Shimano Chains Are Directional - did you install your chain backwards and now I’m fixing it?

[@EnligUlv]

Yep. I’ve installed them backwards a few times way back before I knew the difference. Also, my very first ride to work many years ago, I put my Lycra shorts on inside out so that the red pad was contacting the saddle until my neighbor, an avid distance roadie pointed that out as we rode to work…also, he pointed out to me that my Conti tires were also unidirectional and that I mounted them backwards. That was at about mile 80 on my first century. Three months riding with him really brought me up to speed 😂

[@insightbike]

You have a great riding partner there.

[@biknjak]

Great tip. A good way to remember is that most things on a bike are oriented from "the rider's perspective" as if you're sitting on it or standing on the "drive side" facing the bike.

[@insightbike]

Well said!

[@biknjak]

@@insightbike The biggest change from that "rider's perspective" rule of thumb I've seen was DT Swiss' front hub labels - they started doing them backwards. I thought I'd lost my mind the first time I built a front wheel with the "backwards" label. Bothered me so much (you know - OCD and all) I called them and asked about it. The rep told me they started doing that so that when a racer wins and is posing next to his bike, everyone can read the DT Swiss hub from the front. Oh brother....🙄

[@insightbike]

@@biknjak geez. I’ve had it with DT Swiss. Also, there was a thing with Fox’s U-cup air spring seal where the seal label was on the bottom. I saw a handful of forks come in where the label had been installed on the top, so the u-cup was just burping all the air into the Lower of the fork… lol.

[@biknjak]

​@@insightbikeHaha! I'd say the biggest thing that melts my mind is the lack of accurate "standards" - which seem to be loose, at best, between different manufacturers (frame sizes in S, M, L/inches/centimeters, for example). Also the mixing of SAE and metric - sometimes on the same component!

[@insightbike]

@@biknjak 😂 the abundance of “standards” is ridiculous. Nothing is less “standard” than bike industry “standards.” Fox likes to use both imperial and metric on their shocks as a squirrel catcher. There’s just some engineer back there ROFLing at the mayhem. That’s what gets me thru. At least some guy somewhere is laughing at all the useless 27.5” front wheels sitting in somebody else warehouse.

[@rien758]

Thanks. I got it now, but I was struggling a bit with this. So, there are four possible orientations, of which two are correct. Both orientations with the text facing you are correct (but with one of them the text will be upside down, and the direction of movement will be reversed).

[@insightbike]

Glad you got it. As long as the chain lettering is facing you (the installer) you’re in good shape. These chains shift extremely well because they’re directional. Happy trails.

[@ChuckD59]

@@insightbike Doesn't that make it "bidirectional" then? I don't know a more descriptive term for what you mean, maybe "one-sided"? My question was to the actual directionality, that is, can you reverse the direction of rotation. Some chains have an arrow embossed pointing in the direction it needs to rotate (in addition to the lettering needing to face out from the bike). I don't see any arrows on my new new HG701 11 speed, yet I'm chasing a sound like the the chain not matching well with an FSA crankset.

[@geroutathat]

@@ChuckD59 no, its still travelling in one direction, just upside down. It would be like me saying you can only move in one direction, forward or backward. If you pop into a handstand and keep going forward, its still forward. Its the same with up and down, if I tell you to stand head up feet down, then it doesnt matter which way your face is pointing

[@corentinoger]

Who else is watching this on the trail side? (and typing with greasy fingers due to having to switch side)

[@insightbike]

I hope you didn't have to switch it mid-ride!

[@corentinoger]

@@insightbike yes I did, I could only shift 2 gears at a time (both up and down), it was getting on my neeves. Good thing I have a multitool with quick-link opening function.

[@unknownknown8555]

So which direction goes first??? You just showed us inside vs outside but not which direction

[@zesoloist]

He states this incorrectly which leads to your confusion. The chain ISNT directional. There is an inside and an outside.

