Just found out chain wear indicators aren't as reliable as I thought

I was reading Sheldon Brown's site last night and learned that most chain checkers can be off by 0.25% or more depending on the brand. That means you could be replacing a chain that's got plenty of life left or running one that's already stretched past 1% wear. Anyone else double check with a ruler after using one of those tools?

3 comments

3 Comments

finleym4316d ago

Wait so you're telling me those little clicky tools can be off by a quarter percent? That's wild lol I've been using a Park Tool one for years and thought it was the gold standard. I always just eyeballed it with a ruler after anyway cause mine felt loose at different spots on the chain. Honestly makes me wonder how many chains I've tossed too early or too late just trusting that thing.

alex30716d ago

Saw a mechanic on YouTube test a bunch of chain checkers with a caliper and the Park Tool was one of the worst offenders, consistently reading way past 0.5% when it wasn't even close. Kinda made me question everything I thought I knew about chain wear.

cameronn6216d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah I feel you. I've been that guy too, staring at a chain checker wondering if I'm just wasting money on new chains or riding a stretched one into the ground. The thing is, I've had a Park Tool one for years and it's been fine for me, but I've also had a cheapo one from Amazon that was way off. The reality is chain wear isn't perfectly even, so even a good tool can give you a false reading if you only check one spot. I've learned the hard way that the ruler method is actually more reliable if you're consistent about it. Now I just use the clicky tool as a quick check and then do the ruler trick to confirm before I drop cash on a new chain.