A place to ask bicycle repair questions, and for bike shop monkeys to share advanced non commercial wrenching resources (no YouTube self promotion). This is only for repair related topics.
Hi all, i have this wear indicator and i am unclear what it exactly measures. I have a 11 speed chain that i am trying to measure and it almost fits. On other wear indicator tools i see they put 0.5 % / 0.75 % / 1 % annotations on it, that would have been helpful here too.
I looked at the documentation but it is not mentioned. When i put it next to a ruler, it think the indicator length is about 89mm.
https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/576-CHAIN-HOOK-&-WEAR-INDICATOR
First: the tool checks between the outer surfaces, not the inner as you show. 89mm means nothing in this case.
The user guide says that when the tool “fits”, the chain is lengthened by 0,8mm: looking at the length of the tool (around 95mm?) it could be something between 0,75% and 1% - but I’m speculating here!
On the first, dammit of course you are right. I measured the outer, and yes it is measures 95mm to the best of my abilities.
Okay the 0,75-1% gives me some indication, and seems to align with thoughts on my crosspost on the Evil-Reddit too.
Several bike websites mentioned that for 11 speed and up, one should better replace the chain when 0.5% lengthening is reached to preserve cog wear. Now I think i should take that with a grain of salt, where it likely is a conservative target. I do think i might benefit for getting a different chain wear tool with more granular indicator points.
Park CC-4.
It replaces Shimano’s infamous tool, is good for all chains, reliable, and is exceptionally affordable.
Chains that were showing “worn” on my Park CC-2 show as “still good” on the CC4 and the CC-4 is good for everything including 13-speed, Flattop and T-Type chains.