How to Shorten a Bike Chain

This is a short manual on shortening a bicycle chain. You may need to shorten a bicycle chain if you have bought a replacement, as a replacement chain comes longer than you need as different bikes have different chain lengths.






Step

1. 1
   Identify the size of the first (or your original) bike chain. This is the easiest, and by far the most simple task, all you need to do is lie the chain parallel to each other on a flat surface so you can easily see the difference in lengths.
   
   
2. 2
   Decide which link pin needs to be removed.
   • 

      An image showing 1 link off a chain
     A chain is split into LINKS. One link consists of two outer plates and two inner plates, as seen in the image, a half link consists of either two outer plates OR two inner plates. When shortening a chain always remove one WHOLE link as removing a half link will cause problems when you fit it back onto the bike as a the chain will not fit together.
3. 3
   Start splitting. You will have to follow the instructions included with your splitter as most splitters work differently from others.
4. 4
   Re fit the chain in the same way you took it off, again all bikes are different.
   
   

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