Chain install - FS MTB.

In news:[email hidden],
Jonesy <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

A riding pal came up to me and said, "hey, how do you know how many
links to leave when you put a new chain on your bike?"

I told him, "loop it around the big/big combo, not threading it
through either derailleurs and leave one full link overlap."

Then, after he took off, I thought about it a little, and realized he
had a FS MTB. Since the distance between the BB center and hub center
might get longer under suspension compression, that length of chain
might not be enough. While I know that the big/big combo is not going
to be used on purpose under any real MTBing conditions, it is possible
to accidentally get into that combo. On my bikes, the effective
chainstay length is always the same, due to the bikes' designs
(hardtail, softtail,) but his virtual chainstay might grow, and bust
stuff.

What *is* the correct method for determining chain length on a FS MTB?

Take the spring (air or coil) off the shock and compress the suspension.
Find the point where the distance from the BB to the rear axle is the
greatest, then do the big/big measurement. My four bar Intense M1 grows an
inch into it's compression and takes a full 119 link chain.

Mike

"Michael Dart" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In news:[email hidden],
Jonesy <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

A riding pal came up to me and said, "hey, how do you know how many
links to leave when you put a new chain on your bike?"

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What *is* the correct method for determining chain length on a FS MTB?

Take the spring (air or coil) off the shock and compress the suspension.
Find the point where the distance from the BB to the rear axle is the
greatest, then do the big/big measurement. My four bar Intense M1 grows an
inch into it's compression and takes a full 119 link chain.

I called him up, and he had not yet got around to installing the
chain. I told him what you said, and he said, "I'll just used my old
chain as a template."

Uh, duh, yeah, good idea. :bangs forehead with palm, repeatedly:

Thanks for the answer.
--
Jonesy

In news:[email hidden],
Jonesy <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

"Michael Dart" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In news:[email hidden],
Jonesy <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

A riding pal came up to me and said, "hey, how do you know how many
links to leave when you put a new chain on your bike?"

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What *is* the correct method for determining chain length on a FS
MTB?

Take the spring (air or coil) off the shock and compress the
suspension. Find the point where the distance from the BB to the
rear axle is the greatest, then do the big/big measurement. My four
bar Intense M1 grows an inch into it's compression and takes a full
119 link chain.

I called him up, and he had not yet got around to installing the
chain. I told him what you said, and he said, "I'll just used my old
chain as a template."

Uh, duh, yeah, good idea. :bangs forehead with palm, repeatedly:

Thanks for the answer.

Hehehe...well there's that. But it's still good to know if you build up a
new frame. It's actually in the Shimano Rear Drive installation
instructions.

Mike

"Michael Dart" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In news:[email hidden],
Jonesy <[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

"Michael Dart" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In news:[email hidden],
Jonesy <[email hidden]> typed:
> A riding pal came up to me and said, "hey, how do you know how many
> links to leave when you put a new chain on your bike?"

[snip]

Quoted message said:

> What *is* the correct method for determining chain length on a FS
> MTB?

Take the spring (air or coil) off the shock and compress the
suspension. Find the point where the distance from the BB to the
rear axle is the greatest, then do the big/big measurement. My four
bar Intense M1 grows an inch into it's compression and takes a full
119 link chain.

I called him up, and he had not yet got around to installing the
chain. I told him what you said, and he said, "I'll just used my old
chain as a template."

Uh, duh, yeah, good idea. :bangs forehead with palm, repeatedly:

Thanks for the answer.

Hehehe...well there's that. But it's still good to know if you build up a
new frame. It's actually in the Shimano Rear Drive installation
instructions.

Damn - you are right. A little digging, and there it was. I *knew*
I'd read that somewhere.

Keyboard input fix: "I'll just use my old chain as a template."
Grrr, fat-fingered it again!

Thanks again for the info,
--
Jonesy