I had a 36/22 and replaced the 36t with a 32t, but can't find online how to measure the correct chain length on a double.
On my other bike, I replaced the outside with a bash guard and figured I'd shorten the chain when I replaced it, but when I did the big big measurement, the chain would get jammed on the cassette when shifting multiple gears at once and I had to lengthen it a few links, so that didn't work lol.. So what's the correct procedure to measure the chain length on a double?
While a longer cage is not as sensitive to a too long chain as medium and short ones, it's advisable to disregard cage length entirely when figuring out the proper chain length.
It's "chain around the biggest front and rear, + 2 links".
Doesn't matter how many cogs or chainrings you have, doesn't matter which derailleur you have, doesn't matter what size things are front and rear... Don't make it too difficult.
make the chain long enough but not too long. there is probably a way to calculate it but that's a waste of time. run the chain through the gears and derailleurs and make it long enough to clear the big-big combo on your chainrings and cassette.
I get that and know how to do it on a 3x setup but when I did it on a 2x it didn't work so I thought I was doing something wrong. I looked online and didn't see anything specific to 2x setups.
On road bikes, it's the same. I'm surprised it gave you trouble on your other bike. I'd look for some other cause. Maybe having a little more tension due to a shorter chain was making your rear derailleur do something weird?
Derailleur was new and adjusted fine.. Added an extra 2 links I think and its fine. I could shift one by one, but shifting 3 gears at a time and it got jammed and didn't shift.
I'm going to shorten my chain by a link to compensate for the smaller chainring.. I'll see how it measures first and go from there.
Sram x5, fat bike is the new one i need to cut, full suspension with new deore shadow is the one that wouldn't shift, but i added a link or 2 and its fine.
Since you still have the long cage rear derailleur, if you wanted to be conservative you could just remove one link and call it a day. You could remove none and everything should be okay too. I'm not sure if chain slap is an issue on fat bikes...
the biggest mistake is people think "Plus 2 links" means one inner and one outer,... a "link" is actually 2 parts.. the inner and outer plates are one link.. so you need 4 plates added. 2 inner and 2 outer plates equaling 2 links..
I think you may have that wrong, I'm pretty sure 1 link is 1/2 inch and 1 inner+1 outer link=1 inch (2 links).
Maybe I'm the one who has it backwards though, during my entire career working on bikes I had never heard of, nor used the "big/big plus 2" method and only found out about it here on mtbr after retiring from that work.
I'm pretty familiar with half links from working on old beaters "back in the day"
Maybe I'm just misunderstanding your meaning but I do know that a 114 link chain has 114 pins @ 1/2' each. According to Park 2 links is one set of inner and one set of outer plates- Park Tool Co. » ParkTool Blog » Chain Length Sizing
I'm pretty familiar with half links from working on old beaters "back in the day"
Maybe I'm just misunderstanding your meaning but I do know that a 114 link chain has 114 pins @ 1/2' each. According to Park 2 links is one set of inner and one set of outer plates- Park Tool Co. » ParkTool Blog » Chain Length Sizing
no.. but yes.. again depends on manufacturer these days ... a "true link" is one inch.. but even like you've pointed out.. they state 116/114/112 links chain length which is plate count...
but the original chain length theory of Large-Large +2 links should be Large - Large + 2 inches or 4 plate sets... again.. it's kinda gone by the wayside as the manufacturers have done away with it over the years to avoid issues/confusion and derailleurs are over sized to compensate as they will often do a good bit more chain take up then they are rated at.
I think the page that comes with SRAM chains recommend big-big +2 and actually shows a picture with one set of inner plates and one outer.
I'd rather just count pins, since it's unambiguous.
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