How do you get the ends to meet up when replacing a chain?
10-19-10, 03:25 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Maine
Posts: 149
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
How do you get the ends to meet up when replacing a chain?
I have replaced the chain on two of my bikes and I have a really hard time getting both ends of the new chain in the chain tool to connect them because the rear deraillure is pulling on the chain.
Is there a trick to doing this?
Is there a trick to doing this?
10-19-10, 03:28 PM
#3
Senior Member
Unhook the chain from the chainrings in front and rest it on the outside of the bottom-bracket shell.
10-19-10, 03:29 PM
#4
Senior Member
take the chain off the chainring, drop it onto the BB. connect the chain and put it back on the chainring.
10-19-10, 03:39 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
10-19-10, 05:09 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: boston, ma
Posts: 2,896
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
also you can make a tool that hooks the derailleur cage and a chainring bolt from a spoke. i personally just drop the chain on the bb
10-19-10, 05:22 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Beaufort, South Carolina, USA and surrounding islands.
Posts: 8,521
Bikes: Cannondale R500, Motobecane Messenger
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
On a coaster brake, SS/FG, or IGH, I don't completely run the chain around the chainring. I leave the chain off the bottom, join the ends, pin it, the let the chain ride back onto the chainring by turning the cranks.
10-19-10, 06:20 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times
in
741 Posts
I made up a little "tool" from a piece of coat hanger wire. It's a shallow, wide U-shape with the upper tips of the legs bent inward. You hook it to each end of the chain far enough back so the open ends overlap in the middle. That gives you the slack to insert the master link or joining pin.
The advantage of this tool over dropping the chain onto the bb shell is that you can turn the cranks slightly back and forth to be sure the chain is routed correctly before you join it. Ever fully installed a chain only to discover you ran it outside one of the rear derailleur tabs? With a master link it's only a nuisance. With a joining pin it's a real hassle. Guess how I know about this?
The advantage of this tool over dropping the chain onto the bb shell is that you can turn the cranks slightly back and forth to be sure the chain is routed correctly before you join it. Ever fully installed a chain only to discover you ran it outside one of the rear derailleur tabs? With a master link it's only a nuisance. With a joining pin it's a real hassle. Guess how I know about this?
Last edited by HillRider; 10-19-10 at 06:25 PM.
10-19-10, 07:28 PM
#11
Constant tinkerer
10-19-10, 07:44 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: City of Brotherly Love
Posts: 1,562
Bikes: Raleigh Companion, Nashbar Touring, Novara DiVano, Trek FX 7.1, Giant Upland
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Remove the rear wheel or strap the derailleur cage near the chainstay.
10-19-10, 07:53 PM
#14
Full Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Seattle
Posts: 327
Bikes: Litespeed, O'Brien, Specialized, Fuji
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
9 Posts
I'm with Hillrider on this, sacrificed a coathanger. Mine looks more like a big Vee. Use it taking the chain apart and putting together. This way you don't get lube on the BB or scratch it. The ends of the chain don't fly away if you let go. You can buy the same device at the store if you don't have a wire coathanger.
10-19-10, 08:06 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Boise, ID.
Posts: 1,251
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I made up a little "tool" from a piece of coat hanger wire. It's a shallow, wide U-shape with the upper tips of the legs bent inward. You hook it to each end of the chain far enough back so the open ends overlap in the middle. That gives you the slack to insert the master link or joining pin.
10-19-10, 08:21 PM
#16
17yrold in 64yrold body
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 922
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Park makes a relatively inexpensive tool to pull the chain ends together. I use one and master links. Works like a charm.
10-19-10, 08:27 PM
#18
17yrold in 64yrold body
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 922
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I do not have it in hand to check the number, but it looks like a pair of pliers--you could probably check Park's website and find it.
I just went to Park's site and found it--MLP-1.
I just went to Park's site and found it--MLP-1.
10-19-10, 08:33 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC
Posts: 253
Bikes: 2006 Novara Randonee, 2009 Fuji Cross Pro, 2013 Specialized Roubaix Pro, 2013 Allez Smartweld A5 Frankenbike, 2021 Diverge Comp Carbon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
2 Posts
I made up a little "tool" from a piece of coat hanger wire. It's a shallow, wide U-shape with the upper tips of the legs bent inward. You hook it to each end of the chain far enough back so the open ends overlap in the middle. That gives you the slack to insert the master link or joining pin.
__________________
-------------------------------
'06 Novara Randonee
'09 Fuji Cross Pro
'13 Specialized Roubaix Pro
'13 Specialized Allez Smartweld Frankenbike
'21 Diverge Comp Carbon
-------------------------------
'06 Novara Randonee
'09 Fuji Cross Pro
'13 Specialized Roubaix Pro
'13 Specialized Allez Smartweld Frankenbike
'21 Diverge Comp Carbon
10-20-10, 12:36 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Posts: 704
Bikes: '02 Lemond Buenos Aires, '98 Fuji Touring w/ Shimano Nexus premium, '06 Jamis Nova 853 cross frame set up as commuter, '03 Fuji Roubaix Pro 853 back up training bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Not the Park tool, but certainly up to the task. Whether you buy this or make your own, it's definitely one of the most used tools for those who do their own maintenance.
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...item_id=YC-207
https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...item_id=YC-207
10-20-10, 12:43 AM
#21
Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 47
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That is the most useless tool ever made. You don't need anything like that. First cut the chain to the right size with it on the front big chainring. Then take it of the front chainring. Not on the inside at the BB but the outside so you don't destroy your paint. just leave it hanging on your front derailleur. Join the chain using whatever method you want and put the chain back on the front chainring.
That tool is is for finding a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
That tool is is for finding a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
10-20-10, 01:58 AM
#22
Senior Member
Another thing that helps is to not push the pin all the way out. Leave about 0.5mm of it protruding inside the plate. That way, you can snap the chain back together and it'll stay together while you fumble with the chain-pin tool
10-20-10, 03:26 AM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: England
Posts: 12,948
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
Home-made wire gizmo works for me.
When installing a Master Link has anyone else chopped their chain at the wrong type of link. You need an "innie" at both ends.
When installing a Master Link has anyone else chopped their chain at the wrong type of link. You need an "innie" at both ends.
10-20-10, 04:29 AM
#25
Newbie
