Chainring Size Decrease: Link removal help!
06-06-18, 01:39 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 406
Bikes: Cannondale Carbon Synapse Road, Cannondale T2000 Touring, Vintage Mongoose IBOC Pro MTB, Vintage Peugeot 12spd racer, Old rusty Schwinn Manta Ray I neglected as a child, Diamondback Haanjo EXP Carbon & Metro, Specialized Roubaix Pro, RaleighSC Tandem
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 225 Post(s)
Liked 39 Times
in
29 Posts
Chainring Size Decrease: Link removal help!
Original chain on my 52, 42, 30 setup was approx 58" in length. I just installed a 46, 36, 24. I'd like to know how many links, if any, to remove,,,
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
06-06-18, 02:20 PM
#2
Banned
Basic Math? 52-46=6 so 6 teeth less, a bicycle chain chain is 1/2 pitch , can you take it from there..
06-06-18, 02:26 PM
#3
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 10,002
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4338 Post(s)
Liked 2,980 Times
in
1,617 Posts
I'd probably not remove any - at least at first.
You MIGHT run into an issue if you're cross-chained in granny ring and the smaller cogs in back... but it wouldn't be a catastrophic problem and you could reduce the chain size later.
Or it might be just fine.
Best method is to check the size just like if you hadn't known what size the chain was originally - big big, max wrap, connect.
Maybe you need a new chain to go with that new crank anyway.
You MIGHT run into an issue if you're cross-chained in granny ring and the smaller cogs in back... but it wouldn't be a catastrophic problem and you could reduce the chain size later.
Or it might be just fine.
Best method is to check the size just like if you hadn't known what size the chain was originally - big big, max wrap, connect.
Maybe you need a new chain to go with that new crank anyway.
06-06-18, 02:29 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18373 Post(s)
Liked 4,508 Times
in
3,351 Posts
I think one wraps about 1/2 the way around a chainring (maybe plus or minus 1 tooth depending on tangents).
So, the answer is probably closer to removing 3 single links, or between 1 and 2 double links.
However, that should just be a rough guide. Throw the chain on the big/big combo and the small/small combo, and see how it fits.
Also, check your chain for wear. No sense in mounting a heavily worn chain on new parts, potentially damaging one's chainrings and/or cassette.
If the derailleur cage is long enough, then as @DiabloScott mentions, perhaps no change would be necessary.
Last edited by CliffordK; 06-06-18 at 02:33 PM.
06-06-18, 04:44 PM
#5
Really Old Senior Member
You might want to hold off a few days just to make sure you are happy with the new rings.
Without knowing what RDER & cassette tooth min/max you have, one doesn't know how much chain wrap margin you have.
I try to leave enough so I can go up one size largest cog on the cassette without having too short of a chain.
Without knowing what RDER & cassette tooth min/max you have, one doesn't know how much chain wrap margin you have.
I try to leave enough so I can go up one size largest cog on the cassette without having too short of a chain.
06-06-18, 04:56 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,047
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4393 Post(s)
Liked 1,555 Times
in
1,020 Posts
06-06-18, 07:00 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
Not quite. You can remove 1/2 of the number of half-links indicated by the tooth difference. So the 6 tooth difference means you can remove 3 half-links. However, to maintain matching ends, you can only remove two half-links.
06-06-18, 08:21 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18373 Post(s)
Liked 4,508 Times
in
3,351 Posts
06-06-18, 08:21 PM
#9
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 406
Bikes: Cannondale Carbon Synapse Road, Cannondale T2000 Touring, Vintage Mongoose IBOC Pro MTB, Vintage Peugeot 12spd racer, Old rusty Schwinn Manta Ray I neglected as a child, Diamondback Haanjo EXP Carbon & Metro, Specialized Roubaix Pro, RaleighSC Tandem
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 225 Post(s)
Liked 39 Times
in
29 Posts
Ok, yes. It's a new chain and I have already used the old 58" (52/42/30) chain on a 46/36/26 BIOPACE triple without problems. It is a long cage, but thought it would be beneficial to trim it down a bit.
06-06-18, 09:10 PM
#10
Mechanic/Tourist
Your question assumes the chain was originally the correct length, which is not necessarily true. In any case there's no need to calculate. Just cut the chain so you have one more full link than needed to fit it over large front and large rear.
06-06-18, 09:55 PM
#11
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 406
Bikes: Cannondale Carbon Synapse Road, Cannondale T2000 Touring, Vintage Mongoose IBOC Pro MTB, Vintage Peugeot 12spd racer, Old rusty Schwinn Manta Ray I neglected as a child, Diamondback Haanjo EXP Carbon & Metro, Specialized Roubaix Pro, RaleighSC Tandem
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 225 Post(s)
Liked 39 Times
in
29 Posts
Indeed! Sorry, mate... Yep, I'll just painstakingly pull it around the cogs...
06-07-18, 08:28 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times
in
723 Posts
Nothing says you HAVE to shorten the chain, if it works OK for you.
06-12-18, 09:00 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sunny Tampa, Florida
Posts: 1,542
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 101 Post(s)
Liked 49 Times
in
41 Posts
Over-long chains shift badly, slap around a lot and can end up shifting themselves onto the wrong cog.
Just do it right and enjoy the benefit.
The big-big + 2 links formula works for almost every modern derailleur. If you have something else size your chain accordingly.
Just do it right and enjoy the benefit.
The big-big + 2 links formula works for almost every modern derailleur. If you have something else size your chain accordingly.
06-13-18, 10:49 AM
#14
Senior Member
