Hello everyone! Snapped chain on ebike

[Nikos106]

I have a Cube reaction pfm 500 ebike! I bought it 2021. Unfortunately I snapped the chain. I was wondering if you could recommend me a good chain. In addition, I don't know how many links the chain needs to have to properly fit on my bike.

 

[Anders]

The number of links is an easy one. just count the number of links on the old chain
Regarding the type of chain, I use Shimano chains myself. But I am sure there are othere here with more knowledge that can reccomend one.

 

[Mik3F]

What drivetrain is on it?

If Shimano then use a Shimano chain, If Sram use a Sram, thats how I always do it anyway

 

[Matt van]

I am just about to put a 124 link shimano chain on mine if your still wondering

 

[steve_sordy]

@Nikos106 You will have already made your decision by now and fitted a new chain.

New chains come in a small range of standard lengths and you are lucky if one of them fits exactly.

A quick way is to lay out your old chain on a flat surface and stretch it taut. Then lay the new one next to it. Allow for the fact that old chains are slightly longer than new ones because of wear, but we are only talking of max 0.75% (scrap time!). That would be 3/4 of one link over 100 links (a link being one half inch length). Bear in mind that unless you are fitting a special half link, then you will have an even number of links.

Another way is to do it from first principles. Ask Mr Google, or go on the Park Tool website as they are sure to have a video on the topic.

 

[RustyIron]

Ask Mr Google, or go on the Park Tool website as they are sure to have a video on the topic.

I'm a firm believer in the "measure twice, cut once" rule. I lay out both chains on the floor and mark the pin that needs to be pushed out. Then I count out the old chain, and confirm the new chain was marked correctly. Then I make sure I'm removing the correct pin from the link. It takes an extra couple minutes, but mistakes are costly.

 

[steve_sordy]

I'm a firm believer in the "measure twice, cut once" rule. I lay out both chains on the floor and mark the pin that needs to be pushed out. Then I count out the old chain, and confirm the new chain was marked correctly. Then I make sure I'm removing the correct pin from the link. It takes an extra couple minutes, but mistakes are costly.

My Dad told me this tale.
The foreman told the new apprentice to "take that 13' long plank and cut a foot off it and bring it to me". The apprentice was keen to impress and his Dad had told him "measure twice cut once". So he rough cut the plank where it was, took it back to his bench and very carefully measured for a 12" cut. Once done, he trimmed all the rough edges and sanded them up for good measure. He took the exactly 12" long piece of wood back to the Foreman, to be greeted with "What the hell happened to my 12' plank?"

 

[Stihldog]

One of my sons is an Education Instructor for the Trades. He speaks in metric, and I speak imperial.

We get along better when we talk about the NFL (National Football League)

 

[Plummet]

I have never snapped a chain on an ebike. I'm pretty mechanically sympathetic. But a non e mate of mine went for a hoon on my E for 90 seconds and managed to snap the chain....

As others jabe said. Go to the bike shop and replace like for like. Count the links a copy the length, Job done.

 

[steve_sordy]

One of my sons is an Education Instructor for the Trades. He speaks in metric, and I speak imperial.

...............................

Ahh, the old Imperial vs Metric topic.

I was born and raised in Imperial measures; my junior school note book had a list of them on the back. It had measures like chains, rods, perches, acres, bushels, pecks, ounces, troy ounces, grains, stones, hundredweight. And that was the simple stuff that you could see and feel. When I got to senior school, we had poundals, pounds weight, pounds force, pounds mass and something that I had heard about but fortunately never had to use a slug-foot! (A measure of viscosity).

A pound of mass was converted to a pound weight by applying the acceleration due to gravity of 32ft/sec/sec. The poundal came in there somewhere but I never knew where exactly. My calculations were always 32 time too large, or 32 times too small, sometimes I was out by 1024 times if I got the 32 wrong in both directions at the same time. Mostly because of this, I failed A level Physics, and A level Maths.

Then I went to Technical College to study engineering. They used the SI system (Systeme Internationale), commonly known as the metric system. The SI system is a coherent and rational system of measures based upon the meter the kilogram and the second. It was always very clear to me whether something was a mass or a force. I loved it! Suddenly all this stuff was easy. Maths, electrical engineering, thermodynamics and applied mechanics all made sense and, to the despair of my classmates, I did fantastically well in the exams (lowest mark was 97%!!!!!) I went on to get an honours degree in mechanical engineering and all because of the replacement of the human-based Imperial system.

 

[RustyIron]

I went on to get an honours degree in mechanical engineering

Damn shame, it is. All that potential, only to be squandered riding mountain bikes...

🫨

 

[Stihldog]

I’m glad that the bike industry is primarily metric. Makes it simple. My early schooling was electronics and fibre optics, but somehow I wound up in the logging industry in my early 20’s. I retired as a (heli) faller.

Which is probably why I enjoy MTBing today. On this mountain I see things a little differently than most. All my senses are active while I’m riding and I want to protect this environment as best as I can.

A typical day involves riding solo, brief conversations with users, maintaining trails and recognizing potential harm to the environment and safety hazards.

I don’t wear a size 2 hard hat and size 16 boots. Engineering could have been my path because it fascinates me. But now I apply the skills I’ve gained in the logging industry.

All of my boys (4) enjoy MTBing. At times I guide them through the trail network on this mountain and sometimes introduce them to a different wilderness experience.
Then we start speaking the same language.

 

[steve_sordy]

Damn shame, it is. All that potential, only to be squandered riding mountain bikes...

🫨

I would tend to agree, but I didn't take up mtb until after I had retired from full time work. Now THAT was a waste!
Just too bloody busy working (it was sort of fun; I was lucky to enjoy my job until all of a sudden I didn't - then I left).

 

[irie]

I would tend to agree, but I didn't take up mtb until after I had retired from full time work. Now THAT was a waste!
Just too bloody busy working (it was sort of fun; I was lucky to enjoy my job until all of a sudden I didn't - then I left).

Ditto. Loved my job as CEO and Tech Dir until employee bean counters decided they knew better about technical stuff and wanted to buy me out (I owned 66% of the company). So took the money and walked away in 2008 having (with others) built the company from scratch since 1970.

For 10 years raced motorcycles (BMCRC) which is like throwing money down a bottomless pit. Then kitesurfed for 10 years followed by mountain biking soon graduating to eMTB because no longer had the legs to get up the hills. Still kitesurf when conditions are good, but live only 15 minutes from the South Downs so mostly go there instead of to the local beach (West Wittering) when jammed with grockles, which is most of the summer of course.

 

[RustyIron]

I was lucky to enjoy my job until all of a sudden I didn't - then I left).

I think that's the natural order of things. We stick around until we're no longer amused, and then the young pups get their chance to be the first to feast on the day's prey. Frankly, I lost my taste for gazelle meat, and would much rather be sitting atop a mountain on my bike.

 

[Jackware]

I'm still in my ex-work colleagues' WhatsApp group and inbetween the jokes and memes, the stressed talk about sales, stretched targets and review meetings only confirms I made the right decision to leave. The luxury of being able to go when and where we want to, on any day is still a revelation.

Sorry OP, almost forgot to say; just count the links