[@jean-francoisburdet4458]

Title misleading : Some shimano chains are directional !

[@insightbike]

This is true. 9 speed and lower are multi-directional.

[@jetchen9334]

Thanks for this info. So directional chains start at 10S? And 9S and below aren't?

[@insightbike]

That is correct, unless things have changed. But only shimano's chains are like this. Running something other than a Shimano chain on 10, 11, 12 speed will have diminished performance. Thanks for checking out the video.

[@monkmchorning]

10-speed road chains of the 5700-6700-7900 generation were directional for several years. Not so for MTB. Since the introduction of 11-speed, the10-speed chains were redesigned and are no longer directional. If in doubt, read the instructions that come inside the box.

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

So they're not really directional. They're just made to shift better with the blank side facing the larger sprockets. Just switched my chain over (not Shimano, but decent 11s Shimano compatible) and I really hope it'll stop my 11t skipping problem.

[@insightbike]

have you checked the cog or charinring wear, or made sure the jockey pulleys aren't broken or too worn? also, skipping can result from misalignment. Actually dealing with mysterious skipping on two AXS derailleurs now. sorry man, that can be such a headache.

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

@@insightbikethanks man. My chain was inside-out but I also spent a lot of time afterwards fastidiously checking the status of each jockey wheel and appropriate lubrication, as well as thoroughly checking for stiff links as it was a brand new and freshly waxed chain. I took a while but it almost never skips any more. But also I learned not to change up to the highest gear so quickly. I’m used to riding a fixie so maxing out the torque in the wrong gear has become a habit 😂

[@geroutathat]

Thats still directional. Direction the chain faces not turns (clockwise/anti). I get what you mean, but the meaning is pretty clear when you get a directional chain one side faces in direction, the other out direction, installing it any other way isnt "better or worse" its wrong.

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

@@geroutathat hehehe you're right that is a kind of direction, and it seems like it's all semantics at this point but it's important to understand the difference. Imagine you have your chain installed, and you draw an arrow on the link at the top of the chainwheel pointing towards the front of the bike. Obviously the side with the arrow is "out" and indicates "forward". You can take the chain off and install it so the arrow is pointing backwards, but still facing out. For these chains it would make no difference. It *only* makes a difference if that arrow is facing the frame, regardless of which way it's pointing. Sorry to nerdsplain to someone who clearly already knows this, but I think it's an easy mistake to make from the wording of the title.

[@lamnguyenviet498]

Thank you!

[@insightbike]

You're welcome!

[@tomnanD3]

SRAM chains are not, then?

[@vyoufinder]

7 speed HG chains are not directional?

[@insightbike]

Nope. In general, if the chain is only printed on one side with model/series info, then it is directional. With 7/8/9 speed chains, this wasn’t a feature.

[@user-nn4wj8gk9s]

👍

[@JOHNGIBS]

Shimano 8speed's are no directional

[@nikitoci]

0:41 there’s literally a manual picture from the chain plastic wrap that says exactly that 😂

[@insightbike]

yep. But that's not stopping folks from rebeling.

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

So many of us wishing we had read the instructions before throwing away the packaging.

[@cliffmcleroy8168]

Also be weary of counterfeit Shimano chains from Amazon and others

[@goonigoogoo5868]

you are 100% WRONG. read the instruction on the Shimano 12 speed. the directional arrow on the master link will tell you how to install the chain. the arrow points to front of bike. are you a self proclaimed bike mechanic. here in Europe we go to school and get certified as bike mechanic. again you are 100 wrong on this.

[@BeyondLumination]

The arrow will face the rear when it’s on the bottom and face the front when on top. Another way to think about it is the arrow points to direction of travel when pedalling.

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

What if the master link isn't on the chain when you get it? Are you sure this isn't just the direction of the master link you're talking about? Also... you seem to be refuting the instructions on the packet clearly visible at 0:42?