woodcraft

A bit hefty at 76g, but this is compact, cheap & well made:

https://www.amazon.com/Pedros-Six-Pa...s%2C147&sr=8-4

I have one (Blackburn?) that great- alloy, small, works well, but not made for years.

And yes, have used it multiple times on the road and trail.

cyccommute 

Fix It Sticks chain tool. The mountain kit has the chain tool in it. This is what the tool looks like. It’s really quite small.







Like drlogik, I have never broken a chain in 45+ years of riding. I have had to repair someone else’s chain but never my own.

Sy Reene

I bought one of these, but have since misplaced it, and never got to try it..

alcjphil

I have this little multi tool that includes a chain tool. Have only used it once, on a friend's bike when he broke his chain on a ride. Folds up very small

Riveting

In only 35,000 miles, I've never personally needed a chain tool, but I've been on three rides where someone in my group did. Two of those times were caused by chain suck that ended up bending links that needed to be removed to get a straight chainline. And one time was a single broken link only 5 minutes into the ride (and nobody had a chain tool nor quick links, so their ride was over before they properly warmed up). On those 3 occasions I personally wasn't carrying a chain break tool, nor quick links, but after witnessing those 3 events, I now carry a multitool with chain break, and quick link(s) in the saddle bags of ALL my bikes. It's such a simple tool to have on hand, so why not? It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it (within reason).

am8117

I liked this picutre because it gives great scale ideas. Never thought the Knipex 125 is as small as standards Schwalbe tire lever.

Oh I almost forgot ... I was wondering what to have the spare hanger for. I mean I had once mine broken off and sure enough bought 2 spares at once, but when I thought of that (and struggling to fit it all in the saddle bag) ... when I bang off a derailleur it would have been so mangled I can't really mount it back on even with new hanger, can i?

Gresp15C

Who makes the little ratchet?

Troul 

$50+ !

am8117

Ok, just found this one, looks like it can be taken apart and so the handles can be substituted by sticking through an ordinary allen keys!

It's under $20 and comes with spare 11sp link.

https://www.connexchain.com/en/produ...hain-tool.html

cyccommute 

Well, $60 for the mountain bike tool kit but how is there are lots of multitools out there that are just as expensive and a whole lot less user friendly.

cyccommute 

The problem with tiny chain tools is that you need a lot of leverage to push out a modern pin and they don’t provide much. bboy314 suggested the Park CT-5 above. Someone at my co-op thought this was the most durable chain tool around and was in a position to declare that was the tool we would all use. We break chains several times per day and that tool just plain hurts to use. The one you suggest is even smaller and has less leverage. As many have pointed out, you are unlikely to use it but when you do, you’ll probably regret it.

am8117

I don't know why the manufacturer web did not have a better picture, but just in case - there's an actual handle, but I was more getting at the fact i can remove both the handle and the lever and use it with whatever I stick through that I already carry. If someone e.g. carries Knipex pliers they could hold the whole tool with it. I can hold an allen key in a small rag for handle.

I do not really care for ease of use as much as being compact and of course it should not outright look like the chain will break the tool instead. It is for emergency use, not for workshop.

ClydeClydeson

My experience has been that all multi-tool chain tool attachments are feeble and will break after 2 or three uses, except for the Cool Tool which was superior.

The Park CT-5 is the weight and size of a small multi tool on its own but is robust enough for regular use.

am8117

Chain link pictured for scaling, Also the tip seems replaceable which is a nice plus I believe.

am8117

So the lever has its sleeve part for extension and the chain link is meant to be stored underneath the main chain "well". I'll try to get my hands on this to see how feeble it is, but at least the design looks like someone gave it some thought. After all it is standalone chain tool, not part of multi-tool to be able to say +1 function.

Moe Zhoost

I've carried a Park CT-5 for years. It's quite small and fits easily into my tool roll. If you are really short of space, you could toss your tire levers .

rm -rf

I haven't seen a broken chain on any group ride for quite a few years now. The new chain tech seems to be a lot stronger.

Yes, the CT-5 doesn't have enough leverage for my 11-speed chains. (It worked fine on 10 speed Campagnolo, though.) I used an adjustable wrench to hold the handle, then the pin finally moved with a lot of finger force on the tiny lever. Ouch.

So I got a Park Tool CT-3.2. Cast steel body, long lever arms. So much better. It's not too practical for touring though.

Wow, that looks like it has lots of leverage:


9 ounces (250 grams)? 5.5 inches by 3.5 inches case. It's a bit big, but the tools are all organized and won't rattle around, and there's lots of leverage and control with all the tools.
I might get this for long solo rides way out in the country.

surak

Odd seeing people complaining about how hard it is to break "modern" chains. I've broken a dozen chains ranging from 8-speed to 11 (Shimano, SRAM, and KMC) with my Topeak Hexus X, not a single one was any trouble. Did a couple HG901 Dura-Ace chains recently and a SRAM PC-1130 just last week, every pin came out easily.

tcs

A bunch of folks make little bit-driver ratchets: Chapmans, Klein, SwissTool/Victorinox, Wadsworth. That particular one is made by Wera.

tcs

I ran across this one the other day, the 'KMC Portable'.



Nope, don't own one & don't really know much about them other than just reading the marketing literature.

tcs

I gave up on chain tools and went with the ShelBroCo 'all Powerlink' chain.






I miss Sheldon.

tcs

...aaaand there's the Topeak Ninja C that stores inside your handlbars:

tcs

I've carried a small chainbreaker tool for lo this past half century...and used it once, on someone else's bike.

If you're riding a fixed gear, single speed or IGH bike, you don't have the luxury a derailleur bike provides of shortening the chain to get rid of a broken/bent link. You'll have to carry some small length of compatible replacement chain in addition to the chain tool.

Troul 

probably one of the better $15 investments I've done as of recent.

djb

Ah, now I get it. Thought you meant you've broken a dozen chains while riding. Wondered what the heck you were doing!

The chain breaker on my multi tool works quite well all in all. Still got a parks solo one eventually after my old one finally broke.