i installed a did 520 vm x ring chain along with afam -1,+2 sprockets. took the bike out for about a 5 mile ride and checked the slack. the chain stretched quite a bit and i was wondering if this was normal for a new chain. Help!!

 

In 5 miles it shouldn't stretch -- most likely the sticky goo they use to keep it from rusting in the package keeps it kinda stiff. Once you ride around a bit and sling that crap off it loosens up and seems to have stretched. Keep an eye on it -- the 520's will stretch more than the stockers but I don't think there's anything abnormal going on.

 

Chains don't "stretch". They do elongate, but not by stretching in the manner that a rubber band does. Chains elongate through wear of the links and pins over time. The increased tolerances caused by this wear increases the length of the chain, but this is not stretch.

 

Definition of stretch:

1. To lengthen, widen, or distend: stretched the sweater out of shape.

So they do stretch But ya, not like a rubber band -- and definitely not in 5 miles.

 

ya it did fling a bunch of crap everywhere. all the bike shops where i live say it's normal. i had my slack measured while i was sitting on the bike and it's within spec. im hoping everything will be fine.

 

supposed to measure the slack when you're off the bike mang...

chainstretcher will now be known as chain"elongator"...that sounds tougher...very 'gladiator'/'terminator'ish

 

None of my witty quips in response to that are appropriate in this forum

 

so what is the recomended slack??

 

depends on where you go mang...i say 3/4" to 1" is good...i think the DID site says 3/4"...manual says like 1 1/4" or something like that...

 

cool