Is my chain to short?

[Csubi]

I installed a BBSHD on my old 2007 Specialized Hardrock Disc, and added a 46T Lekkie. While servicing the bike on the stand, I noticed the Derailleur extended quite a bit on the largest cog. Just wondering if I need to get a longer chain? What is an acceptable angle for the Derailleur on that largest cog?

Thanks

 

[fooferdoggie]

ya I would add a couple of links myself.

 

[harryS]

Sheldon Browne, the legendary bike guru, would approve. He says to wrap the chain around the two biggest gears front and rear, not going thru the derailleur, with a couple of links overlap.

I did that on a bike with a 3 speed front derailleur, and it looks like yours. The thing is I will never shift my bike so I will use both the big gears, but you might have to do so. A couple of more links can't hurt.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

What is an acceptable angle for the Derailleur on that largest cog?

Your chain is dramatically too short. In the largest cog, the derailleur cage should point at 5 o'clock. In the smallest cog, it should be 7 o'clock (8 o'clock maximum).

 

[SondorsMXS]

CSubi...thank you for the laugh : ). I thought this was a joke....

 

[Jason Knight]

Not as bad as my Aventure when I got it, where it was pulled out so straight in the lowest gear that it was bending the derailleur hanger. Thankfully the bike came with a spare, but I thought that was a bit sus since I've never seen a bike delivered with a spare hanger.

I added a number of links to fix that, then had to add even more when I switched to a 53 tooth chainring from the stock 46 as you can see here:

https://cutcodedown.com/images/e-bike/aventureDriveTrain.jpg

Be fun as monday I should be getting an 11..36 cassette to replace the stock 12..32, so I'll probably need to add four to six more links. Dialing in the derailleur is gonna be SO much fun, thankfully I already have a hanger extension if i need it.