Author Topic: Bushed or bushless chain  (Read 4975 times)

Gattopardo

  • Lord of the sith
  • Overseaing the building of the death star
Bushed or bushless chain
« on: 25 October, 2016, 12:54:02 am »
Ok it is chain replacement time on the surly.

So do I go bushed or bushless?

I am a kmc chain fan so do I just go for the usual bmx chain.

Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #1 on: 26 October, 2016, 07:49:44 pm »
Ok it is chain replacement time on the surly.

So do I go bushed or bushless?

If your chainline is spot on and your cogs are not worn, then a chain with bushings would be fine. If not it'll be a bit noisy but probably bed in eventually.


Quote
I am a kmc chain fan so do I just go for the usual bmx chain.

If you do a high mileage (kilometrage?) then there are better options. If not, KMC are fine.
Quote from: tiermat
that's not science, it's semantics.

Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #2 on: 27 October, 2016, 04:32:38 pm »
If you do a high mileage (kilometrage?) then there are better options. If not, KMC are fine.

Which brand/make do you suggest? I typically use KMC bmx chains as I can feel reasonably confident they won't snap on me (I'm not built for speed!) but always keen to hear of alternatives, particularly for what is a high kilometreage bike. (I've added an 'e' because I can, not necessarily because I'm right.)
Your next 1200's your best 1200.

Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #3 on: 29 October, 2016, 09:07:06 am »
A few years ago I tried a number of different chains under similar conditions: SRAM PC-1, Connex Wippermann 108 and 1Z1, and several different KMC. The life was determined as when they reached > 0.8% stretch.

The Wippermann chains outlasted the others by three to four times the distance. The worst was an expensive very chunky KMC which couldn't be split with standard tools and lasted ~ 800 km.

I use Wippermann 108 exclusively now, the nickel plating is pointless under a liberal coating of oil. They have bushings so can be very noisy on a worn cog until they bed in.

Having said that, you can usually pick up KMC S1 for £3.50 so it's more a case of how frequently the chain needs replacing rather than overall cost.
Quote from: tiermat
that's not science, it's semantics.

Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #4 on: 29 October, 2016, 09:10:29 am »
I noticed that Wippermann chains last longer than other brands.

But I noticed that my chain rings wore out much quicker. Wippermann chains are expensive. So are chain rings.

Gattopardo

  • Lord of the sith
  • Overseaing the building of the death star
Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #5 on: 30 October, 2016, 11:49:48 am »
So KMC s1 bushed chain is 2.99 price matched from halfords at evans.

Should be the excuse I need to clean the bike and see what the clicking noise is.

Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #6 on: 31 October, 2016, 06:59:31 pm »
The HKK Vertex series is my favourite 1/8" chain:
http://tracksupermarket.com/hkk-vertex-gold-track-racing-chain-njs.html

Super quiet, lasted some 8 years of short distance commuting.

Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #7 on: 01 November, 2016, 01:41:53 pm »
How short?
Quote from: tiermat
that's not science, it's semantics.

Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #8 on: 01 November, 2016, 08:18:10 pm »
2-8km depending on job/house location at the time.

Aan

Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #9 on: 02 November, 2016, 07:58:15 pm »
Is the HKK Vertex bushed?

Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #10 on: 03 November, 2016, 07:12:45 pm »
Yes

Aan

Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #11 on: 03 November, 2016, 08:08:35 pm »
Thanks.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #12 on: 12 November, 2016, 10:28:00 pm »
I've never noticed much of a difference in chain life but full-bushing chains really need the chainline to be millimetre-perfect for quiet running.  A bushingless chain is cheaper to make, should weigh slightly less and may be better for oil penetration.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #13 on: 16 November, 2016, 01:14:16 am »
My chainline is millimeter perfect. I guess that also great helps with the longevity of the chain?

Re: Bushed or bushless chain
« Reply #14 on: 22 November, 2016, 09:48:54 pm »
I'm trying an experiment with a bushed chain (because it's there). That's in another thread.

The precision of chainline needed for a bushed chain to work better ought to analysable, to some extent, with a bit of Euclidian geometry (plus some trigonometry & approximations thereto for small angles to make life easier). I started a couple of years ago, but have a tuit shortage.