Bicycle Mechanics - Removing Chain

anyone know how to remove a bike chain??

well, if your chain has a powerlink then you simply remove the powerlink and the chain is easly removed. if your chain does not have a powerlink you will have to get a chain tool and open a link to remove the chain. oh yeah and when you remove the chain take it off your cranks so there is slack in it.... :)

Originally posted by VegasCyclist
And if you want to do it the hard way, you can remove your derailleurs, and take the chain off that way

That wont work....it still wont come off of the bike. Get a chain tool, a chain tool is pretty much a screw and a part that holds the chain...and the tool presses the pin out of the chain.

He is right, it will still be running through the rear triangle.

You do need the chain tool. It costs about $6.00. But they have some for well over a hundred if you'd like to get a fancy "professional" one.

Have a look for a link with cut-out shapes on the sideplates. This would be a power link. Brakeing it by hand is easy if you know how, but a bit tricky at first.

Otherwise get a chain tool, which will push the rivets out using a screw press. You get expensive professional workshop ones, good home workshop ones and small carry ones. If you have a bike tool (Cool Tool etc) with a built in chain tool, you can use that, but I find a home workshop model much easier to use.

Park make some nice ones, and their website is very instructive.
http://www.parktool.com/


In chains made by Sachs, the rivets are re-usable. With models by Shimano, you need to buy a new rivet. That is why we all prefer Sachs chains here.

You could try using a hacksaw. Of course, this would kinda ruin the chain.............:rolleyes:
BTW, why don't you just buy a book on bike repair??? Every single one of these simple repairs you keep asking us is covered.

Originally posted by VegasCyclist


sure it will, but you have to take apart both derailleurs.... ;) that's why I said it was the hard way.

No....it still WONT work......like bikerider said it will still be running around the frame, and after taking both derailleurs apart, you'll find that that did absolutely nothing.

Originally posted by D*Alex
buy a book on bike repair
I second this. For some recommendations check this thread
bicycle repair manuals/guides/books (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7846).

Sounds like you really need to get hooked up with a good bike shop, too. Are there any near where you are? If there's more than one, visit them all... see how you're treated and maybe have them do some trivial work for you. Once you've found a place you like working with, you can trust them for bigger jobs.

hmm...why would i buy a book when theirs a forum on bike mechanics where I could ask you people questions...

It's not that we don't like answering your questions.

If you have a book and can read up a little, and look at the diagrams and pictures, the answers you get here will make more sense, you might not have to ask the question in the first place, and if you do go to an LBS, you'll have a lot better chance of not being ripped off, by being a knowledgeable consumer.

The more you know about any activity, the better off you are, and it's helpful to have more than one source of information. That helps you to filter out the good info from the bad.

I do have to say, though, that an excelent source of info in lieu of buying a book would be checking out www.parktool.com . just don't think that you need to buy an expensive tool to do every job, like they say. ;)

Originally posted by ninetynine
hmm...why would i buy a book when theirs a forum on bike mechanics where I could ask you people questions...
Frankly, your questions indicate you lack sufficient understanding to ask an intelligent question, and possibly are too cheap to even venture into a bike shop.

Smells like troll to me.

uhm right ...what does this have to do with "venturing" into a bike shop anyways? ;)

Originally posted by roadbuzz

Smells like troll to me.

MeThinks I agree

Michael, although Shimano advices you to buy a new pin, its possible to use the old one.
I used my chain for a year now, one time broken and fixed with the same rivet, no problems dispite my brutal shifting :D

I know when you push the pin through, the little edges on the end will brake, this should be a weak link.
But if you do the job well and get the same rivet ends on each side of the link, i see no real problem.

What is your opinion?

I think you probably need a chain saw. Stihl makes a good one.

The shop will take it off for nothing when you buy a new chain.