How do you shorten bike chain length?

Answer 1

Apart from cleaning or lubricating, if there is anything wrong with the chain, you don't fix it, you replace it. The replacement must have exactly the same number of links as the original. Since the chain loops through the frame, you will need a chain-breaker tool to do the job (any bike shop). They're not expensive, but they are indispensable.

Answer 2

Get a new chain and a chain breaking tool. Take a pic/make a drawing of how old chain routed through derailers and frame. If you're still feeling uncertain, use old chain to pull a piece of string through as you're removing it. Remove old chain by pressing out one of the rivets with the chain tool. If bike worked OK before, use old chain to determine length of new chain. Cut new chain after old with the chain tool. Run new chain through derailers and frame, you might leave it off the chainwheel at the front to get some slack when closing the chain up again. Attach chain ends to each other, either by pressing in a rivet with the chain tool, or by using a special quick connect link usually supplied with the chain. If using chain tool. make sure that the link you've closed also moves freely. Some notes: Shimano chains shouldn't be reattached by reusing rivets. Use either special assembly rivet or quick link. Chains wear and become longer, so when using old chain as template make sure that no of links remains the same. Chain links are paired, inner and outer. So when you're about close the chain up you have to have an inner at one end and an outer at the other. Chain and rear sprockets wear together, be aware that replacing only one of them will often cause the chain to skip.

Answer 3

You use a special tool called a chain breaker to push one of the pins out, and the you use a special link to connect it again. Some chains can be reconnected by pushing the pin back in, but the quicklinks can be opened w/o tools, which is handy for cleaning and other maintenance purposes.

Answer 4

First you need to figure out which width you need, can be either 1/8" or 3/32" fr single-speed or internally geared bikes.

For bike with external gears and derailers - just buy a chain for the same number of speeds that you have sprockets on the rear.

Then you have to figure out how long the chain has to be. For single-speed/internally geared bikes shove the rear wheel as far forward as possible then fit the chain for that.

A chain breaker tool is an excellent help.

For externally geared bikes it's a bit more fiddly, but the stock recommendation is to have the chain going around biggest chainwheel front + biggest sprocket rear, then add two links.

So called master- or quicklinks are helpful when it comes to putting the chain back together again.

Answer 5

Unclear question. If it's a bike with external gears, the chain is controlled by the derailleur/derailer that it runs through. If it's a bike with internal gears, from the point of the chain it's just like a Single-Speed, and don't have to be controlled.

If you're talking about how to check a chain for wear, the rule-of-thumb is to count off 12 links, hold them against a ruler and see how far you get. more than 1/16" past 12" and you've got a worn chain. More than 1/8" off the 12" mark and the new chain is unlikely to fit well with your old sprocket. yes this is a unclear question

Answer 6

Get a chain breaker tool, remove the damaged link, reconnect chain using a quicklink/masterlink.