Critique my chain checker....

[bing!]

I am not very knowledgeable in checking chain wear. I came up with this design today, but I'm not sure if it addresses the task properly. Any help from chain nerds appreciated. Do you see any potential problems? The idea is to have a chain stretcher and a see-thru ruler over the chain pivots.

Here are some pics.

The prototype

Mounted on a bike

Eye balling chain wear

So what do you think of eyeballing this way? I will have two lines with a GO and NO GO. I just need to compute what those numbers are But you get the drift.

Ideally, I'd like the stretcher to be spring loaded. The unit above fits snug though with the wedge fitting. Zero can be calibrated by loosening the screw and adjusting the clear ruler.

I know, it looks like crap. I made the mistake of using MDF I shoulda used some good wood. Its just a prototype anyway.

 

[silverspot]

WOW - alot of time and effort you put into that thing when you could have just got one of these...

 

[bing!]

It doesnt take a long time if you know what youre doing. And I already had all the stuff to make it.

To some people, as myself, making my own stuff is a way of life.

http://www.sopwamtos.com/news/sopwamtos-is-back/

Anywho, did you know that gauge of yours is subject to bushing/roller wear error?

That you could be throwing out a perfectly good chain at only half of its life.

I am hoping my little checker does a better job than that 10 dollar piece of aluminum

One never knows, until he tries.

 

[Racer X]

...

 

[Abui]

On the wall of my garage I have a finishing nail for hanging the chain from one end. At the bottom end is a ruler fastened to the wall. It's easy to read the chain wear. The setup calibration is checked by hanging a new unused chain.

The setup lets me see the wear on the entire chain and is a reminder that if you care about wear then take the chain off the bike and give it a thorough cleaning.

 

[fatboyone]

This what I have used for several years and I think they cost 7$-8$. I am all for building your own stuff, but a bad bushing probably means a bad chain. I learned the hard way of letting a chain go to long and had to replace cassette & chain rings.

WOW - alot of time and effort you put into that thing when you could have just got one of these...
View attachment 132699

 

[bing!]

Haha! It works good. I didnt think a 1/32 gap would be easy to see, but it is. Parallax error from the lens angle shows the lines being off a little. But in person, its spot on. Just slap the bar and its GO or NO GO When the right line is in the center of the pivot, replace the chain.

 

[bing!]

This what I have used for several years and I think they cost 7$-8$. I am all for building your own stuff, but a bad bushing probably means a bad chain. I learned the hard way of letting a chain go to long and had to replace cassette & chain rings.

Not according to Sheldon Brown. Chain stretch is the main issue. But I don't really know. I'll do some more research.

 

[doublewide]

Hey Sweet!! I belong to SOPWAMTOS!! I make my own shit all the time!

See... http://www.pleasegodno.com/uploads/toilet-shit4.jpg


shitty

 

[bing!]

Hey Sweet!! I belong to SOPWAMTOS!! I make my own shit all the time!

See... http://www.pleasegodno.com/uploads/toilet-shit4.jpg


shitty

It suits you. Well done.

 

[irv_usc]

now to color the lines. green light or red light.

 

[herzalot]

Good lord - you guys are nuts - and I mean that in the kindest possible way. I've ridden for 20 years and replaced maybe 5 chains. Yes, I ride frequently. Cool that you have developed all of these gauges and rules-of-thumb, but I want to see you fabricate your own chain next! :wave::clap:

Ooops forgot to count new bikes as chain replacement...I guess you need to add 5 to that count.

 

[Heyitsdave]

:lol::lol:Wooden tooling!:lol::lol: The inexpensive stamped units work just fine and replacing at .75 is somewhat intelligent.
Spend more time riding.

 

[bing!]

:lol::lol:Wooden tooling!:lol::lol: The inexpensive stamped units work just fine and replacing at .75 is somewhat intelligent.
Spend more time riding.

I find wood to be the best prototyping material. It makes it easy to mock up a concept. 15 minutes easy.

The concept being that all commercial chain wear gauges, except Shimano's , do not account for roller/bushing error.

Sheldon Brown says of your "intelligent" chain wear gauge...

"There are also special tools made to measure chain wear; these are a bit more convenient, though by no means necessary, and most -- except for the Shimano TL-CN40 and TL-CN41 -- are inaccurate because they allow roller play to confound the measurement of rivet-pin wear."

I only showed my prototype just to check if the concept looks sound. Didnt think Id get ridiculed. I'd show you guys a few other things ive prototyped in wood to emphasize the point, but that may only add fuel to the fire.

 

[Fearless Fly]

Why do you care about chain wear? ust ride your bike until it starts skipping over the most torqued gear then replace the drivetrain. I mash like mad and ride a lot and get 3 or 4 years out of a drivetrain.

Dirty Drunx!

 

[bing!]

Why do you care about chain wear? ust ride your bike until it starts skipping over the most torqued gear then replace the drivetrain. I mash like mad and ride a lot and get 3 or 4 years out of a drivetrain.

Dirty Drunx!

Besides trying to maintain the bike in good condition, I like to make things. It looked easy, so i did it. and its cheaper than going to a strip bar

 

[1mtbjunkie]

Going to the strip club is cheaper than fixing your bike!

1. lap dance= 20.00


2. two drink minium= 20.00


3. 2 boobies for 1.00

4. all nude place...1.00 is the whole enchilada including the salad bar


total 42.00


trip to local bike shop........ask BROWNIE!

! VIVA DIRTY DRUNX!

 

[Fearless Fly]

Yeah but the strip bar is full or real drunks! Check out this guy. I bought him a beer and a dance while he was passed out!

 

[1mtbjunkie]

Happy ending ...PRICELESS!

 

[RustyIron]

I only showed my prototype just to check if the concept looks sound. Didnt think Id get ridiculed.

Well there's your mistake. I make things to impress me. I don't give a f&*k what anyone else thinks.

Incidentally, it's been my experience that craftsmen capable of magnificent work, also make simple contraptions. And people who don't make simple contraptions never really develop the skills necessary to build awesome creations.

Keep making toys to amuse yourself. After all, life without amusement isn't worth living.
Rob