this post was submitted on 12 Feb 2024
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I watched a video from Zero Friction Cycling where he tested a bunch of chain checker tools.

The original video can be found here.

Only a few were accurate, and the Park Tool CC-3.2 check that I've been using for a few years now, seems to be one of the bad ones.

Today, I decided to get the CC-4 (the Shimano checker they recommended isn't available in Canada, apparently), and rechecked the chains on my bike.

It went from "beyond 0.5mm wear" with the CC-3.2 to "not even close to 0.5mm" on the CC-4.

I guess I figured out why my chains weren't lasting long... according to the CC-3.2. ๐Ÿค‘๐Ÿ˜ญ

What chain checker tool(s) are you guys using, and have you used any that were just flat out wrong?

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[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I'm not big on watching long videos so, I found this article that hopefully adds to the value of your post.

https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/workshop/how-to-know-when-its-time-to-replace-your-bicycle-chain

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I'm aware of the article. Funny enough, they have a photo of the inaccurate tool I was using.

And it seems to be widely circulated that you should change a <10 speed chain when it reaches 0.75mm, but the Zero Friction guy says that replacing it before 0.5mm is probably going to save your other components.

I run pretty cheap stuff on my bike, so replacing a $25 chain too often doesn't really same me much when the cassette is like $35 ๐Ÿ˜‚

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Funny enough, they have a photo of the inaccurate tool I was using.

Yeah I saw that too. I don't have much experience but I don't see why the # speeds matter -- the sprockets have the same shape so I would think a worn chain would cause exactly the same wear regardless of how many speeds?