Changing a chain

[dern]

What a f*cking arse of a day I've had changing a chain.

I ordered a chain and tool from a shop on the web last monday given that I had all week to change the chain. On thursday I phone them up and they tell me that they were just about to email me because they don't have any of the tools in and therefore haven't sent my chain... 3 f*cking days *after* I place the order. I guess the assumption is that every biker is a bloody hobbyist with time on their hands. I cancelled the tool and got them to send the chain/sprocket kit.

I got the chain/sprocket kit on friday and because it was a packaged kit I didn't check the chain length. Big mistake, chain fitted, link rivetted, back wheel on... chain too long. Sent me a 110 link instead of a 108 link.

Bloody superb, on the train tomorrow then :(

BTW, I bought one of these...

http://www.gingerparts.com/pages-productinfo/category-3020/product-8184/tools-and-workshop-chain-breaker-and-riveter.html

...what a piece of cr*p. 50 quid and the handle has already bust off and the rivetter barely spreads the link pin... you really can hardly tell it's been mushroomed and really doesn't inspire confidence. What methods do other people use?

Mark

[pesty]

can't you remove 2 links using that tool?

Asking out of interest having never done this to a bike chain.

[bikerkeith]

If you've got a chain with too many links, just take out the extra links. I had to do that once when they gave a a chain that was too long. If you have a decent tool for breaking links and finishing off putting a new link in, it should be perfectly straightforward.

[Ballistic Banana]

I got a chain breaker Rivetor from heine Gerrick for about 80 quid and it was the dogs dangles,cant link to it on there site as its under construction at the moment.
Like others have said you should be able to take a link or two in your case out quite easily with the tool, mind you if the tool you have is pants you could just take it to your nearest bike garage and ask them to take the links out and re-rivet it, sure they wouldnt charge much.

BB

[dern]

I realise I can take out two links but I need a new linking link to link the two ends together and because I used the one supplied to link the ends together already I'm stuck until they send me a new link which leaves me without a bike hence the pissed off mood

Cheers,

Mark

[cerbone]

Only ever used a grinder, club hammer, centre punch, thin screwdriver and a claw hammer to change a chain and shorten it.

Grind off the link rivet mushroom, use the thin screwdriver and punch out the rivet. Remove link, replace chain and use the club hammer as the anvil whilst forming the mushroom with the centre punch and claw hammer.

Simple if you don't overdo it.

[dern]

cerbone said:

Only ever used a grinder, club hammer, centre punch, thin screwdriver and a claw hammer to change a chain and shorten it. Grind off the link rivet mushroom, use the thin screwdriver and punch out the rivet. Remove link, replace chain and use the club hammer as the anvil whilst forming the mushroom with the centre punch and claw hammer. Simple if you don't overdo it.

Now I have the tool and can see how it works I can see you can achieve exactly the same results using the method you describe... you live and learn I guess.

Companies policy was to get the supplier to send a longer chain in the even the correct one was unavailable and tell the shop who would then shorten the chain and send it on to me. Supplier forgot to tell shop, shop didn't check as it was sealed, I didn't check as I assumed it was the right one. New spare link in the post today so only another day on the train hopefully.

Things were significantly easier when I had 2 bikes.

Mark

[gRsf12]

Got one of those same tools. Different packet, maybe, but same tool. Also found that it doesn't spread the end of the link pin out all that far so finished it off with the help of a ball peen hammer.

Make sure that's a hollow-ended pin though. My last chain was a solid pin on the connecting links and didn't want to flatten with any persuasion. Left it down to friction and worked just fine. Would not recommend this without seeing the outer plate go on to judge the friction level though.

[dern]

gRsf12 said:

Got one of those same tools. Different packet, maybe, but same tool. Also found that it doesn't spread the end of the link pin out all that far so finished it off with the help of a ball peen hammer. Make sure that's a hollow-ended pin though. My last chain was a solid pin on the connecting links and didn't want to flatten with any persuasion. Left it down to friction and worked just fine. Would not recommend this without seeing the outer plate go on to judge the friction level though.

I found something on the web that showed one of these tools being used and the guy used a micrometer to measure the spread of the pin and it wasn't that much but he was satisfied with it. The friction fit of the link I fitted was quite substantial so I guess with that and the slight spread would ensure it was locked.

I must admit I'd like to see a proper 'spread' of the pin for psychological reasons but it doesn'y always help. The chain I took off had a proper spread on the link pins but the link plates themselves had been able to move at least 1mm apart wider than the normal links.

Mark

[dern]

Sorted. Used the tool to spread the pin a bit and then a hammer to spread it a bit more. Good articulation in those links and looks unlikely to come apart... well it didn't fall off on the way to work anyway

Mark