Ultegra 6800 chain change

jamesd

Have 2000km on my chain, bike is really only used in the dry and is degreased with a parktools chain clearner and lubed after every cycle.
The x tools chain checker .75 side is just starting to slip into the links - would it be good to swap the chain now ?

ford2600

jamesd wrote: »

Have 2000km on my chain, bike is really only used in the dry and is degreased with a parktools chain clearner and lubed after every cycle.
The x tools chain checker .75 side is just starting to slip into the links - would it be good to swap the chain now ?

They overestimate wear, 1% side on those equates to closer to 0.75%.

Give the degreaser a skip. In dry weather and properly lubing 10k km from a chain is not hard to achieve.

KMC Chain

MAINTENANCE

CHAIN WEAR & TIPS
On this page we would like to give you some tips for maintenance and usage, which we follow ourselves.
This will help you prolong the chain’s life and improve its performance.

A new Chain
Usually the chain feels a little sticky on it’s outside, you can remove it with a cloth containing some (non-aggressive) cleaner. It prevents the chain attracting dirt.

When to maintain your chain?
Maintenance depends very much on the conditions you ride in, obviously wet, off-road, dusty or muddy conditions
require a more intensive schedule than dry and smooth roads.

Signs to look for:
increased noise level (dry rattling chain)
reduction of shifting function;
chain-suck (chain sticking to the small/middle front chain ring);
squeaking noises from the drive-train.

For road use, inspect your chain at least once every month or every 250 kilometres (150 miles).
For off road use, inspect your chain at least once every 100 kilometres (60 miles).

KMC Advice
Clean your chain after every ride, especially after riding in the wet.
Always use a piece of dry cloth to clean the chain.
Do not forget the sprockets, front changer and derailleur pulleys.
To remove mud or sand, use the bristle brush (which comes with every 120ml packing of KMC’s chain lube Pro), use light soapy warm water, if necessary.
Do not use acidic or alkali based detergents (such as rust cleaners), these can damage the chain and may cause breakage.
Do not dip your chain in (aggressive) degreasers - they remove the remaining grease from the chain’s bearings, and may cause cracks. They are also bad for our environment.
If the chain is really dirty and difficult to clean, besides using a brush for the inside, try putting some solvent on a cloth and use it to clean the chain’s exterior.
Try to avoid a so-called ‘chain washing machine’ in combination with solvent. This will instantly ruin your chain.
Some lubricant brands advise you to completely degrease the chain, KMC does not recommend this.

jamesd

Thanks very much, so hold off swapping until the 1% is going into it and less over washing with the degreaser.

crosstownk

If you've been looking after the chain as you indicate then it should be good for for double that distance - even with less maintenance than you indicate it should last longer than 2,000km. I usually get 5,000km (on average) from Ultegra/105/Dura Ace chains.

jamesd

crosstownk wrote: »

If you've been looking after the chain as you indicate then it should be good for for double that distance - even with less maintenance than you indicate it should last longer than 2,000km. I usually get 5,000km (on average) from Ultegra/105/Dura Ace chains.

I was hoping for 5k ish on it since it's the good weather bike alright.