Question 1

Can someone who OWNS this chain measure the width of the pin and the width of the plates (width across plates between pins) with a caliper or Micrometer and let me know the dimensions?

Accepted Answer

ALL MEASUREMENTS ARE IN INCHES AT ROOM TEMP +/- 0.001 INCHOUTER PLATES RANGE 0.26 to 0.29 INNER PLATE WIDTH (nominal: 3/32" OR 0.09375 ): range 0.0905 to 0.095PIN LENGTH (nominal 7.3mm 0.28762)  : 0.283 PIN WIDTH (DIAMETER):  0.148  -so...what is the problem?? browjo@bigpond.com

Question 2

Is it true that "since the plates on the sides are beveled at the edges, it's eating up the teeth of my aluminum cogs pretty quick"?

Accepted Answer

It's never a good idea, when your wife asks, "Does this dress make my butt look fat?", to respond, "No, honey, your butt makes your butt look fat."

However, in this case, the answer has to be, "No honey, your aluminum cog is eating up the teeth of your aluminum cog.". Aluminum is a soft material, chosen for low weight, and the trade-off for low weight and performance is longevity. It's barely acceptable for daily use on chainrings, where the load is distributed over many more teeth and the chain engagement angles are relatively shallow. In cassette cogs, where the pressure is distributed over few teeth and the chain engagement angles are greater, wear issues are going to be more pronounced.

As others have noted, your chain spends nearly all of its working life on the rollers, and only a tiny fraction of the time shifting, where any side plate configuration could possibly be an issue.

Some stray thoughts:

1) Cleanliness may or may not be next to godliness, but it matters in drive train components. I've seen chains with thousands of miles on them that looked new. They were running on old bikes with fully enclosed chain-cases. That's impractical for derailleur bikes, but it does emphasize just how much of a role road grit plays in drive train wear. I've had to get fanatical about drive train maintenance since moving to Central Florida - we don't really have soil here. In reality, it's ancient beach sand. Very abrasive ancient beach sand, and that's the road dust here. I get significantly more drive train wear since moving here, and it's not from climbing mountain passes.

And keep in mind - road grit aside, if your cogs are wearing, those microscopic bits and chunks of aluminum are just going around the chain, over and over, eating more surface off the cogs - cleaning them out of the chain can only help matters.

2) Get a steel cassette and save the aluminum for race day. (I'd suggest the same for tires - why wear out your expensive race kit just training and running around town?)

3) Change your perspective. Are you a competitive racer? If not, do you actually need the lightest components to get to the store or your work 72 seconds faster? If  those few seconds are critical, then maybe you'll have to get comfortable with the idea that your typical NASCAR Ford is going to need a little more maintenance and parts than your typical dealership Ford.

Question 3

Does this come with a connecting pin, chain link or is that extra?

Accepted Answer

comes with a Masterlink which will connect the 2 ends. Pretty easy, best if you use a set of needle nose pliers or any pliers pretty much. Make sure you match the length to your present chain and remove or add links as required, if this is your case you need a good quality chain breaker/riveter. On some of these KMC chains even though lighter appearing don't be deceived, the pins are tight and I have broken the cheapee LBS chain breakers. On one of the hollow pin KMC chains, which I Love and use almost exclusively, I even broke one of the small pocket ParkTool  chain breakers. These things are well built. Hope this helps...Good Luck..Mo

Question 4

For my 7 speed mountain bike should i use this chain(kmc x8.99) or sram pc 870. which is better?

Accepted Answer

The KMC X8.99 chain has all the inner and outer links nickel plated whereas the SRAM pc 870 is only chrome plated on the outer links, so the KMC chain is less likely to rust and looks much better on your bike.

Brand	KMC
Model Number	X8.99-116L, Silver
Colour	Silver
Product Dimensions	10.16 x 10.16 x 2.54 cm; 273 g
Material	Nickel
Item Weight	273 g

KMCX8 8-Speed Silver X-Series Bicycle Chain Compatible with Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo and All Major Systems

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