Shimano chain on Campy drivetrain...disaster? Help!

[joys]

Hi Ladies,
I recently realized that the chain on my "new-to-me" bike is a shimano and the cassettes and derailleurs and everything are Campy. I've put about 100-200 miles on the bike with this chain.
My LBS said that it wasn't good and that now neither Campy specific (6.2mm) nor Shimano specific (~6.00mm?) chains may work (narrower shimano chain wears down the teeth then the wider campy chain won't fit correctly if I put it back on)...

I was looking around online and Campy is now making 5.9mm chains. If campy offers chains in a range from 5.9-6.2 why would the 6.0ish Shimano chain be such a problem?

I'm up for buying whatever I need to keep my bike running well, but right now I don't know what that might be.

Please Help!

Thanks :)
Sara

[Batbike]

I have Campy, but I really don't know all about chain width. I do know SRAM and Wipperman make chains that are compatible with Campy. However, if you have used a Shimano chain on Campy you will definitely wear your cogs/teeth down VERY quickly because they are not compatible.

You may need to buy a new cog and new chain and start all over ... did your LBS recommend anything? How is your chainring -- still in tack? If not, that too may need replacing. You can buy replaceable rings. I don't know how much wear/damange a couple 100 miles of wrong chain on cogs and chainrings can do, but if it is significant, I would change everything out -- cogs, chainrings, and chain and start again! Good Luck!!

[Tuckervill]

If the teeth are already worn down, why not just keep the Shimano chain and keep pedaling? You can change out the cassette later when there's much more wear. If they're not worn down yet, I don't see why the Campy chain wouldn't still fit. See if you can compare your cogs to some brand new ones at the shop.

Karen

[KnottedYet]

Don't worry.

I have Campy shifters and rear der and rear cassette, Shimano front der and chainrings, and Sachs chain.

What they are talking about with the chain sizes is the width, which varies depending on the number of cogs in your cassette. More cogs = narrower chain. (gotta fit it all onto the bike somehow!)

Just make sure you are using a "9 speed" chain with a cassette with 9 cogs, 8 with 8, 10 with 10, etc, and you should be fine!

Are you having any problems?

If it's all working, don't fret. If you are having wear issues or shifting problems take the bike in and find out if all the drivetrain components are meant for the same number of rear cogs. (even the front der and chainrings will vary depending on the number of rear cogs)

Chainrings, ders, chain, and cogs need to match. Brands not so much. :D

(learned at the enlightened feet of Chris at Robinson Wheelworks in San Leandro CA, one of my bike mechanics gurus)

[joys]

Thanks for the info!
I'm not having any problems, and there do not appear to be any wear issues, though it could be that I haven't ridden it enough with the shimano chain to cause problems.
I've looked around online and I think I'm going to invest in a wipperman or KMC chain just to be safe.
Thanks again :)
Sara