Kalkhoff Impulse - stretched chain

[Tubamanandy]

My elderly father-in-law purchased a Kalkhoff Impulse about 6 months ago, he's since done about 1000 miles on it and the chain has clearly stretched with a noticeable droop that it didnt have when he bought it.

Is it acceptable to simply take a link out or is this a real no-no ?

 

[4bound]

If it has stretched that much then it probably needs replacing before it damages the teeth on your gears. Pop into your local bike shop and they will measure it for you to check. Cheaper to change the chain now than the chain and gears later.
If he bought it new, and has only done 1000 miles then it should still be OK. Check there isn't another cause for it being loose - you don't say if you have derailleurs or a hub gear, but you need to check the tensioning system is working properly. Having said all that taking a link out is fine!

 

[JohnCade]

My elderly father-in-law purchased a Kalkhoff Impulse about 6 months ago, he's since done about 1000 miles on it and the chain has clearly stretched with a noticeable droop that it didnt have when he bought it.

Is it acceptable to simply take a link out or is this a real no-no ?

They do wear more than a normal bike with the extra power going through them. I assume it’s hub gears and the axle is not pulling forward in the dropouts? That is an issue with the hub gear bikes which has been addressed with the belt drive new ones. I’ve got a chain pull on mine which stops the axle pulling forward. I adjust my chain about every 250 to 300 miles to 1.5 cm at the tightest part on the sprocket.

I starts to droop noticeably at the slackest on the sprocket by then.

 

[Tubamanandy]

Thanks guys, when looking at chain, bottom section looks to have bellowed (looks like it needs a link taking out). It is a hub gear bike - not sure if there is any way of making adjustment to the chain on these bikes

 

[flecc]

The chain adjustment is by sliding the rear wheel back in the frame slots. After doing that and if you have rim brakes (I think you have), check the brake blocks are aligned with the rim sides correctly and adjust if necessary.

If the hub gear spindle is well back in the frame slot and almost no more rearward adjustment is possible, you can take out a chain link.
.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

You don't take a link out. Instead, you move the wheel back in the drop-outs. Only when the wheel is back as far as it goes do you consider removing a link.

 

[Tubamanandy]

Excellent, I will let my father in law know the correct way of sorting it - thanks

 

[SteveRuss]

Excellent, I will let my father in law know the correct way of sorting it - thanks

My Kalkhoff impulse had a worn chain after 1200 miles. In fact, it had ruined the front sprocket. I stupidly replaced the chain but not the front sprocket (which is inferior in toughness to the rear sprocket) and the chain kept slipping off eventually 'bending' the rear sprocket and braking the chain. Luckily I was walking distance from home when it happened, rather than 35miles out as it was truly un-rideable.

I replaced both sprockets and put on a £17 chain and all is well. Pulling the wheel back is the obvious way to adjust but just make sure you get someone who knows what they are talking about to check the wear on the front sprocket as well as the chain. Their front sprockets are not the most impressive part of their bikes and they are quite cheap to buy.