Am I the only one who switched from a chain checker tool to measuring with a ruler, and found my worn chains were actually fine?

Terry Jenkins · 2026-10-03T20:30:03.753574+00:00

I used to trust the cheap chain checker I bought at a shop in Denver about three years ago, the kind that drops into the links and tells you 0.5 or 0.75 percent wear. Last month I grabbed a steel ruler instead and measured 12 full links pin to pin on the same chain. The checker said replace it, but the ruler showed only about 1/16 inch of stretch over 12 inches, which is closer to 0.5 percent and still well within spec. I checked three more bikes in the stand, a commuter, a road bike, and a hardtail, and every single time the checker ran about one wear level ahead of the actual measurement. Turns out those go/no go tools can read a stiff link or a burr as wear, and I was swapping chains way too early for a couple years. Now I keep a 12 inch ruler and a pair of calipers on the bench and skip the checker completely. Has anyone else ditched the drop in tool for a ruler, or am I just late to this?

🐿️Pinecone Attack

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Am I the only one who switched from a chain checker tool to measuring with a ruler, and found my worn chains were actually fine? | Bicycle Mechanics - Pinecone Attack