Bicycle Mechanics - Chain tool

Hi,

I've treated myself to a rohloff chain. The LBS has a riveting tool that he told me cost him £80. I'd like to be able to rivet the chain myself and have seen kits to break and make a range of chain sizes from cam chains to motorbike drive chains. In the past I've riveted motorbike chains with a shotpeen hammer but I'm older and more cautious if not quite wiser

Can I pick your collective brains on riveting tools for recommendations and advise on what's out there ?

Cheers

One of these:
http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/detail.cfm?ID=1965

The park tools website has lots of handy repair advice as well, but I would ask your bike shop for a demo in how to use a chain tool.

NB Some chains require a new rivet every time you break it apart. More standard chains can re-use the rivet, but you do weaken the chain. Modern practice is to use a master-link so you can break and fasten the chain by hand, but you still need a chain tool to set the length and repair a snapped chain.

I have not heard of one described as a riveting tool before, I'm assuming you are talking about a standard chain tool. Like the parktool one, they range from around $8-25 so not very expensive. There is more expensive ones for the Campy 10sp chain but those not the standard.
http://www.parktool.com/images/tools/CT_3.jpg

The Rohloff chain tool is the most expensive and does claim to rivet the pins. It is strictly for shop use unless you are one of those people who has more money than you know what to do with. It runs around $150. retail.

Ooops, (sheepish grin), silly question. I'm used to dealing with shimano 'snap off the extra bit' chains or motorbike chains that need a proper riviter (or judicious use of ball peen hammer last time I did it 15 years ago) When the bike shop went on about his Rohloff riveter I assumed the Rohloff chain was like a motorbike chain and needed a good heavy duty riveting tool rather than my std chain tool.

I'll do it myself with my std tool but take it to the LBS to let him put his expensive workshop tool to some use. At that price it ought to do a better job of permanantly deforming the rivet and making sure it stayes put.

Thanks for putting up with the dumb question

And, FWIW, I think most motorcycles use belts instead of chains, these days! :eek:

Harleys (inc Buells) are pretty much the only big manufacturer using belt final drive and while some others use shaft drive with a few exceptions most still use chain drive to the cams. I just wondered if a thing like this (see link) would kill two birds for me. I could use it for the motorbike and push bike for half the price of the Rolhoff tool.

http://www.motorcyclepartspro.com/chain_breaker_riveter_kit.html