and shift big-big. Note sure what would break or bend in that case - chain or dereailleur - I've never tried it
I ran short chain some time ago after breaking the chain a couple of times. You'll find it jams up if you forget and go to big/big but it doesn't do any serious damage . You may have to stop and unjam it. On the plus side you have great chain tension so it doesn't jump around so much when you are in a ratio it can handle
Doesn't it also depend a bit on the rear suspension set up and how the rear axle moves relative to pivot points when under compression? Or am I barking up the wrong tree here?
Thats true as well, depending on the bike etc.
Chain growth on VPP, Maestro,etc. and most single pivots is substantial enough to break something if you are at the limit then compress suspension over a bump or worse drop off.
Others such as four bar, horst link/FSR hardly change so you can just check the 'static' chain length.
Out of interest I once broke a rear mech. on a Specialized full sus. and had to make it a singlespeed to ride home, shortened the chain and ran middle to middle.
At first I rode real carefull to not even 'bob' but after a while I realised the suspension was moving and the chain was fine so I started riding faster and over more bumps. Still no worries. Nearer to home I took a drop of about a metre just to see and sure enough the bike just soaked it up like normal and the chain stayed put the whole way.
I still swear by horst link for plush.