Sorry if this has been covered in another thread but I have a couple of questions. Does one need to alter the length of a chain with a compact crankset (50/34 and a 10 speed - 12-25 cassette) or will a regular 10 speed chain work? Second, what tool do you need to remove chain links? -Thanks

Sorry if this has been covered in another thread but I have a couple of questions. Does one need to alter the length of a chain with a compact crankset (50/34 and a 10 speed - 12-25 cassette) or will a regular 10 speed chain work? Second, what tool do you need to remove chain links? -Thanks

The chain will be too long when in the smallest cogs front and back: you want it to just clear the jockey wheel pulleys of the rear derailleur. Unless you had a 34t inner chainring before, the chain wrap will be smaller. If you're putting on a new chain, it'll be long enough to handle a larger wrap, so you'll most likely have to remove one or two links.

A chain breaker tool is necessary to remove links and put it back together again. Shimano specifies their special soft pins, but the tool is still necessary to push it in. Sram has master links that can be hooked together by hand.

There's several chain length calculators on the net. You enter you biggest cog and chainring along with the stay length and out comes the perfect chainlength.

Try a search next time. Just about every basic topic has been covered recently. The best way to adjust chain length is described at the link below.

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?p=1288711#poststop

Here's a link to valuable site for maintenance info.

http://www.parktool.com/repair/bikemap.asp

I just did my first new-chain install the other day. Shimano and Park Tool had different methods for fitting the correct length, but for me both of them came out the same so it made me feel that I did it right. :)