Best bicycle chain, lubes, cleaner, tools & DIY repairs - Everything about bicycle chains
You are going to love today's Stacked Blog because it will unlock Pandora's box of BMX chain tricks and tips. I would love to teach you everything about full link and half link chains. I will show you the best bicycle chain lube and the cleaners that can remove it. I will give you demonstrations of different chain tools and where to buy a bicycle chain. You will know all the tricks to installing and sizing a bicycle chain after you read the information below.
Chain Anatomy
Inner Plates
Inner plates of a chain usually come on a single speed chains or they are also called full link chains. They are the inner plates of the chain that touch the chain first. Some inner plates of chains are ramped on the inside, so the chain slides onto the gear smoothly. The ramps are the opposite shape as the teeth and fit snug when your chain drops onto it. Most chains come bushingless now and have the bushings built into the inner plate. Bushings are tubes that connect the side plate and a roller is positioned around it on older style of chains. They are much heavier and not as durable. The newer bushingless style of chains eliminates extra parts and make chains lighter.
Half link chain inner links are also their outer links as well. Most half link chains do not have ramps and are thicker than most full link chains. The inner link bends to create the outer link as well making it compatible to shorten the chain by a half of a link.
Inner links comes in different hardness as well. The regular steel ones are cost effective and do the job for random vacations. The heat treated ones are harder material, do not stretch as much and are great for the avid cyclist. The stretch proof heat treating prevents wearing of the drivetrain and higher risk of chain failure.
Outer Plates
Outer Plates are the plates of the chain on the outside of the chain and have real similar features as the inner plates of the chain. Outer plates come thicker and/or heat treated for added strength. Many come with logos stamped on them that adds to their style.
Rollers
The rollers are the little wheels in the center of the chain links that your gears teeth ride on. Most chains have regular steel rollers that are perfect for a replacement chain on a lightly ridden bike. They are also available with heat treated rollers that increase life & reduce chain stretch. Broken rollers damage your gears and cause a majority of chain stretch situations. If you are an avid rider, use a chain with heat treated pins to extend the life of your drive train.
Rivets or Pins
Rivets or what most people called them are pins are what hold your chain links together. You will encounter two styles of pins: pins that rely on the outer plate to fit snugly onto the pin or pins that are mushroomed to hold the plates together. Pins that are regular steel are perfect for recreational riding and the mushroomed heat treated ones are designed for advanced riding.
Styles of Chains
Full Link chains
What is a full link chain?
Full Link chains come in multiple speeds and are available for any style of bicycle. Half link chains are designed for bmx and are extremely effective with their little bit more weight. Most single speed chains are 1/8" wide and fit most single speed sprockets. 3/32" chains are commonly used in bmx racing chains and multi-speed bikes. Multi-speed chains have to match speed the cassette in order to run smooth. You should use a 7 speed chain with 7 speed cassette, 8spd with 8spd, so on and so on.
Half link Chains
Half link chains are only available for single speed and super effective in taken a beating while grinding on pegs or other parts of your bike. If you want to bring the back wheel closer on your horizontal dropout bike this style of chain works amazing. A half link chain allows you to remove half of a link and move your axle closer to the front of your bike. Combining the half link chain with a guard sprocket creates the ultimate protection for bmx grinds.
Colors of Chains
The color of the chain all depend on the way they created that color. Some use powder coating paint which is pretty much plastic and others are metal covered. Metal coated chains are usually chrome, nickel nitride or oil slick and tend to look smoother than the powder coated style. Your eyes can definitely tell a heat treated style coating because they are flatter than other finishes. Powder coated fishes are electric magnified to the chain, sprayed with a powder that is attracted to it, then baked to hardened and smoothly protect the metal. This type of finish gives you many options of shade to choose from.
How to determine chain speed
Understanding what chain goes on what speed is simple once it is explained well. The easiest way for me to understand is you should always use the same speed chain with how many speeds you have. So five speed cassette with 5 speed chain, six & six, seven & seven, eight x eight, until you hit 9. An eight speed chain will fit on anything below down to a five speed. Nine speed with nine speed works together and 10 speed will work nine speed as well. Twelve speed with twelve speed & thirteen speed with thirteen.
CHAIN MAINTENANCE
How to clean chains
To clean chains your parents may have used, gasoline, acetone, or paint thinner in a empty coffee can. Now you have bio degreasers and they work amazing. Then aerosol style degreasers penetrated extremely fast and the actuated degreasers tend to be biodegradable. Simply spray on, scrub with a brush if there is lots of debris, rinse with water hose, and use compressed air to remove any remaining matter. Allow to dry and lubricate.
How lube chain
Lubing a chain is a very simple but tedious application. If you are riding in dry conditions a wet can be used but a dry parfan wax style lube works better. For wet conditions use a wet lube or a Teflon style lube.
When you apply the lube you want to have your eyes and bottle above the chain with your pedals in arm length reach. Slowly rotate the chain in the opposite direction to engage movement while dropping a single drop onto each roller. Wipe excess lube with a terry cloth while spinning pedals in reverse. Use compressed air under 25 psi to remove any more lube 30 mins after letting lube settle.
Buy Cleaners & Lubricants Here
How to size your chain
Sizing your chain to your bike is always hard to figure out but I can help you understand it easier. Most 112 link chains fit on any standard bike with large or small sprockets. 96 links chain typically fit micro drive system such as 25T x 9T. If you have a stretched bike you will need 2 - 3 chains.
