Abbey Tools LL Chain Wear Tool

Chain wear has become a little more complicated ever since 1x drivetrains have gained popularity. These drivetrains are designed to cross chain, something most of us were taught to avoid when we started riding bikes as a serious endeavor. Add to that the variables that flat top chains have brought into the market with their larger rollers and things got pretty messy. Problem is, everyone is ignoring these small but significant issues. 

What are the issues with measuring chain wear? Well there's a couple of them, the biggest is the diameter difference of SRAM's flat top chains found on most of their modern drivetrains. The rollers on these chains are .010" (.254mm). Now that doesn't sound like a lot but when you do the math to convert that to a percentage of wear over 5 links that's a .2% difference. When we're replacing chains between .5-.7% of wear that .2% can easily be the difference between replacing just a chain and and entire drivetrain. But wait, there's MORE! Most chain wear tools currently on the market are laser cut metal. This is a pretty cool process that's great for making sheet metal parts, problem is the accuracy of this process isn't great at  +/-.010" (.254mm). If you add the error of the tool itself to the roller variable it's possible to double the error of the tool. 

The Abbey Chain Wear Plate is our latest application of precision to cycling tools. We set out to not only build a tool that handled the variance of roller diameter when measuring chain wear but also measure lateral wear, something nobody's bothered to do, until now. Linear wear or stretch as it's commonly called is measured by locating both sides of the roller in a V shaped notch which allows us to locate the center of the roller accurately regardless of it's size. Then you line up the pin on with one of 5 holes on the opposite end. This also prevents roller wear from influencing the measurement. It's as simple as that. 

To measure lateral wear, the chain will need to be off the bike. Then simply pinch the chain against the boss and hold it vertical and see how far it sags. Anything below a 6 isn’t shifting well and a new chain will improve shifting quality.

The other big thing we tackled with this tool is the accuracy of the tool itself. Most chain wear tools on the market are cut with a laser, which is a nice process that we use for parts like our Fit Kit and Stu Stick. However it's not all that accurate with the repeatability of these machines can be around +/-.010. That just isn't good enough for tools of this nature to be frank. We instead made the decision to CNC our tool from a billet to give it the durability and accuracy this tool deserves. Since we actually make these in house we also had complete control over the process and are able to hold tolerances as tight as .0002"(.005mm). Admittedly, that might be a bit overkill for the application but it's not really that difficult to do, if you actually care. 

Shipping:

• We offer free US domestic shipping on all accessories, components, and clothing over $200.
• For complete bikes, we offer free US domestic shipping on orders over $1,500. There's a flat rate shipping charge of $150 for bikes under $1,500.
• Please allow 5-7 standard business days (Monday - Friday) for order processing and shipping. All orders are shipped Monday - Friday.
• For questions about expedited shipping and local delivery, please reach out to us at sales@thebicyclestation.com.

Return Policy:
We at The Bicycle Station value your satisfaction. In case you’re not 100% satisfied with your purchase, we’ve outlined the following guidelines to help make your return a smooth and seamless experience.

Return Period:
You can return your purchase for up to 30 days from the date of purchase. Items must be returned in the same condition in which they were received, with all original materials included with the shipment. If components or accessories have been installed, they are not eligible for a return.

Return Shipping:
The customer is responsible for all return shipping charges.

Restocking Fee:
In general, we do not charge a restocking fee for returns. However, complete bikes, frames, and special order items are subject to a restocking fee. The amount of this fee will vary depending on the item and will be communicated to you at the time of the return request.

Final Sale Items:
All used products and products on sale are final sale. These items cannot be returned or exchanged. In addition, this includes any items which are custom painted.

How to Initiate a Return:
To initiate a return, please go to your account page if you need assistance contact our customer service team at sales@thebicyclestation.com. Once your return is approved, we will provide you with the necessary information and instructions to proceed with the return.

Please note that the refund will be processed to the original payment method used, and may take up to 14 business days to reflect on your statement, depending on your payment provider.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any further questions or concerns regarding our return policy, please don’t hesitate to contact us.