How do you prep a new chain? (leminal.space)

submitted 4 days ago by MrWrinkles@leminal.space to c/bicycling@lemmy.world

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I just measured my chain stretch for the first time and it exceeded my tools max measurement. So I bought a new SRAM PC830 chain and upon opening the box, discovered the sticky nature of factory grease. Which would be catastrophic for my dusty desert commute! So obviously, that has to come off. I consulted the web and found a brilliant website with charts for various chain lubes. https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/

I ended up following KMC's advice and cleaning the grease off with a light oil (WD-40 was handy). Then a wet lube (I forget the brand; whatever my LBS stocks).

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[-] PlantJam@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

If your chain was that bad you almost definitely need a new cassette (back) and maybe even a new chain ring (front).

[-] teft@piefed.social 1 points 3 days ago

Not true. You can easily get three chains per cassette if you’re good about checking chain lengthening. Even more for a chainring.

[-] PlantJam@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

OP said the chain was worse than the max measurement on the tool, but now I'm remembering that it's just a pass/fail tool. At first I was thinking they meant their chain finally got replaced long after it should have.

[-] teft@piefed.social 1 points 3 days ago

The max measurement is when you swap chains.

this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2026

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