peterlyall

Hi People,

I have the Mens Raleigh Oakland 2009 bicycle (https://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/pr...Mens_Bike_2010) which can be seen in this link. The only thing is, its not as brand new as the one in the picture.

Infact as the title describes, there are various things wrong with it. Firstly my front and back derailleurs need changing as they are old and the spring has gone. Thats not a problem..I have ordered new ones.

The problem with this is that my chain keep slipping. i.e. when I put my foot down and try to cycle harder by applying more pressure to the pedals it then causes the chain to slip as if I were changing gear. I have been told by the odd bike shop or two that it is because my chain is worn. The guy at the shop put a little tool on my chain to check it and said that if the tool fits into the chain it means that the chain is worn...he then went over to another new bike and said that if the tool doesn't fit into the chain it means that the chain is new and has not been used much, if at all.

So my idea is to buy a new cassette and chain along with derailleurs and exchange them for my old and rusty ones.

My only concern is that I was told that if you change the cassette you have to change the chain also. Does this mean that I need to buy a specific chain to fit onto my new cassette as I was told it would be no good using a new chain on my old cassette...is that right?

I am going to get the parts off ebay, and just wanted to know if it matters what length the chain really is and if a new chain would fit onto a new cassette?

Thanks,
Peter

blamp28

The link you posted claims a 6 speed freewheel rather than a cassette. You need to buy the new chain and freewheel together for the best performance. Make sure they are both 6 speed. If you are buying off of ebay, make sure new means new and not "gently used". Why not but from an LBS? If you do not have a freewheel tool, you will need them to change the freewheel for you anyway unless you plan on buying the tool. As far as chain length, all new chains come the same length and you will have to size it for your bike. Go to one or both of these sites for more detailed info.

https://www.parktool.com/repair/byregion.asp
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/

Kotts

Here's the scoop on chain and casette wear, plain and simple:

• As the chain makes its way around the front chainwheels and rear cogs, it wears a little.
• This wear effectively increases the spacing between the rollers on the chain.
• As the chain passes over the front chainrings and rear cogs, the chainrings and cogs wear a little, too.
• Because the rear cogs to more revolutions per pedal stroke than the chainrings, the cogs at the rear wear more.
• If a chain is worn enough, it will wear the rear cogs to match the messed-up spacing of the chain.
• Once this happens, a new (un-worn) chain won't mesh with the rear cogs properly.
• A new set of rear cogs won't mesh with an old worn chain either.

There are two schools of thought on how to deal with this:

• Ride on a chain and rear cogset until both are worn out, and replace both.
• Replace chains more frequently, before thay have an opportunity to damage the rear cogs significantly. Eventually, the rear cogs can still wear out, but it takes much longer this way.

If you have an older style (freewheel) setup, replacing the rear cogs is more involved than with a more modern "freewheel and casette" design. Which your bike has probably depends on whether you have an original rear wheel or not.

If things are worn to the point that the chain is skipping over, you're probably looking at replacing both chain and rear cogset / cassette

al_buildbicycle

Excellent post by Kotts.

Basically if you change the cassette, you should always change the chain. New chains can go onto old cassettes, but not vice versa.

Sounds like, in this case, both should be changed.

Grand Bois

Any derailer chain that is not nine or ten speed will work.

peterlyall

Hi Again,

Thanks for all the answers... very helpful indeed.

Thanks,
Peter

Kotts

You're welcome. We'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip the servers....

rumrunn6

hi guys - how about mileage. I've heard soem folks quote some mileage factors replacing chains and cogs. I have an issue with my commuter and I'm surprised to have to deal with it again so soon, but maybe I put on just enough winter miles to warrant it. I replaced my chain and freewheel last summer but now I have skipping on the 2 smallest cogs. I might try a chain first, and then if that doesn't do it, then the freewheel as well. that's what I did last summer, the chain wasn't enough, maybe it will be this time ...? for mileage I haven't done an accurate calculation but it's somewhere in the vicinity of 500 miles, maybe 800. I put on 2000 miles on 4 bikes last year (maybe 5 ... it's all a blur now cuz I sold 8 this past winter), and this bike was one of two main bikes that I used.

kamalster

rumrunn6, that's way too quickly for a chain or freewheel to be wearing out. Not sure what's wrong, but something is.

HillRider

Correct

True, if and ONLY if, the "old" chain has low miles and isn't significantly worn. A worn chain will always skip on a new cassette.

rumrunn6

well then that LBS has 2 strikes against them. the other strike was when I brought the same bike to them for a noisy BB last summer. they said they "tightened" it up but the next ride on it it sounded like a broken washing machine. a better LBS replaced the BB and showed me how it was all chewed up inside. maybe the better LBS just doesn't know how to tighten stuff? hahaha ... I think not.

LBS #1 ... YOU SUCK!

LBS#2 ... here comes my commuter for your perusal!

BTW: LBS#2 did a sweet ride~ready~tuneup this winter and that bike is running mighty sweet (and reliably!)

benstar

Ok... so here's a similar question. Can I run a new chain (KMC X9.93 Bicycle Chain (8/9-Speed, 1/2 x 11/28-Inch, Silver/Black) / 61 grams per foot) on my old Shimano 7-speed system?
I understand that the inner width should be fine, and so the rear derailer should work fine, but what about the front? Do I need to buy 7 speed chain?

LarDasse74

Slightly off topc question: Who told you the springs in the derailleurs were worn out? A 1 year old bike will not have worn out springs in the derailleurs. Most 20 year old bikes will not have worn out springs in the derailleurs.

FBinNY 

+1 - Springs rarely, if ever, wear out. RD springs have many turns, and the working range of the cage is very narrow compared to the total amount the spring can flex. Eventually, (very eventually) the spring will break down from the repeated flexing, but it doesn't get weaker, it snaps (usually at the short engagement leg). Until that happens the spring's constant - flex property - remains the same.

If anyone tells you a spring is worn out, ask him how old his bathroom scale is.