Which Chain? (Chains / Size / Width / Wear)

KMC 610 have always served me well, they're the thinner 3/32" and seem very hard to stretch.

pretty cheap too...

^^ do Shimano advertise heavily in the same magazine?

I use kmc where possible but also running shimano and Sram only ever had trouble with cheap Chinese chain bought from cycle jumble.

@ OP you need to see what size the Freewheel will take, if it's 3/32 you can take your pick between that and 1/8 (4/32). If it needs 1/8 then get a 1/8 chain and accept it'll rattle a bit at the front.

I have been looking at the shimano DX freewheel specifications and on some sites, the description claims its 1/2" x 3/32" (9 speed) compatible.

so each tooth is spaced 1/2 inch apart (standard), and the teeth are narrow enough to take a 3/32 chain, so a tiny fraction narrower than those designed to take 1/8.

Therefore your 8 speed chain may well do the job if it falls between the two...

Hi. stick to 3/32" chain. I did a similar thing on my old road bike. used a 9 speed campy chain. an 8 or 9 speed will be the smoothest option.

My SRAM PG870 chain has run around 2500 miles on an 8-speed setup. I can see that it has stretched using a steel rule, but have used Campagnolo's guide which is to measure between the rollers across six links. Apparently if it's greater than 132.6mm then your chain should be replaced. Mine already measures 133.2mm. I have a newish SRAM PG870 which measures 132.4mm, so mine is definitely worn.

I've been recommended using a Campag unit, but they only sell 9-speed now, though I doubt this will cause any noticeable issues.

Would anyone else go back to the SRAM chain? It just seems a bit disappointing seeing as I've taken such good care of it.

Would anyone else go back to the SRAM chain?

I'd get Wippermann, but there's a huge amount of love out there for KMC and they can't all be wrong. Those are the two manufacturers who have the farm bet on chain, and going to the specialists rather than the generalists is usually a good plan.

Thanks again, MDCC. I'll take a look at them.

Since I was measuring chain wear last night, I also measured chain widths of some "8-speed" chains.

Shimano quote 7.3mm wide at the pins for a Hyperglide chain for up to 8-speed. I believe they quote 6.6mm for a 9-speed chain, whereas Campagnolo quote 6.8mm.

An older Sachs chain taken from a 7-speed bike does indeed measure 7.3mm on the calipers.

A newer SRAM PC48 (8-speed) measures 7.05mm exactly.

And a new SRAM PG870 (8-speed) measures 6.95mm exactly.

This makes me wonder if they've narrowed their 8-speed chains slightly either to work better with Shimano 8-speed which has narrower spacing.

It also makes the difference between a Campagnolo 9-speed and the narrower SRAM 8-speed only 0.15mm.

Need a new 10speed chain.

How do you pick a dam chain?
What difference is there really?

I know wipperman are mean to be good, but they sell 6 different 10speed chains. Pick one i can afford, or pay a bit more because it's better?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/?s=wippermann+10

They all work the same when new, you are probably better off replacing a cheap one often rather than trying to drag out the life of an expensive one.

I had trouble getting smooth shifts with a wipperman connex on 10sp campag, as did other people I know. Went with kmc instead.

I had trouble getting smooth shifts with campag, as did other people I know.

Well, you only have yourselves to blame.

FWIW, I find Wippermann shifts better than KMC on my Shimano cassettes.

I'd maybe try a Campagnolo chain on a Campagnolo cassette.

Oooh, that's a bit radical.

Do you mean a Campagnolo (Regina) chain or a Campagnolo (Rohloff) chain? :-)

Cheers. Like the quick link in wippemann. Hate that I can't take the SRAM chain off to clean it. Will get the £20 job and replace it in a few months.

Campag 10sp comes with a diddly connector that you need a special tool for according to Campag. Avoid.

I didn't know that Rohloff made them now, but yes. I agree that they are fussy, but it's likely to be a safe bet given that their groupsets work well from new (in my opinion). I've used a KMC split link to complete my Campagnolo chain.

I seem to remember there may have been two different widths of 10-speed Campagnolo chains, just to further confuse things.

Not too interested in a this versus that battle, but I've always thought that Shimano works well, just that I don't like how the parts are often disposable.

Anyone use a KMC D101 over here? I got sent one without the uni-connector so I'm now having to source a compatible missing link/connector/thingie myself (thanks Evans). How universal are KMC's uni-connectors? The D101 has 10mm pin length. Can I use any 1/8 connector? Ta again, forum.

I think what I need to know about is the pin length point mainly...

KMC site says there's a specific D101 uni-connector. I can't find it online anywhere, just the 7.8mm versions. So now I'm thinking about picking up a cheaper chain with 10mm pins (like the Z510HX) but apparently there's a bit of confusion as to whether it's 10mm or 9.2mm). Although the Z510HX uses a missing link and not a uni-connector... Does any of this matter? I don't know.

#csb etc etc.

I got sent one without the uni-connector so I'm now having to source a compatible missing link/connector/thingie myself (thanks Evans)

Tell Evans to send you the connector.

Evans have now refunded me the chain as they can't get hold of the connector - just a cheapo Clarks one which I'm doubtful will work anyway if pin length is an issue. Not sure I want to buy another D101 if spare connectors are that hard to come by!

Mr Tester, if I bought another new D101 could I use the connector from that once I've worn through that chain? Or would that connector be too worn? Seems like a waste of chain otherwise.

The pins on the connecting link will be just as worn as all the other pins. That's why new chains come with new connecting links.

Tbh on cheaper bikes I tend to just join the chain normally, i mean, with a fixed gear you're going to have to cut the chain down anyhow, why not just rejoin it old school as you are going to have the tool?

And I have had a kmc link on a campag record chain for ages and there are no problems.

I have had a kmc link on a campag record chain for ages and there are no problems.

There's much less variation in width between different n-speed dérailleur chains of the same n than there is between different ⅛" chains, because manufacturers of ⅛" chains have no restriction on plate thickness; plate thickness on the heaviest ⅛" chains is about double that on the lightest ones.