this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2025
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Loosened the link a bit. Still stiff but the noise is a lot lower and there's also less overall noise. Still clacks a bit but I'm pretty sure it's gonna get to normal and there isn't anything to worry about the drivetrain.
That's encouraging. Are you planning to get multiple chains in rotation? If you do, it may be worth getting something other than the X9, just to compare. I find that Wippermann chains work really well, and hey, you get free connex links with them! LOL
For now I'm going with this one alone. I'm trying to keep this 9s drivetrain cheap. Will likely be running it for commuting during the winter in TO.
BTW I used Endurance chip and the wax seems stronger physically. It seems that the wax that's inside the roller on the hard side of the link causses the plates to be slightly wider than normal and when the link plates are assembled around it, there's too much fricting between the outer plates and the inner plates. I'm probably gonna rewax it so that it melts and reflows, hopefully not recreating the same effect.
E:
The green plates are the inner plates of the chain. The red is the roller. The blue are the outer plates - of the link. The distance between the two green plates is a little wider than normal. I think because of the wax that's between them and the roller and in the roller itself. The difficulty in articulation comes form friction between the green and the blue plates.
Ah, that's an important distinction, and you're probably right! I've been using just the standard wax without additives, so it loosens up pretty quickly. I may go with the Endurance chip, but ultimately, my plan is to move to the Rex hot wax (which can be tuned, too).