How To Replace A Bicycle Chain, by Global Cycling Network on YouTube. 6 min 50 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 50 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Check the old chain for wear with a chain checker or a ruler over 12 links. If it is past the wear limit, replace it before it damages the cassette and chainrings.
Find how the chain is joined. Look for a quick link with two slots, or a rivet pin that sits flush with the plates. This tells you how to split it.
Open a quick link by squeezing the plates together and pushing the two halves toward each other, or use quick link pliers. With a pin joint, use the chain tool to push the pin out.
Lift the old chain off the chainrings and cassette and lay it beside the new chain to compare length. Count the links if you want an exact match.
If you have no old chain, fit the new chain over the big chainring and biggest rear sprocket without going through the derailleur. Add two links, or four including the quick link, then cut.
Cut the new chain to length with the chain tool. Push the pin fully out and keep the cut end tidy so it threads easily.
Route the chain through the rear derailleur. It must pass on the correct side of the tab between the two jockey wheels, then over the cassette and front chainring.
Join the chain with a quick link or a new joining pin for your chain brand. Push a pin joint fully home so both ends sit flush.
Spin the cranks and shift through the gears. Check the chain runs smoothly, the quick link is closed and the rear derailleur cage moves freely.
Lube the new chain, wipe off the excess and check chain tension and shifting on a short test ride.
Tips and common mistakes
Never reuse a pin you pushed out, since it will not hold safely.
Match the new chain to your bike's speed count, as a wider or narrower chain will shift badly.
Replace the chain before it wears past the limit, or you may need a new cassette too.
Keep fingers clear of the chainrings and cassette when you spin the cranks.
Questions
Do I need a chain tool if my chain has a quick link?
Yes, for cutting a new chain to length. A quick link only lets you open and close the chain by hand.
How do I know the right chain length without the old chain?
Run the chain over the big chainring and biggest rear sprocket, bypassing the derailleur, and add two links plus the quick link.
How often should I check chain wear?
Check it every few hundred kilometres or once a month with a chain checker, and replace it as soon as it passes the wear limit.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
