Comments on: How to Calculate Chain Length

By: Jarrod

Jarrod — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 05:48:24 +0000

Am I the only one this didn’t work for? I have a 7spd cruiser with only a rear derailer. So I took the chain out of the derailer and wrapped it around the chain ring and largest gear (1st). I followed your method, and took out about 5 or 6 links. I noticed immediately that the derailleur was up against the gear in 2nd and it wouldn’t jump to 1st. I knew I had to add more links, so I replaced them 2 at a time until I replaced all original links I took out. Why did this not work on my bike? Any ideas? I have a Shimano Tourney 7spd derailleur. Thanks

By: rustynail

rustynail — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 11:39:24 +0000

Hi Alex! Thanks for this website that you put up. I just got my bike and I have learned a lot from you. Just wanted to give you my thanks and more power. By the way, I broke my chain the other day and having you say it should be replaced was a nice advice because I was just planning to use the same chain having 2 links removed.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:52:20 +0000

Hi Fernando. It would be best to try and find a replacement, as too short of a chain could cause problems. How does your chain length look when compared to the technique described in the above video?

By: Fernando Finol

Fernando Finol — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:09:16 +0000

Hi Alex, Yesterday I broke a link! Do I have to buy one or I can just make it 1 link (whole inner and outer link) shorter? How will it affect the performance?

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:50:03 +0000

Thanks Matthew… great avatar

Yes the powerlink will act as half a link, so you’re on the right track!

Alex

By: Matthew Critchlow

Matthew Critchlow — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:22:59 +0000

Hi Alex,

Great videos! I have a question about using this method with a SRAM Power Link chain. If I wanted to connect a SRAM chain, instead of taking out the pin where your finger is pointing (leaving one full link) would I instead move one pin back(to the left in your picture) leaving inner link plates on each end of the chain? It seems like the power link would replace the outer half I removed and lock to both inner plates. Is that correct?

Thanks again, I’ve learned so much from your videos!

Matt

By: Ben Howard

Ben Howard — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:14:53 +0000

Thanks for the great tutorials. Best yet!

By: Rider

Rider — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:38:41 +0000

Man, that’s a great way to do it.

Couldn’t be simpler.

Many thanks — excellent how-to.

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:06:29 +0000

Hi Alex!

Thanks for all the great tutorials. I recently changed my cassette (not the same size as the old one) and so need to put on a new, longer chain. Going by this method that you illustrate, I can either have 1/2 a link overlapping or 1-1/2 links overlapping. I’m using a long cage derailleur, 11-32 cassette, 22-32-42 chainrings. Which would you recommend?

Thanks!

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:03:08 +0000

Thank’s Alex,

I decided to try your method instead of counting my old chain links. My first impression is that when I’m in 53-25 the derailler is a bit more stretch. But we all know that we should ryde in 53-25 so I’m ok with that. For the rest it seem to work good.
I also think that using a shorter chain shoul prevent from the early damage to the cassette and chainring.

Thank’ s again

Ian

PS: Your tutorials are excellent. Keep your good work!