mid-drive chain durability/longevity

Hi,
would like to know how long chain last if used in GNG or other mid-drive setup.
I have 8 speed cassette and KMC X8 chain and currently I have ridden 1500km and it is about 1.0% stretched. Measured it with chain tool. So time to replace it.
About 1100km of that 1500km is after converting to ebike. I commute with it about 33-37km/h and pedaling along. So no hard riding.

How long your chain last?
PS! still using my first primary reduction belt! Seems that belt is lasting longer than chain I have filed sharp edges off from belt sprockets

meelis11 said:

Hi,
would like to know how long chain last if used in GNG or other mid-drive setup.
I have 8 speed cassette and KMC X8 chain and currently I have ridden 1500km and it is about 1.0% stretched. Measured it with chain tool. So time to replace it.
About 1100km of that 1500km is after converting to ebike. I commute with it about 33-37km/h and pedaling along.

How long your chain last?
PS! still using my first primary reduction belt! Seems that belt is lasting longer than chain I have filed sharp edges off from belt sprockets

Click to expand...

hi matey ,i have the AFT mid drive kit.
i have just replaced my chain sram pc870 after about 750 miles of hard road riding

I once calculated that the tension on the chain in a middrive can easely
reach over 200 kg (for a 2.5kW setup) so that it doesn't last so long is
not surprising...

wow thats not long.
glad i have a DD hub only needs new bearings all 10000km (hard riding)

But changing rearwheel tire or tube is PITA :lol:

are the chain expensive and hard to replace?

About 1300 hard road/off road moles on my 1200 watt MAC mid drive chain. Walmart special still going strong!

cwah said:

are the chain expensive and hard to replace?

Click to expand...

Question was mostly for interest - what lifetime should I expect, is 1500km okay or not. Not worst but would like to get more. I rather buy better chain and replace it less. I hate to think that my primary expense in ebiking is chains

Not hard to replace, but not exactly cheap/free. KMC X8 costs about 15EUR here. Is it good/durable chain or should I try some other?

I must admit that I dont know exact kilometers for this chain - I bought used bike and chain was like new. Maybe 200-300km used, dont know.

Maybe this here is good?

http://www.connexchain.com/index.php?lan=1&spath=328

stainless steel but not fully and its costly.

Lots of variables to consider. You bought the bike used. The chain was like new, but had the previous owner replaced the chain before you bought the bike? If he let the previous chain run too long, the rear cogs could be completely worn out, which would greatly accelerate the new chains wear. Visually inspect the rear cogs, especially the smallest ones. There should be no concavity to the leading edge of the teeth...no "shark fin" appearance.

Of course, if you are running 500+ watts through an 11 tooth rear cog, 1100 km would be pretty good.

Interesting thread....chains are the most consumable part of my bike.....and rear tires...I think

destroyed 2 chains during tuning tests (and a dozen of spokes one time), then stripped 2 Chains in the first 800 Km (1/2x1/8 trial chain and a KMC 1/2x1/8) than got a 1g8 for hard rides and an 1r8 for normal rides....

1G8:
breaking load: at least 1.500Kg - 1/2" x 1/8"
pin length: 12.4 mm
weight: 659 g/96 links

1R8:
1/2" x 1/8", pin length: 10.5 mm
weight: 443 g/96 links

My chain actually is 132 Links and is driven by a left hand Astro 3220, the sprokets are 16t (HD Steel Eno FW) to 61t (Gebhardt 7075t6 alloy) there are also a 13t ABS sprung idler sprocket and a Roller guide acting to this chain

The whipperman chains seems like new after some 400Km each, I've really stressed them a lot....the G8 seems indestructable but weight is stupidly high, like half of the motor....

Well, it is not a Crank mid-drive, and goes not to a cog but also power and torque are higher

Never tried a GNG overwatted and all other Crankdrives (I think I've tested most of them) are too far from this power range, anyway wouldnt figure out even half of my power (+4000w) thru a standard multispeed drivetrain, Maybe with top chain, cogs etc, and without using cogs under 16 or 18 T, like MotoMoto did in his build, Otherwise my feel is that one have to change chain and cogs every ride or so......
......those crankdrives are not yet the best route for Hi powered builds, IMO......too much questions to be solved yet...:BB limitations, Freewheels fails, cogs and multispeed tiny chains.....
Actually for high power Ebikes (I mean over 2.5kw) big Hubby and separated Drive are maybe the best way to go....
A double freehub would makes a Separated drive perfect, but no hope to get/make one with a proper width ad a rotor mount in the next decades....i think
A new technology that makes Hubmotors weighs at least 1/5 of the actual weight per Hp ratio would make them perfect...

A converted hub should solve most of the hassles, apart for sprocket and chains, but even here a proper MultiSpeedHub would be a better solution....

Warren said:

Lots of variables to consider. You bought the bike used. The chain was like new, but had the previous owner replaced the chain before you bought the bike? If he let the previous chain run too long, the rear cogs could be completely worn out, which would greatly accelerate the new chains wear. Visually inspect the rear cogs, especially the smallest ones. There should be no concavity to the leading edge of the teeth...no "shark fin" appearance.

Of course, if you are running 500+ watts through an 11 tooth rear cog, 1100 km would be pretty good.

Click to expand...

Both chain and rear cogs were good and recently replaced, when I bought bike. No bad words to say, previous owner took good care.
Smallest sprocket is 11t, but i normally avoid using it and use 13t instead. I swapped front chainrings to get same cadence using 13t rear sprocket, before 38-11t, now 44-13t. Mod reason was to avoud using 11t sprocket to avoid rapid driveline wear.
Long story short - to get better answer how long my chain will last, I will need to wear out my next chain Then I know exact kilometers it is used and if I avoid using 11t sprocket, I should get better/more valid results.

Does anyone uses Shimano ig51?
Sell ​​them for next to nothing on the Tao.
http://s.taobao.com/search?q=shimano+ig51

SolarRay said:

Does anyone uses Shimano ig51?
Sell ​​them for next to nothing on the Tao.
http://s.taobao.com/search?q=shimano+ig51

Click to expand...

Bought one from ebay so I can test it- under 11$
Probably need to buy one chain locally anyway if I keep riding everyday - from china it takes 2-3 weeks.