On a single speed bike it is best to loosen your rear wheel, place chain on the top of your gears, wrap chain around gears and size chain to front sprocket. If you have a angled drop out it is best to use a single speed conversion kit to tension your chain. The half link may help you lengthen it on the angled dropout but you will have to take the risk of trying it. If you are using a full link chain make sure you are connecting it with the outer link touching the opposite sides inner link or vice a versa. If you are using a half link make sure the top of the chain looks like a fish swimming forward.
If you are joining a multi-speed together these tips will make it simple. Turn the chain horizontal and fish the chain through the front derailleur, set it in the middle of the rear cog cluster. Rotate the rear wheel by your hand slowly while grabbing the rear derailleur and twisting it so the chain falls over the top of the top roller and under the bottom roller. Shift derailleurs to the highest gear with the chain on them as well. Level the bike, make the derailleur sit at a 45 degree angle. With the slack firm see how many links to remove and remove them. Put the bike in any gear as well as the chain to proceed to connect the chain. The lowest gears are usually the easiest to perform this task. Connect the chain and look to see if it has a quick link in the product box. Some come with two of the same style quick link. You want it put them in the whole of each side of the chain and interlock the link to each other. Slowly pedal the cranks backward until the quick link is on the top of the chain. Without letting the bike to roll, push down on the forward pedal and you will hear a click when it connects.
If your chain comes with a link pin you will see and slit around the middle of the pin. You want to connect chain and slide the pin in the chain. Use a chain breaker and push the pin all the way through the chain until it is flush with the side plate. Use a pair of pliers and grip the tip of the pin. Pull the pin to the side and snap the pin off. Wallah you did it.
NEED A CHAIN NOW?
I offer a diverse selection of BMX bike chains to keep your ride running smoothly and efficiently. Explore our range of high-quality BMX chains, featuring various sizes, strengths, and finishes to match your riding needs. Whether you're looking for a durable chain for street riding or a lightweight option for park sessions. I have chains from trusted brands that ensure reliability and performance.
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How to remove and install a master link on a bmx/single speed chain
How to tighten your bmx wheel straight & make your chain tight
The best 3 bicycle chain repair tips & tricks
How to replace a chain on a bike the easy way sizing & installation
Questions & Answers
How to repair chain on bicycle tutorial video here
Have you ever broken a chain or didn’t wanted to ride because you spotted it before your sesh? Stacked always gots your back with the best deals and detailed videos about thousands of chains. Watch my explained & review videos and you will be able to justify getting a new chain. I got you.
Q: What chain fits my bike?
A: Match the amount of speeds of the rear gear cluster. All chains need to be cut to length. Purchase a chain breaker to make it the correct length. 25/28t x 9t is 75 links to 85 links, bike life is 29" bikes 33t/36t x 16/17t are 96 links to 104 links, 5 - 9 speed is 110 links to 118 links, 10 -12 speed is 114 links to 128 links.
Q: Are chain easy to put on?
A: To be honest, they are one of the hardest things to get on your bike "correctly". Watch our tutorial on youtube to give you a great advantage when installing a chain.
Q: Do I need a 3/32" or 1/8" chain?
A: Traditionally bmx race bikes & multi-speed bikes use 3/32" chain which is narrow, single speed bmx bikes use a 1/8" chain. General rule of thumb is a 3/32" chain can not fit on a 1/8" sprocket but a 1/8" chain can fit on a 3/32" sprocket.
Q: How to install half link chain?
A: When installing a half link chain you want the bike upright, the chain on the top of the sprocket and the chain should look like a fish swimming forward. Loosen your back wheel, push it forward and size the chain with enough slack to remove your wheel. Remove the links not needed by using a chain breaker to push the pin all the way out. Bend the chain the way it is not suppose to go and break the chain apart. Connect the Chain links and use pliers to press the pin in as far as you can. Use a chain breaker to press the pin in the rest of the way. Use channel pliers or a vice and smash the pin to mushroom it.
Q: How does a half link chain work?
A: A half link chain allows you to shorten your chain by half of a link (1/2") and make your bikes wheel base smaller. The inner plate is bent to make and outer plate. You can connect many of these links to make any length you desire in 1/2" increments. This style chain is better to use than a full link chain because the full link chains can only be shortened or extended 1" at a time.
Q: Why use a half link chain?
A: Most riders use it because you shorten your chain in 1/2" increments opposed to the traditional full link chains which are 1" increments. Half link bmx chains are thicker and much stronger. If you break chains a lot I recommend a half link chain.
Q. Half link chain which way?
A: With the bike upright, the chain on the top of both sprockets, it should look like a fish swimming forward. The outer plate should be to the front and the inner plat should be closer to the rear of your bike.
Q: What is a half link chain?
A: A Half link chain is a heavy duty chain designed to be shortened or lengthened in 1/2" increments instead of the traditional 1" full link chains. Only usable on single speed bikes.
Q: How to put a half link chain on?
A: When installing a half link chain you want the bike upright, the chain on the top of the sprocket and the chain should look like a fish swimming forward. Loosen your back wheel, push it forward and size the chain with enough slack to remove your wheel. Remove the links not needed by using a chain breaker to push the pin all the way out. Bend the chain the way it is not suppose to go and break the chain apart. Connect the Chain links and use pliers to press the pin as far as you can. Use a chain breaker to press the pin in the rest of the way. Use channel pliers or a vice and smash the pin to mushroom it.
Q: How to use a half link chain?
A: Install a half link chain on your bike to shorten your wheel base, prevent the chain from breaking, or to make your bike indestructible while grinding with or without pegs.
Stacked recommended chains
Single Speed
Multi-speed
KMC Z8.3 (Works on 6/7/8 speeds)
Stacked recommended Tools
Stacked recommended Degreaser
Stacked recommended Lubricants