Spent $60 on a chain checker tool and it paid for itself in one fix

I kept thinking my chain was fine because it looked okay and shifted smooth. Then I bought a Park Tool chain checker for about 60 bucks online. Turns out my chain had stretched way past the limit without me noticing. I replaced it right away and saved my cassette from getting worn down too. That tool basically saved me from having to buy a whole new drivetrain which would have cost like 200 dollars. Has anyone else caught a worn chain with a checker before it caused bigger damage?

2 comments

2 Comments

oscarmurray14d ago

Woah, hold up. You're telling me you just eyeballed it and thought it was fine? Man, that's crazy. I did the exact same thing for years and probably ruined a cassette or two without even knowing it. Once I finally picked up one of those Park Tool checkers it was a real eye opener, my "good" chain was shot.

stellablack14d ago

Busted out laughing when I read this because my old chain was so stretched it looked like a slinky next to a new one. I honestly thought I was saving money by just riding it into the ground. Took me wrecking a brand new cassette to finally buy one of those Park Tool checkers and realize I'd been running garbage for months. Now I check my chain every time I clean the bike and it's saved me a ton of money.