Check the chain for wear before you spend your time making it all clean and pretty. You can just measure with a steel tape or scale (ruler) from one pin and see what pin falls near the 12" mark. If that pin is more than 12-1/16" then it's time to think about getting another chain. If it's 12-1/8th then it's beyond time and your cogs might also be worn and need to be changed.
The new chain will be all clean and lubed. Just break it at the proper length and hopefully you bought one with a quick link. Though pins are okay too, just a little more trouble if you ever have to take that chain off before time for replacement.
Oh... we don't refer to the chain as indexed. We will refer to your shifters as indexed if they aren't the old style friction shifters.
Last edited by Iride01; 09-13-21 at 08:34 AM.