Is it just me or do all chainbrakers just suck?
10-04-15, 08:31 PM
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Is it just me or do all chainbrakers just suck?
Paid like $17 for this Park last fall thinking it would outlast a $4.99 Wald. It had this fancy spring loaded pin that just popped loose and is now useless. Don't know why I needed the fancy pin. Now I'm just twelve dollars more disappointed.
Anyone know a good chainbraker?
Anyone know a good chainbraker?
10-04-15, 08:57 PM
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I've got this old Cyclo that came in a bunch of tools. It's nice. I haven't had any problems with it- but then again, I don't know what a "nice" chain tool is or would do.
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10-04-15, 08:58 PM
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This^ I had a cheap chain tool for about 6 months and it broke. I got the Park and several replacement pins. I think it will last longer than I will be willing to wrench on bikes.
10-04-15, 09:02 PM
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I didn't know which to get when i purchased one recently, so i went with one by crank bros. haven't received it yet but seemed good from online reviews.
overall during online shopping/review reading.. it is surprising to find out how many seemingly simple hand tools can have failures.
10-04-15, 09:59 PM
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Park makes more than one chain tool? The LBS only had one so I got it. I'll order the simplest one they make. It's the gizmos that brake that I want to avoid.
What was that spring thing for, anyway?
What was that spring thing for, anyway?
10-04-15, 10:56 PM
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I once bought one from Walmart (out of complete necessity) and the steel they used was so cheap that it literally ripped in half on the first use.
10-04-15, 11:10 PM
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I also have the basic park one with no spring. I also did not know there was anything else that they offered. I can't complain- does the job and was not expensive as far as I recall. I have had it for maybe 8 years.
i have bent the replaceable pin several times but have been able to straighten it back with a vice so far. eventually ill have to replace it the pin after it gets too trashed. its like $.99 for a new pin at the LBS.
i have bent the replaceable pin several times but have been able to straighten it back with a vice so far. eventually ill have to replace it the pin after it gets too trashed. its like $.99 for a new pin at the LBS.
10-04-15, 11:36 PM
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You guys are all nuts and wrong. All chainbrakers (aka coaster brakes) do indeed suck. The nature of the beast.
But chainbreakers work just fine, as long as you don't expect them to give you a manicure while you're removing an old chain or installing a new one.
But chainbreakers work just fine, as long as you don't expect them to give you a manicure while you're removing an old chain or installing a new one.
10-05-15, 02:16 AM
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I have been using my Park CT-3 for a long time and on hundreds of bicycles. Just remember to exercise caution and never cut a badly rusted chain with the tool. Doing so does tend to overload it...
The Campy crank puller is still going strong but those pooey-stinko cable cutters finally got the boot, so to speak. Should have called them cable crushers.
The Campy crank puller is still going strong but those pooey-stinko cable cutters finally got the boot, so to speak. Should have called them cable crushers.
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10-05-15, 03:26 AM
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I used a WalMart tool for a while, still use it as backup.
I've been using a Park mini-brute since, and am on my 2nd pin, with 2 more in the package.
Not sure I'd say I like any of them.
I've been using a Park mini-brute since, and am on my 2nd pin, with 2 more in the package.
Not sure I'd say I like any of them.
10-05-15, 04:44 AM
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Ben,
A few years ago, in one of Nashbar's daily sales, I picked up one of their self branded chainbreakers, for next to nothing. Has served me well and seems to be still in good working order. I also have the smallest Park chainbreaker, CT-5, that can fit in the under saddle spare tube bag. It is a robust little tool, which only lacks proper leverage for stubborn chain pins.
A few years ago, in one of Nashbar's daily sales, I picked up one of their self branded chainbreakers, for next to nothing. Has served me well and seems to be still in good working order. I also have the smallest Park chainbreaker, CT-5, that can fit in the under saddle spare tube bag. It is a robust little tool, which only lacks proper leverage for stubborn chain pins.
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10-05-15, 05:18 AM
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Never really had a problem with my Park Tools one...CT-3 I believe it is...
