New Sprockets too?

On my recent travels my chain got so bad that the bike was becoming unrideable so I managed to source one in Italy and have it fitted in Austria.

At the time I didn't get new sprockets fitted, due to the time/hassle/cost in sourcing them and having them fitted. I've now done 2 k + miles on the new chain with the old sprocktes (which appear ok). Should I get some new sprockets now I'm back or just leave it be now? - has advantage of combining new sprockets with new chain having been eradicated by the 2k miles?

Any advice/opinions appreciated.

[mister c]

I would always change them as a set. The problem is now that the chain has probably bed itself in to the sprockets, so I would just leave it & bite the bullet when you need to IMO

In my limited experience, the gearbox sprocket (the one you can't see) will get terminally shagged in the same time the chain does. It surprised me too!

Depends on the wear on the sprockets. If the sprockets are really worn, the result of putting a spankers chain on worn sprocks will result in faster chain wear.

But if your sprockets aren't rounded off at the edge than don't worry about it. But if they are seriously rounded might as well do the sprockets as you're just wearing the chain.

That said you definitely dont need to replace sprockets every time you replace the chain. Every 2nd is enough, assuming they aren't rounded severely.

Remember how I had to get my chain sorted in Germany? I didn't get new sprockets fitted either and I didn't need to touch the chain for another 3000 miles and even then, it was only just slightly slack. Sprockets were a bit hit and miss though.

I would probably change them just incase. Doesn't cost a lot anyway.

Well the rear looks fine, I'll check the front at the weekend and depending on condition consider changing.

Get the car back at the weekend, so can go back to the cosey warmth for the commute (it was 6 deg C this morning!) and give the bike some TLC after a busy summer.

Originally Posted by chazzyb

In my limited experience, the gearbox sprocket (the one you can't see) will get terminally shagged in the same time the chain does.

The gearbox sprocket will wear at about three times the rate of the rear - it's got one third the teeth, but the same amount of chain passes over it.

[northwind]

Replace at same time is good practice, but don't be a slave to it... I tend to keep worn parts that aren't finished, my current setup is the bike's original chain and rear sprocket with the front sprocket off my last chain... But I arrived at it by this process- replace whole set with renthal/tsubaki set. Wait 20000 miles. Renthal rear is knackered, oops, ah well, fit the old steel one. Wait 5000 miles. Chain is now knackered, but I've had 5000 miles more than I usually would out of it with the sprocket change. So I replaced it with the old OE chain, and I've just done another thousand, all on parts that "replace as a set" would have seen consigned to the bin. When i do finally fit the new one (which is in the garage awaiting me being bothered to fit it) I'll stash the current set as spares, again.

Basically, it's a waste to fit new parts to worn parts, unless the saving on new parts is greater than the cost of accelerated wear, which it can sometimes be. If you use garbage rear sprockets like Vortex, it makes sense to swap just that one part since your chain and front sprocket have a lifespan 2-3 times as long, frinstance. Also, if you replace parts when they actually need replaced, rather than doing what most folks do and waiting til they're massively overdue for replacement, then it works better- if you wait til a chain's completely knackered it'll take the rest of the set with it, if you replace it 500 miles earlier then it won't have that opportunity to destroy everything else.

But if in doubt, replace as a set is the default.