HP Velotechnik Spirit - Manual (Page 39)

Maintenance and car
e
HP
Velotechnik
37
Changing the chain
The chain is one of the parts of the bike that
will wear out.This shows in a stretching of the
chain.Worn out chains do not fit the sprockets
and the chain ring any more and wear them
away very quickly.
Check the chain regularly for lengthening. For
this purpose try to remove the chain from the
chain ring.The chain may come off to a maxi-
mum of 5 mm (0,2 inch). For a more precise
reading you can buy a chain measurement gau-
ge in your bike shop that you simply put into
the chain.
Only use chains that are suitable for the gear
system of your bike. Otherwise a precise gear
shifting is not guaranteed any more. Please
consult your dealer on this topic. He will also
assist you in checking your sprockets and chain
rings.A new chain does not fit a worn sprok-
ket or chain ring.We recommend chains from
SRAM (former S
ACHS
/S
EDIS
) with rounded ed-
ges.They also shift gears very well.
HP V
ELOTECHNIK
delivers spare chains by the
meter via your dealer. For this purpose please
indicate the exact length of your chain or or-
der it a little bit longer if you want to be sure
it fits.You will need approx. 2,9 m (115 inch) of
chain.
The chain length has to be fitted so that the
arm of the derailleur is not fully stretched
when you shift onto the the big rear sprocket.
The derailleur must be able to compensate a
tightening of the chain by 4 cm. Please see also
the manual of the derailleur manufacturer on
the choice of the correct chain length.
See that the joining link is not bigger in size
than the other chain links to avoid irregular
chain sounds.We recommend the joining links
by SRAM (power links). Every time you change
the chain you also have to mount a new po-
wer link.
Make sure that any chain links in the chain are
not stiff, as this can cause some annoying and
not obvious problems with the gear system.
Make sure that you have not twisted the chain
180 degrees before joining it back together.
Caution! When you change the chain take
care that the new chain does not show any
sharp edges or burrs.Very thin racing chains
are also not suitable since they wear the
chain tubes and the chain roller much faster.
Caution! The chain has to be closed with a
special joining link or a chain riveting tool
that expands the ends of the rivet while ri-
veting (R
OHLOFF
revolver).A poorly joined
chain may break, you can come off the pe-
dals and fall. If you are in doubt please have
adjustments of the chain length or the chan-
ging of the chain be done by your bicycle
mechanic.