10-05-15, 06:21 AM
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My very first tool was one of the Cyclo chain breakers (which I bought after trying to remove out a chain pin with a hammer and punch; didn't work very well). It probably lasted 30 years before breaking in half. Since then, I've gone through many, including the Park, and all seemed to succumb to having pins bent every other time I use them. My most reliable one now is part of some cheap multitool.
10-05-15, 07:09 AM
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I've had few problems with the bigger park tools, the ct-3 worked well. I have a ct-2, the plier type chain breaker and a pin got stuck in the hole the first time I used it. They seem to be discontinued though. I watch a lot of people bend pins at the co-op but I haven't really had problems with the bigger park chain breakers. If I had a shop I might spring for the rohloff one but it's crazy expensive.
10-05-15, 07:22 AM
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There are some that are particularly bad, but with careful use, even these can be made to work for more than two pin pushes.
I have a park ct-5 (I think) and it has lasted years. I also have two cheap multi tools with chain breakers built in - one of them has one of the 'pin centering' prongs broken but is still functional, and the other tool has held up fine.
I have a park ct-5 (I think) and it has lasted years. I also have two cheap multi tools with chain breakers built in - one of them has one of the 'pin centering' prongs broken but is still functional, and the other tool has held up fine.
10-05-15, 07:22 AM
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Park CT-5
Love it. Probably 60 chains broken by it, so double that for use since its reattached those or new chains too.
No wear visible yet. No parts to break as its just threaded, so no springs(what would they be for anyways?).
Small enough to store in a pouch on a ride if you want, but provides plenty of leverage and has removed pins from some horrifically rusted and gunked chains.
Love it. Probably 60 chains broken by it, so double that for use since its reattached those or new chains too.
No wear visible yet. No parts to break as its just threaded, so no springs(what would they be for anyways?).
Small enough to store in a pouch on a ride if you want, but provides plenty of leverage and has removed pins from some horrifically rusted and gunked chains.
10-05-15, 07:51 AM
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I bought a used Park C2. Looks sort of like a pair of pliers and has a replaceable pin. Works great, much better than those turn screw style models, imo.
10-05-15, 07:58 AM
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I bought a Gian Robert chain pliers 30 some years ago and haven't regretted it. One squeeze opens the chain, one squeeze closes it again. Pins are the same as the VAR chain pliers and still available.
10-05-15, 07:58 AM
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Park CT-5
Love it. Probably 60 chains broken by it, so double that for use since its reattached those or new chains too.
No wear visible yet. No parts to break as its just threaded, so no springs(what would they be for anyways?).
Small enough to store in a pouch on a ride if you want, but provides plenty of leverage and has removed pins from some horrifically rusted and gunked chains.
Love it. Probably 60 chains broken by it, so double that for use since its reattached those or new chains too.
No wear visible yet. No parts to break as its just threaded, so no springs(what would they be for anyways?).
Small enough to store in a pouch on a ride if you want, but provides plenty of leverage and has removed pins from some horrifically rusted and gunked chains.
10-05-15, 08:00 AM
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To me that tool resembles the one made by Hozan back in the 1980s that I used.
10-05-15, 08:07 AM
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On old chains I am going to toss, I always use my 18 inch bolt cutters, got tired of breaking/bending chain tool pins.
I've been using a Parks CT3 for everything else for years. Replacement pins are not expensive, used a couple since the bolt cutters took over crusty chain duties.
I had a Nashbar/Spin doctor tool for a while. For occasional use it is OK. I broke mine but I use a chain tool a lot.
I've been using a Parks CT3 for everything else for years. Replacement pins are not expensive, used a couple since the bolt cutters took over crusty chain duties.
I had a Nashbar/Spin doctor tool for a while. For occasional use it is OK. I broke mine but I use a chain tool a lot.
10-05-15, 08:14 AM
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To the OP, contact Park Tool, they have always taken care of me, even on old tools and tools I picked up used. For example I picked up a spike tension tool that was missing the spoke gauge and tension table. I called them up they mailed me new ones for free.