Bicycle Mechanics - Chain breaking w/out a chain tool?

Hi folks,

Got a question for you crafty types... Is there a good way to break a chain without using a chain tool? The ability to reuse the chain would be nice, but of course there are a lot more ways to get it off by destroying it.

Here is my problem. I'm 'fixing' an old bike from the 70s, and trying to remove the chain. Unfortunately, my chain tool (the little one off a crank bros multitool, which is meant for 8/9 speed chains, and works on some 6/7 speed chains) doesn't fit the chain. The rollers are too big, and the pin doesn't actually hit the rivet dead on.

I don't really want to buy a new chain tool just to remove one friggen chain, and I don't really want to drag the bike's hulking skeleton all the way to the LBS just to have them remove it... Any great ideas? :)

peace,
sam

Is that chain even meant to be taken apart at "any link"? Or is there a master link to be removed? If the pins are peened over on their ends, I'd look for a master link.

I couldn't find anything that looked like a master-link.. Though maybe I should look again. The rivets do look a bit 'peened' too, now that you mention it. I wasn't aware that there were chains that weren't meant to be removed at any link, but there is a lot I don't know about the early 70's. ;)

Last night I was messing with it and I kept looking over at the dremel tool sitting nearby, with cutting wheel already installed. I had to restrain myself and look away, lest I get destructive thoughts. Hopefully you can all help prevent wanton chain cutting. The chain is a bit worn, but might make a nice backup chain for single speeds, and I hate to destroy anything that might have a use.

peace,
sam

I couldn't find anything that looked like a master-link..

Master links have two appearances. One, the link sides will be more oval shaped than the regular links and the chain has to be bent together to remove the sideplate. The other has a small spring clip on the outside of the sideplate.

Ahh, I looked for the spring clip type, and didn't see it, but I wasn't looking for a link with a more 'oval' shape to it... I'll check more closely when I get home tonight. Thanks!

peace,
sam

Wow phidauex, I was about to ask almost the same question. I am restoring an 83 Nishiki road bike for a beater and the chain is rusted to hell. I am trying to minimize the work that my LBS has to do (since I am low on $) so I wanted to remove this chain on my own, and then have them put a new one on for me. Even destroying this chain in the process wouldnt matter, as long as I get it off without hurting the bike. Any ideas?

A dremel with a cut-off wheel is quick but destructive. Failing that, you might try a washer with an id equal or larger to the pin and stack that on top of a socket to give you room to drive the pin out. Whack opposite side with punch until joy or mashed finger results. Hacksaws are rather slow...dremel is quicker.

A dremel with a cut-off wheel is quick but destructive. Failing that, you might try a washer with an id equal or larger to the pin and stack that on top of a socket to give you room to drive the pin out. Whack opposite side with punch until joy or mashed finger results. Hacksaws are rather slow...dremel is quicker.


Bolt cutters.

Acetylene cutting torch. :D

Maybe find a friend that's into motorcycles and see if they have a motorcycle chain breaker that will fit.

Acetylene cutting torch. :D




I'll hold the fire extinguisher...

Unscrew the pin from the chain tool and use it like a punch. If you can find something with a hole in it to lay under the chain (maybe the chain tool, but from the other direction), then center the pin on the rivet and hit it with a hammer.

Here are the links to pages containing pix of "master links", which were more than likely used on that vintage chain.

http://www.bunchobikes.com/chain.htm

http://www.msgroup.org/forums/mtt/images/chainlink.jpg

If you're gonna use the chain in the future for singlespeeds, then cutting it off is not a problem since the chain is probably too long anyway (unless the bike you're removing it from is a ss or three speed)

Secondly, it sounds like you may be aiming to do more bicycle maintenance in the future, so why not just spring for a chain tool? They are not that expensive and are quite handy to have in your bike tool kit.

Some of you have missed some of the point of the original post.

The chain he is dealing with is larger than the chain used on today's bikes. I'm guessing, it isn't the miserable little chain that is used today on the derailleur systems. But the heavier chain of yesteryear. If this is indeed the case, it probably has riveted links, is not meant to have "any pin" pushed out for removal and has a master link, as a method to separate.

A chain breaker can be used on this chain, but after that a master link will be needed to re-join.

This is all presuming, it is the heavier chain.

If the old chain is junk and you are replacing it anyway...Bolt cutters work great and are quick. Otherwise spend $5 and get a Cyclo chain tool, I am yet to find a chain that I can't take apart with it. Every chain can be taken apart. It would be rare to buy a new chain that is the exact length that you need!

Some of you have missed some of the point of the original post.

The chain he is dealing with is larger than the chain used on today's bikes. I'm guessing, it isn't the miserable little chain that is used today on the derailleur systems. But the heavier chain of yesteryear. If this is indeed the case, it probably has riveted links, is not meant to have "any pin" pushed out for removal and has a master link, as a method to separate.

A chain breaker can be used on this chain, but after that a master link will be needed to re-join.

This is all presuming, it is the heavier chain.

Chains from 70's era derailler bikes had no master links and were made to be removed with a chain breaker just like todays chains. The problem is most likely using a multitool chain breaker. An inexpensive chain breaker will do the job perfectly. There's no reason not to buy one unless you just cannot afford a $15 tool that will get used time and time again.

Yup, I do have a chain tool already, but this chain is too beefy for the chain tool to fit around. I don't feel like buying a new chain tool just to remove a single chain that I probably won't be using again. I did, a long time ago, have a 'real' chain tool, IE, one that's not my crank bros multitool chain tool, but I seemed to have lost it a few years ago... It would just be a shame to buy something just for this old beater, though eventually I may need to re-buy my true chain tool.

After closer examination, it appears that this chain, like suggested, does not have anything I could identify as a master-link... All the links look identical to me. The chain appears to be 'regina' brand, if that helps.

If I can't figure another solution out by tonight, its gettin' the dremel. ;) A chain tool would cost more than the cheap chains that work with my existing tool anyway, so if this one goes to the great beyond and doesn't get reused, I'll still come out ahead (if only by a buck or two).

Thanks for all the help, folks!

peace,
sam

Bolt cutters.
I do that with chains that are to be replaced. Why be all "nicey nicey" with something that's going to get pitched?